News
NSF Director; Accreditation; DOE F&A Caps
BU IN DC
Indara Suarez of the College of Arts & Sciences met with Congressional offices to discuss the importance of investing in physics research as part of the U.S. Large Hadron Collider Users Association (USLUA) visit to Capitol Hill on April 24th.
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION DIRECTOR RESIGNS
National Science Foundation (NSF) Director Sethuraman "Panch" Panchanathan announced yesterday that he is stepping down as leader of the agency, 16 months before the end of his six-year term. Panch joined the agency in 2020 after being appointed by President Donald J. Trump in 2019. His decision comes on the heels of the Trump Administration dissolving the agency's advisory committees and announcing the termination of NSF grants that do not align with the Administration's priorities. NSF did not announce an interim leader.
TRUMP ISSUES HIGHER EDUCATION EXECUTIVE ORDERS
On Wednesday, President Donald J. Trump issued several executive orders pertaining to higher education. They include:
- The "Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education" order directs the Secretary of Education to monitor accrediting agencies for compliance with civil rights laws, urges the Secretary to recognize new accreditors, and criticizes law and medical school accreditors for prioiritizing diversity.
- The "Transparency Regarding Foreign Influence at American Universities" order directs the Secretary to require colleges to disclose more specific information about foreign gifts and to make the information public.
The Department of Education will decide how to implement each order, including the specific steps required.
JUDGE BLOCKS DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RESEARCH CUTS
Last week, a district court judge issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Department of Energy from moving forward with its planned 15% cap on reimbursements for facilities & administrative (F&A) costs for university grantees. A coalition of universities sued to stop the Trump Administration's April 11th action, which would apply to both current and future college and university grants. The Administration had previously proposed a similar cap on F&A reimbursement for National Institutes of Health grants; that cap is on hold due to a permanent nationwide injunction.
BU Launches an Open-Source Infectious Diseases Monitoring Tool Powered by AI and Human Experts
The Biothreats Emergence, Analysis and Communications Network (BEACON) is slated to become a global hub for critical information about emerging outbreaks.
The Rise of a Powerhouse BU Department: Economics
Notable alums—from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to the prime minister of Iceland to President Trump’s chief economic advisor to the Illinois secretary of state—have all helped boost the department’s notoriety, while talk about tariffs has made its subject matter all the more timely.
How Could the SAVE Act Impact Young Voters and Married People Who’ve Changed Their Name?
BU political scientist Christine Slaughter says that changing the electoral process can deter people from the polls.
Guggenheim Fellowships Awarded to Six BU Researchers and Scholars
Winners, recognized as “visionary scientists, scholars, writers, and artists,” will use honor to support work on artificial intelligence, space science, American history, and more.
Boston Globe 2025 Sustainability Summit
United States Senator Ed Markey (Hon.’04, D-MA) spoke at the Boston Globe Sustainability Summit held in BU’s Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
BU Backs Lawsuit to Block Department of Energy Research Cuts
University research on climate, wind energy, affordable fuel alternatives all at risk.
Alum, a Former Peace Corps Leader, Fetes BU Pardee at 10th Anniversary Celebration
Carrie Hessler-Radelet (CAS’79, Hon.’16) says global turmoil offers a chance to do foreign assistance better.
Resource Guide: Everything BU International Students and Faculty Need to Know Right Now
Amid challenging times, Boston University is supporting its international community with resources and info ranging from visas to travel to their legal rights. “We are stronger because we come from so many different backgrounds and have different experiences,” President Melissa Gilliam says.
Investing in Students, First Generation, Boston Medical Center
BU IN DC
BU Urges Lawmakers to Invest in Students and Research
Boston University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Tufts University urge lawmakers to invest in student aid, research, and the humanities as they craft spending bills this year.
STUDENT LIFE
How BU Became a National Model and Destination for First-Generation Students
A generous gift and two impassioned leaders in Executive Director Maria Erb and Professor Anthony Jack helped give rise to Boston University’s Newbury Center. Students say it’s been life-changing.
ON THE CHARLES RIVER
BU President and Boston Medical Center Health System CEO on Their Shared Vision, Optimism, and Overcoming Turbulence
Melissa Gilliam and Alastair Bell discuss their partnership, the outsized role of Boston Medical Center — Boston’s essential hospital and BU’s teaching hospital — the search for a new medical school dean, and headwinds and challenges.
Listen in on their conversation
THOUGHT LEADERS
In Case You Missed It...
Rory Van Loo of the BU School of Law testified before a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee about Big Fixes for Big Tech... Mark Williams of the BU Questrom School of Business discussed tariffs and the potential for a recession in Newsweek... The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's new report entitled "Identifying Midlife Social Exposures That Might Modify Risks of Cognitive Impairment Associated with Early Life Disadvantage" features work by BU School of Public Health Professor Jennifer Weuve and BU Center for Innovation in Social Science Director Deborah Carr... ABC Newsfeatured the new Older Adult Re-Entry Unit at the Middlesex County Jail designed by researchers at BU Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Science... Matt Motta of BU School of Public Health talked to NPR about vaccine skepticism and its impact on pandemic preparedness.