Listening Sessions on the Current Climate

March 10, 2025

Dear Rutgers–New Brunswick Community:
 
As we navigate these challenging and unpredictable times, the Rutgers–New Brunswick leadership team is committed to supporting you and the important work you do to advance Rutgers’ education and research mission.
 
During this period of unprecedented change and uncertainty, our campus community has significant and well-founded concerns that we are diligently working to address. To assist us in this endeavor, we must better understand your experiences, observations, and feelings.
 
Informational Webinar
To that end, my leadership team will join with key offices to hold a webinar, open to all Rutgers–New Brunswick faculty and staff, this Friday, March 14, from 11 a.m. to noon to inform you about the current landscape. Faculty and staff interested in attending can register here.
 
Small-Group Listening Sessions
We also wish to give you—our faculty and staff—the opportunity to keep my leadership team informed about how the current climate affects you, your colleagues, and your important work. Beginning March 26, we will launch a series of small-group listening sessions. Our goal is to allow you to speak candidly and provide the insights we need to better support you. Faculty and staff who would like to attend a listening session can indicate their interest via this registration link. While we will endeavor to accommodate everyone, please understand that capacity is limited to ensure meaningful discussions.
 
In the meantime, please know that we are committed to protecting and supporting the critical work of this institution:
 
Advocacy
Our office for government relations has been keeping us abreast of Federal government changes impacting higher education and advocating for institutional support. In addition, I have engaged with other university presidents and higher education organizations and visited with our state legislators and those in Washington, D.C. to discuss how these changes impact us and solicit their support for our institution and the higher education sector.   
 
Research
For decades, groundbreaking discoveries at research universities have powered America’s global leadership. The partnership between federal agencies and academic institutions has created a uniquely American ecosystem of innovation that drives economic growth, improves physical and mental health, and addresses our most pressing societal challenges.
 
However, this model of research and discovery is at risk for some of the important research underway at Rutgers and across the country. Proposed changes in federal funding could severely hamper our ability to maintain the infrastructure necessary for supporting groundbreaking research.
 
To address this threat, Rutgers collaborates with key higher education organizations, including the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), and has joined other efforts to challenge problematic federal directives and clarify policies through legal and legislative avenues. This coordinated advocacy has yielded positive results, and we will continue using this approach to promote and protect our academic and research interests while supporting our staff, faculty, and students.
 
On campus, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR) is partnering with the Rutgers Office for Research (OFR) to review all stop-work orders, attestations, and related requests our principal investigators have received. Together with the Office of the General Counsel, they provide guidance to ensure compliance and maintain research integrity.
 
In addition, the OVPR is hosting meetings with the Rutgers–New Brunswick research deans to discuss federal mandates and is working alongside the Rutgers Research Alliance, an advocacy group for Rutgers–New Brunswick principal investigators. The OVPR has also initiated new weekly “office hours” for faculty and staff to discuss no-cost extensions, modifications to scopes of work, indirect cost waivers, and any other concerns. To learn more, contact nb-research@rutgers.edu.
 
Curriculum and Academic Freedom
Rutgers is dedicated to upholding academic freedom and our core values of inclusion and access. Our commitment to knowledge acquisition through rigorous, evidence-based inquiry defines our identity, and we stand firm in our dedication to academic freedom.
 
Scholarships and Programs
We are reviewing all scholarships and programs in accordance with the law and federal guidance. Our goal is to ensure that scholarships continue to support access to qualified students who might not otherwise have the opportunity for a Rutgers education. Similarly, we will collaborate with faculty and staff to maintain programs that facilitate understanding across differences, contribute to a sense of belonging, and help foster an understanding of historical and contemporary challenges.   
 
Financial Risk
We understand that many faculty members rely on NSF, NIH, and USDA grants, which are now at risk. We also know that indirect cost reductions from federal grants threaten research infrastructure and university support services. Some of our scholars fear slower review processes and reduced funding, which has implications for Ph.D. student positions and staff.
 
In light of these challenges, we are developing contingency plans to address as many gaps as possible. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact your deans, who will work with the Chancellor's office to mitigate or resolve disruptions to your work.
 
Student and Faculty Wellbeing
We are committed to supporting our students and faculty in every way possible—including physical safety and mental health.
 
Recent federal actions have understandably raised concerns for undocumented members of our campus community. As a reminder, should you see members of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Rutgers property, please do not engage with them directly. Instead, contact the Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) for assistance.
 
Our community is diverse, and these recent changes at the federal level affect us differently. We do not presume that we are all experiencing these events similarly. However, for those grappling with the issues we’ve addressed here, these may be stressful, even frightening times. It is important to consider how your experiences may affect your mental and emotional wellbeing. Remember that Rutgers offers many resources to help you cope. For more information, please visit the Scarlet Well website: https://newbrunswick.rutgers.edu/scarletwell.
 
A Note of Appreciation
Last week, I met with a special session of the New Brunswick Faculty Council whose representatives collected input from their colleagues and provided invaluable, detailed information about concerns being raised across our campus community. I appreciate their partnership. My leadership team will continue to maintain open lines of communication with the council and its subcommittees.
 
Finally, to all our Rutgers–New Brunswick staff and faculty: I am grateful for everything you do to fulfill our university’s mission of excellence in education, scholarship, and public service while upholding our values of free expression and inquiry, inclusion, and access.
 
Finally, I hope to see you at one of our listening sessions. Your ideas and perspectives will guide our efforts to protect and support our institution. Make sure your voice is heard!
 
Sincerely,
 
Francine Conway, Ph.D.
Chancellor and Distinguished Professor
Rutgers University–New Brunswick