International Student Services shared two communications regarding recent Department of State actions.
Federal Updates
Wisconsin higher education leaders say reductions in federal financial aid will limit educational opportunities
In a news conference on May 22, Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman, Wisconsin Technical College System President Layla Merrifield, and Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities President and CEO Eric W. Fulcomer shared that proposed cuts and programmatic changes to federal aid programs put education attainment at risk.
Chancellor Mnookin signs on to Council on Competitiveness statement
Chancellor Mnookin joined 49 fellow members of the Council on Competitiveness in a “Renewed Call to Action,” asking lawmakers to reinvest in the research partnerships and innovation infrastructure that have made the United States the global leader in turning knowledge and ideas into commercial value and societal impact.
The real costs of research funding cuts
With proposed changes to NIH support, critical health research at UW–Madison would be at risk. Here’s why.
Update on Department of Energy indirect cost rate cap
A federal judge on May 15 issued a nationwide preliminary injunction that halts the implementation of a 15% indirect cost rate on Department of Energy grants and contracts. The injunction replaces the temporary restraining order on the cuts placed last month and will likely remain in place until the judge hears full arguments in the lawsuit brought forward by the Association of American Universities, American Council on Education, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities and several universities.
Higher education associations send letter in opposition to the Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan
The Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the American Council on Education (ACE) along with the the American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities sent a letter to Chairman Tim Walberg of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, sharing their concerns and opposition to the Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan, a proposal to provide for budget reconciliation affecting education programs. The associations say that, while the bill has some positive elements, on the whole, the bill “proposes policies that will harm students, institutions, and borrowers. UW–Madison is a member university of AAU, ACE and APLU.
Update on SEVIS terminations
UW–Madison can report that as of late Saturday, April 26, all 27 of its international students and alumni affected by SEVIS record terminations have been returned to active status.
Chancellor Mnookin signs AAC&U letter
Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin is one of nearly 300 college and university presidents and chancellors to sign an April 22 letter from the American Association of Colleges & Universities titled “A Call for Constructive Engagement.”
Legal challenge to the administration’s cut to critical energy research
The Association of American Universities (AAU), the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) jointly filed a new lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, along with a number of impacted research university co-plaintiffs, seeking to halt the proposed Facilities and Administrative (F&A) rate cut to 15% for all Department of Energy research grants to colleges and universities. UW–Madison is a member university of AAU, ACE and APLU.
Message from Dean Vavrus to campus leaders on support for the international community
International Division Dean Vavrus shared a message with deans and campus leaders on April 10 about several campus offices that are monitoring the situation around SEVIS record terminations closely at the national and local levels and providing resources and recommendations as circumstances develop.