Dear faculty and staff colleagues,
Over the past few months, we have sent regular updates about potential reductions in federal research funding for Dartmouth. I am writing today because we are now experiencing some cancellations of specific research awards. While the number is small—especially compared to our peers—the impact is nonetheless meaningful and it underscores the need for us to address these challenges together as a community.
This week, the National Endowment for the Humanities froze Dartmouth’s access to funds for several awards without notice. Many of our academic peers are experiencing the same issue. We also received notice last week that a few active National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards will not be renewed past their current funding year, largely because the NIH programs under which these grants were funded have been discontinued. The collective impact spans anthropology, biochemistry, community and family medicine, history, languages, libraries, and molecular and cellular biology—all areas of scholarship that are critically important to Dartmouth and to society.
The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) has been in direct contact with all who are affected. As I shared last month, we anticipated a range of financial scenarios, including this one, and there are resources available to assist researchers and their teams. In addition to coordinating existing school and divisional processes, the deans offices’ also serve as points of contact for requests for central bridge funding, when needed, to address the impact of these cancellations.
Please continue to consult with OSP before taking any action regarding notices you may receive. As President Beilock wrote last week, academic freedom—and the research and teaching that occurs because of it—is core to our mission. We are grateful for the work you do every day. As we navigate the rapidly changing federal policy landscape, we will continue to update you about how those actions are affecting Dartmouth research, our international community, and other areas.
We are here to support you and we will keep moving forward together.
Sincerely,
David Kotz ’86
Provost