A message from the Leadership Team on Federal Actions
April 24, 2025
Dear URI Faculty, Staff, and Students:
Earlier this week, the American Association of Colleges and Universities issued a public statement defending America鈥檚 system of higher learning and calling for 鈥渃onstructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic.鈥� By Wednesday afternoon, more than 350 college and university presidents and chancellors had signed the letter, including 乐播传媒 President Marc Parlange.
The statement reads, in part, 鈥淐olleges and universities are engines of opportunity and mobility, anchor institutions that contribute to economic and cultural vitality regionally and in our local communities. They foster creativity and innovation, provide human resources to meet the fast-changing demands of our dynamic workforce, and are themselves major employers. They nurture the scholarly pursuits that ensure America鈥檚 leadership in research, and many provide healthcare and other essential services. Most fundamentally, America鈥檚 colleges and universities prepare an educated citizenry to sustain our democracy.鈥�
We encourage you to read the full .
Update on Ongoing Legal Response to Federal Actions
There are several significant legal challenges underway concerning federal actions that impact colleges and universities. The state of Rhode Island, through the state Office of the Attorney General, is playing a leading role in several cases, as are national organizations of which URI is a member, including the American Council on Education and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. The University has contributed information and declarations to several of these proceedings.
Among the cases are Massachusetts, et al v. National Institutes of Health, which challenges an NIH directive to cap facilities and administrative (indirect) cost rates, cutting funds for medical and public health research at universities and research institutions; and Massachusetts, et al v. Kennedy, which contests the federal government鈥檚 termination of previously advertised and awarded grants, including those related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In both cases, URI submitted a declaration that detailed research programs that would be impacted if terminations were allowed to proceed. In Massachusetts v. NIH, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a final judgment and permanent injunction on April 4; the defendants filed a notice of appeal.
The University also provided information or declarations for several other cases involving or led by the Rhode Island attorney general. The attorney general鈥檚 office maintains a that includes information about cases and amicus briefs filed or supported by the Rhode Island attorney general.
University Resources
We want to again highlight resources available to all members of our University community, and we encourage you to share these resources with your URI colleagues and classmates.
The Federal Actions Updates webpage serves as a central hub of information, with links to research funding and compliance guidelines, the latest campus messages, and University resources and offices, as well as guidance regarding visits or inquiries by non-URI law enforcement officers. We encourage you to check the Federal Actions Updates site regularly.
鲍搁滨鈥檚 Office of Global Initiatives serves as an important resource for our community of international students, scholars, and staff and provides in-person support as well as a 24/7 URI Office of Global Initiatives line at 401-874-4100.
The Division of Research and Economic Development continues to work directly with members of our research community and regularly posts research-related updates on the .
And information about, and links to, numerous departments, centers, and organizations at URI that support, affirm, and represent the various needs and identities of our community can be found here.
As we approach the end of the semester, we extend our thanks to all members of our community for their contributions and unwavering commitment to URI, and for embodying the that define our University.