A regular digest for UW faculty with updates on federal, national and local issues of relevance to their teaching, research and service; actions the University is taking; and ways for faculty to be involved.
International
Lawsuit challenges new change of curricular practical training policy
The Association of American Universities, of which the UW is a member, has joined several other groups in filing a lawsuit challenging new, more restrictive interpretation of rules governing international students’ participation in Curricular Practical Training imposed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Other groups joining the lawsuit include the President’s Alliance on Higher Education & Immigration and NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
As the AAU notes, “This dramatically different interpretation from the agency that oversees CPT has put longstanding campus practices and students’ access to these opportunities at risk, without notice and comment or sufficient time for colleges and universities to respond.” The lawsuit has been filed in federal district court in Massachusetts and asks the court to block this new interpretation of federal law, which upends a position the federal government has endorsed for more than 35 years.
Department of Homeland Security proposes new OPT fees
The Department of Homeland Security has published an Optional Practical Training (OPT) Fee proposed rule to the Federal Register. The proposal, published Oct. 7, would require a $70,000 fee for F-1 students applying for OPT and $30,000 for subsequent OPT applications, including STEM OPT extensions. This is not a final rule, it is a proposed rule with a public comment period through Nov. 9. UW International Student Services is working together with UW Global, UW Bothell, UW Tacoma, UW International English Language Programs, campus partners, and our professional and national organizations on a coordinated institutional response.
State Landscape
SAVE THE DATE: State budget is focus of Oct. 26 webinar
Learn the basics of how the UW’s state budget works during an online webinar hosted by the Office of the Provost from noon to 1 p.m., Monday, Oct. 26. In this high-level overview, leaders from the UW’s State Relations, Finance, Planning & Budgeting (FPB), and UW Medicine teams will join me to provide an overview of the state budget and preview the upcoming legislative session which begins Jan. 11. The webinar will also cover the University’s legislative agenda and strategy, and how the UW community engages with elected state leaders.
Anyone with a UW NetID is welcome to attend. Details and a registration link will be included in the Oct. 21 Updates from the Provost. Send your questions about the state budget in advance to provost@uw.edu, or submit them via chat during the webinar.
This is the first in a series of webinars that the Office of the Provost will host throughout the academic year to foster a common understanding of how the University structure works. The UW’s federal budget will be the topic of an upcoming webinar in November. The date and time will be announced soon.
Key links
- Office of the Provost’s Federal Policy Updates
- UW Medicine’s Federal Policy Updates (UW NetID required)
- Office of Research’s Federal Policy Guidance
- UW Research Makes America
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Resources for Researchers & Instructors
Support available for ADA digital accessibility
With the new ADA digital accessibility requirements taking effect in April 2027, faculty are encouraged to make a good-faith effort to follow Teaching@UW guidance when creating, revising, or selecting course materials and readings. If you encounter discipline-specific accessibility challenges, work with your department chair to identify solutions or pursue an exemption once you’ve tried everything. Support is available through help@uw.edu, workshops, office hours, communities of practice, webinars and other campus resources to help make courses more accessible and inclusive for all students.
Open enrollment Oct. 26-Nov. 23
Open enrollment is coming: get ready now Open Enrollment runs Oct. 26–Nov. 23, giving PEBB benefits-eligible employees their annual opportunity to review and change medical, vision and dental plans, add or remove dependents, and enroll in optional pre-tax savings programs such as the FSA, LFSA or DCAP for 2027. Before it starts, take a few minutes to see what changes you can make, gather any documents you may need, and consider attending a UW Benefits Fair to talk directly with plan providers. Learn how to prepare for Open Enrollment.
New requirements for Roth catch-up contributions
Roth catch-up rules are changing: learn what to expect If you contribute to the UW Voluntary Investment Program (VIP). You may be affected by new mandatory Roth catch-up contribution requirements. More information is available from UW Human Resources.
REMINDER: Open private funding opportunities for faculty, researchers
Faculty and researchers may search current open funding opportunities from private sources for their research and programs through a dashboard developed by the UW Corporate & Foundation Relations team.