News

Student Data; NIH Strategy; Office of Naval Research

BU IN DC

Harvey Young of the College of Fine Arts attended the Association for Theatre in Higher Education 2026 Annual Conference between July 22nd and 26th.

Veronique Mintz (CAS '28) introduced Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD) during the Committee on House Administration Intern Lecture Series on July 16th.

SENATE COMMITTEE ADVANCES HIGHER ED BILLS

On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions approved several higher education-related bills. The College Transparency Act (S. 2511), which passed with a bipartisan 21-1 vote, would establish a postsecondary education data system to provide prospective students with detailed information on student outcomes, including enrollment, completion, and post-college earnings across institutions and majors. The committee also advanced bills that would prohibit the transfer of certain Department of Education offices to other federal agencies; streamline the process for students with disabilities to obtain campus accommodations; and allow colleges and universities to identify certain state agency student loan lenders as "preferred lenders." Several of the measures have counterparts in the U.S. House of Representatives, though they have not yet been scheduled for consideration.

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NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH TO HOST WEBINAR ON FUNDING STRATEGY

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will host a conversation with NIH leadership on its Unified Funding Strategy on Friday, August 14, 2026, between 10 and 11 a.m. The strategy guides agency officials as they "make funding decisions that consider peer review assessments of scientific merit, Institute/Center priorities, scientific opportunity, program balance, geographic balance, and workforce needs." During the webinar, NIH leaders will discuss the policy's rationale, goals, and implementation, as well as address questions from the extramural research community. Attendees may submit questions in advance, and a recording will be made available after the event.

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BUZZ BITS...

• The Office of Naval Research (ONR) released the ONR Science & Technology Strategy for 2026 last week, outlining scientific priorities to align ONR's portfolio with Department of Defense goals and support warfighters. Among other topics, the document indicates ONR will hold Focus Area Crosswalks to "consider and brainstorm future warfighting needs" and details how the agency intends to use tools like AI.
• On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a new policy prohibiting federally funded "dangerous gain-of-function" (DGOF) research and increasing federal oversight of certain international research collaborations. Implementation guidance is expected from federal agencies within 120 days.
• Last Thursday, the Department of Education (ED) issued a final rule removing disparate-impact provisions from its Title VI civil rights regulations. Under the rule, data showing unequal outcomes alone will not be sufficient to establish a civil rights violation; instead, ED will focus its enforcement on claims involving evidence of intentional discrimination.

A Note To Our Readers: Due to the Congressional District Work Period, Beltway BUzz will temporarily pause publication. In the meantime, be sure to visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn.

White House R&D Priorities; Immigration Town Halls; Genesis Mission

WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES UPDATES ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PRIORITIES

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released its annual memorandum detailing the Trump Administration's research priorities on Wednesday, alongside a new report titled "Science: A New Golden Age."  The documents reaffirm the Administration's enthusiasm for AI-enabled science and recommend new funding mechanisms that emphasize individual scientists rather than institutions. Following the release of the report, OSTP Director Michael Kratsios testified before the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, where he answered questions about the report, the Administration's proposed cuts to science budgets, and delays in spending Congressionally appropriated science funds. Federal agencies will have 90 days to submit an action plan detailing how they might implement the new recommendations.

Read the memo

ADMINISTRATION ISSUES NEW RULE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued new federal limits on the time international students may remain in the United States while enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. The new rule, which takes effect on September 15th, replaces the current "duration of status" framework, where students are generally admitted for the duration of their academic program, with a fixed admission period of up to four years or the length of a student's academic program, whichever is shorter. Students who need additional time to complete a degree, begin a new program, or participate in post-completion Optional Practical Training will be required to either file fee-based Extension of Stay applications with DHS or depart and re-enter the United States. The International Students & Scholars Office is hosting a virtual town hall series to help the BU community understand the federal changes with sessions on July 29th, August 18th, and September 23rd.

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BUZZ BITS...

• On Wednesday, several federal science agencies announced their plans to accelerate AI-enabled research as part of the Trump Administration's Genesis Mission. The National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, and Department of Health and Human Services previewed future funding opportunities that align with the Genesis Mission, as the Department of Energy announced its first round of awards.
• On Tuesday, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce advanced the Title IX Clarification Act, which would require a biological definition of sex to be used for nondiscrimination requirements tied to federal funding. The bill would face long odds in the Senate, making it unlikely to progress much further.
• The Department of Education recently issued a final rule creating new accountability standards for postsecondary programs, tying federal student aid eligibility to graduate earnings. Under the rule, to avoid losing access to the federal Direct Loan program, undergraduate programs must show that their graduates earn more than high school graduates. In addition, graduate programs must demonstrate that their graduates earn more than bachelor's degree holders.