Dear Colleagues, 

Like many of you, we have been following the rapid developments coming out of the new administration over the past couple of weeks. A number of federal agencies are continuing to update their policies and solicitations in response to recent White House executive orders. Several of you have shared questions about potential impact on your Research and Creative Achievement (RCA) activities.

We recognize that many of our UMBC colleagues and investigators are concerned and are looking for guidance. At this time, we are still assessing the impact on our funded programs and what steps we may need to take to follow these directives.

We are in close contact with other institutions in USM, as well as with national organizations to determine the best course of action to respond to the executive orders and the directives by the federal agencies. 

As an institution, we are closely monitoring the executive orders and agency directives and are working on understanding the potential impact on our RCA community. We will navigate these challenges together and will provide more information as it becomes available. Here is some guidance we can provide you at this time:

Pre-submission and pre-award:

• Our Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) will continue to submit proposals as submission systems at federal agencies are operational. 
• As proposal deadlines approach, please check program websites and solicitations for any updates on due dates or requirements to ensure that your proposal is compliant.
• Sponsor proposal review timelines may be extended. Please continue to review specific sponsor guidelines regularly to ensure you have the most up-to-date information. 
• Consider signing up for alerts from the agencies you apply to. 

Existing awards:

• Please continue with business as usual. The terms and conditions of your active grant remain enforceable for the current funding period as long as the award is in good standing. This includes the ability to invoice and receive reimbursement. If there is a change to your award, OSP will notify the unit business office and principal investigator. Agencies are required to notify us if there will be changes to your funding once the contract is in place.
• Try to remain in contact with your program officers but be aware that some of them may have a pause on communications.
• Monitor policy updates from the federal agency overseeing your grant for any updates on funding or compliance requirements. See also the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) resource page linked below.
• If PIs or RAs receive any award modifications or other notices, please forward them to the OSP as soon as possible (cc your unit business office), so that these can be reviewed and processed quickly.
• Notify OSP (and cc your unit business office) if you receive a "Stop Work" notice from a federal sponsor for an award. A stop work order typically means that all project work needs to stop immediately and no expenses can be incurred on the project as of the effective date of the stop work notice. In this case, principal investigators should work with their unit business office (department administrator), who will work with the post-award support staff and your unit’s OSP manager to determine the appropriate next steps.
• Closely monitor obligated budget balances to avoid deficits while awaiting future obligations. Anticipated future funding remains subject to availability of funds and should not be considered guaranteed.
• Make sure to meet existing deadlines for technical reports or other deliverables.
• If you have questions about your awards, please contact your unit business office, who should be in contact with your unit’s assigned OSP grants and contracts manager.

COGR resource page on executive orders and agency directives

The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) has developed the 2025 Administration Transition Information and Resources webpage that compiles recent executive orders, agency directives, and other information that is relevant to upcoming and current federal contracts and grants.

Sincerely,

Karl V. Steiner

Vice President for Research and Creative Achievement

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

UMBC has also created a website to serve as a central hub of relevant campus resources and information. Campus communications related to the Trump administration’s orders and actions will be housed there, as well as an updated list of resources related to federal actions that may impact UMBC. 

As we begin the Spring 2025 semester, we recognize that we are starting in a challenging and uncertain time, so we would like to remind Faculty and Staff about the various resources available to them and their household members through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Highlights of the EAP program via ComPsych/Guidance Resources:

• Available 24/7
• Free Confidential Counseling, up to 5 sessions free with a licensed counselor.
• Articles on a variety of topics: Wellness, Relationships, Financial, Legal, Lifestyle, Home and Auto.
• Live and on-demand webinars on topics such as resiliency, emotional well-being, grief & loss, stress and anger management. 
• ComPsych Huddles: interactive online groups to help you learn, grow and explore topics meaningful to your own well-being goals and self-care journey. When you join a Huddle, you will have the opportunity to learn key information on the topic, engage in discussion with your peers, and participate in live practices led by a ComPsych care professional.

There are two ways to access EAP services:

1. Call 1-855-410-7628 to speak to a counseling professional who will listen to your concerns and guide you to the appropriate services you require.

2. Visit the Guidance Resources website at www.guidanceresources.com and enter the Web ID: USMEAP

Attached is a flyer with instructions for how to login and use the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). We encourage you to post in high traffic areas in your departments. 

UMBC is a community that values inclusion, diversity, and respect for all people. We must continue to affirm these values through both our words and our actions.