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UND warns federal research cuts could cost millions after recent grant cancellations
Summary
University of North Dakota officials told the Appropriations - Education and Environment Division the school faces immediate disruptions after federal research funding reductions and that at least one HHS-funded grant that supported eight nursing students was canceled.
President Armacost told the Appropriations - Education and Environment Division that reductions in federal research reimbursements could cost the University of North Dakota between about $2 million and $15 million and that the university had just received notices halting specific projects.
“The funding that comes from health and human services to the state of North Dakota has just led to notice of cancellation of research projects and activities,” President Armacost said, adding the cancellations “will have a direct translation in terms of loss of research, academic programs, and student health support services on the campus.”
Scott Snyder, UND’s vice president for research, described the situation as “still a very, very fluid situation,” saying “it looks like grants are starting to get canceled, but we’re not getting any information about what specific grants may be canceled or the reasons why things are getting canceled.”
Snyder and Armacost told the committee that one cancelled award supported the university’s nursing program. “The grant that I mentioned that was cancelled last week supports our nursing program. I think we had eight students who are impacted by it because they’re funded. Their scholarships are funded through that grant. I think the total loss was about $2,000,000,” Snyder said.
Committee members asked UND to provide more detailed, itemized information as the situation develops. Representative Sanford requested an emailed list of which projects are delayed or canceled, affected dollar amounts and the programs impacted; President Armacost agreed to provide that information to the committee as it becomes available.
Committee discussion and questions focused on how indirect-cost (overhead) reimbursement reductions at agencies such as HHS and NIH would ripple through campus research, graduate support and student services. UND officials said national-security research and some federal funding streams remain active, and that the university seeks to pivot to opportunities where possible while tracking immediate losses.
The committee did not take a vote or adopt policy at the session; members requested UND return with a detailed accounting of projects, affected dollar amounts and student impacts once the university compiles updated information.
