dbeard@dominionpost.com
MORGANTOWN – Uncertainty is the key word across the WVU campus as the university works to respond to federal measures to trim the $1,83 trillion deficit and to federal and state measures to dismantle social justice programs that some say lean too far left.
Specifically, WVU is reacting to a Friday announcement by the National Institutes of Health that it will reduce indirect cost recovery at research institutions to a flat 15% from any previously negotiated rates. This affects new grants, as well as existing grants effective on Monday, WVU said.
It is also reacting to federal and state executive orders eliminating DEI programs. WVU closed its DEI Division on Jan. 30 and established in its place the Division of Campus Engagement and Compliance.
Both issues stirred conversation and worry at Monday’s Faculty Senate meeting – starting with DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion).
Chair Diana Davis said, “This month has been full of change and uncertainty. West Virginia University is strengthened by the diversity of our faculty, staff, students and administrators. All of us provide needed and wanted contributions to our mission to develop knowledge, provide education, facilitate growth and serve the state of West Virginia.”
She repeated the ‘U’ word: “Recent state and federal actions have created uncertainty that many of you have expressed to me and other leaders of the Faculty Senate.”
No one knows the full consequences yet. “The dust has not settled.” The Senate will invite the WU administration to address the changes after the legislative session concludes on April 12, she said.
Interim Provost Paul Kreider fielded some questions on both issues. No one knows yet, he said, ow programs or academic units might be affected.
“This is a complex, system-wide undertaking and we understand that there are questions and concerns. It’s all hands on deck. We are working on this day to day,” he said. WVU President Gordon Gee was in Charleston on Monday talking with legislators in advance of the legislative session that begins on Wednesday.
Professor Joe Jones asked Kreider if will push back on the DEI measures, within the law, and assert its own values.
“We are freaking WVU, the flagship, main institution of this state,” Jones said. “We are an educational institution and this is part of our mission.” WVU needs to use its size and power.
Kreider answered, “We have been asserting our values.” But it’s walking a fine line. “We’re doing what we can do right now, politically.”
On the topic of the NIH research funding, WVU spokeswoman April Kaull told The Dominion Post that WVU projects an annual loss of approximately $12 million, “which would seriously inhibit the University’s ability to perform research.”
She explained that direct research costs cover researcher salaries, student stipends, supplies and some equipment. Indirect costs cover the university’s expenses for heat and air, building maintenance, chemical and radiation safety and disposal, library access, IT access, cybersecurity, human subjects and animal welfare support, centralized research facilities such as the Health Sciences Center Cores, the Shared Research Facilities and High-Performance Computing, among others.
These funds also support the administration and oversight of awards to ensure that funds are spent appropriately and responsibly, she said. WVU does not profit from indirect costs.
Given that the federal fiscal year is already underway, Kreider told the Faculty Senate that this fiscal year’s impact will be about $5million to $6 million. “We are still working though it and it’s very fluid.”
The Associated Press reported on Monday that 22 state attorneys general are suing the Trump administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the NIH over the funding cuts.
The NIH explained its move on Friday, as quoted by the AP: “Last year, $9B [billion] of the $35B that the NIH granted for research was used for administrative overhead, what is known as ‘indirect costs. Today, NIH lowered the maximum indirect cost rate research institutions can charge the government to 15%, above what many major foundations allow and much lower than the 60%-plus that some institutions charge the government today. This change will save more than $4B a year effective immediately.”
