March 6, 2025

Dear NDSU Community,

To keep campus informed and engaged, I am writing to provide an update regarding recent federal actions that impact higher education.

U.S. Department of Education Guidance: The Department provided an FAQ document offering further guidance on the Dear Colleague Letter issued February 14. While many of the FAQs involve institution-level activities, I would draw faculty attention to question 9 which discusses classroom activities. I understand you may have questions about these FAQs, and I would encourage you to bring your questions to your chair/head, dean or Carrie Anne Platt, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at carrieanne.platt@ndsu.edu.

NIH Indirect Funds: A federal court converted its temporary restraining order on NIH indirect funds into a preliminary injunction yesterday. The preliminary injunction should last throughout the entirety of the litigation which is likely to take a long time.

Federal Action Webpage: To stay updated on these topics or to submit feedback, please continue to reference the existing federal action webpage.

I understand that these federal actions may cause stress and uncertainty. Please know that we are committed to navigating these challenges together. By working collaboratively, we can find solutions and continue to advance our mission.

Thank you for your dedication and resilience.

David Cook