International Scholars Face New Visa Hurdles
BU IN DC
Kevin Outterson of the School of Law spoke at a Congressional briefing on antimicrobial resistance hosted by the Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease on October 8.
Nahid Bhadelia addressed a Chamber of Commerce Foundation briefing on the importance of flu shots on October 22.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS FACE NEW VISA HURDLES
On October 8, the Trump Administration released two new regulations that significantly impact the ability of universities to sponsor international faculty, postdoctoral associates, and staff utilizing H-1B visas. The U.S. Department of Labor issued a rule that would immediately increase the salary that visa holders must be paid, some by as much as $60,000. The second rule, from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, narrows what occupations qualify for a visa. Numerous businesses and universities quickly filed suit to stop the rules, arguing that the government did not provide a good reason for bypassing the normal comment period in the rulemaking process.
BUZZ BITS…
- On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Education announced it would tighten its oversight of how universities report foreign gifts under federal law after releasing a report alleging that institutions were purposely under reporting. The announcement comes months after Congress had scolded the Department for its lax oversight and colleges had repeatedly requested guidance on how best to report gifts.
- The National Science Foundation has selected Dr. Sean Johnson to be the next associate director of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate. He began his tenure in September. Dr. Johnson has worked at NSF since 2009, and previously served in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
- Federal Relations has updated the compendium of federal funding opportunities in the behavioral and social sciences, arts, and humanities available on our website. The primer provides detailed information about grant programs at the National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Institutes of Health, and other agencies.
EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
Are you interested in building towards a large-scale research award but unsure how to get started? Join the Office of Research and BU Federal Relations for a webinar on “Going Big: Strategies for Securing Large-Scale Federal Awards” on November 2 at 3 pm. Hear from Lewis-Burke Associates, a federal lobbying and consulting firm in Washington, DC, who will discuss strategies for researchers to ramp up from an individual federal grant to a center grant. BU Professors David Bishop and Merav Opher will also share lessons they have learned in successfully obtaining large center funding.
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