Published March 24, 2025
Dear University Community:
Last month, we wrote to you about the changing federal landscape. Since that communication, the pace of these changes has not decelerated. Much like you, we have been working to stay current on the federal executive orders, directives and court rulings that are impacting UB and our entire higher education community.
These changes are affecting, among other things, F&A rates (i.e., indirect research costs); federal research priorities; academic freedom; diversity, equity and inclusion research activities and programs; immigration policies; and the viability of the U.S. Department of Education.
From the outset, the executive orders issued this year have been detrimental to U.S. higher education and contrary to our university’s mission and priorities. Since January, we have been working diligently with our academic deans, UB’s Office of General Counsel, SUNY General Counsel and the Office of the SUNY Chancellor to fully understand these actions and their implications for our university. Moreover, we, along with our SUNY system colleagues, have been engaged in efforts to restore research and programmatic activities that have been affected.
In terms of advocacy, we are actively engaging with the members of our New York federal delegation. At the national level, we are collaborating with our colleagues in the AAU, APLU and AAMC to underscore the benefits that both university-based, federally funded research and an educated citizenry provide to the nation’s economy, national security, national competitiveness and overall quality of life.
We recognize that the shifting federal landscape may be deeply troubling to you personally and as a member of our university community. We also know that, throughout the University at Buffalo’s 179-year history, our university has faced profound changes and challenges. In that time, we have continued to flourish. As a result, UB is one of our nation’s premier public research universities. Our university attracts students, faculty and staff from a multitude of backgrounds, with a wide range of perspectives, from across the nation and around the world—all drawn to UB for our commitment to excellence and impact.
As a bastion of intellectual inquiry and service to communities near and far, UB has transformed the trajectory of students’ lives over generations, contributed to the health and well-being of countless individuals, been integral to the prosperity of our region, made our world safer and our nation more competitive, and inspired the human spirit through art, music and performance.
This is who we are as a university—a welcoming scholarly community where everyone can thrive. Together, we will continue to pursue our mission-driven priorities and, in so doing, uphold our cherished university values.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have comments, questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Satish K. Tripathi
President
A. Scott Weber
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs