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The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR), in coordination with the Office of Federal Affairs (OFA), is carefully reviewing recent executive communications and actions from the new presidential administration that could potentially affect research operations at Carolina.

We are working in lockstep with partners in our NC delegations, advocacy associations, and partner institutions to gain more information and will share it as we receive it. Until the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research issues specific guidance directing a change in status, we advise research teams to continue working on your projects as normal.

As the situation evolves:

  • If you receive information regarding a pause, change, or impact on your federally funded research from an agency, please reach out to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research at vcr@unc.edu so that we may provide clarity and assistance. You can also use this email to ask questions, and we will answer to the best of our ability.
  • If you receive a a stop-work order, please direct all agency correspondence to SponsoredPrograms@unc.edu and coordinate with the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) in all stop-work situations. OSP will review the stop-work order and clarify which transactions are allowable and which cannot be charged during the stop-work period.

Additional proposal and project-specific guidance on executive actions for federally funded programs and stop-work orders can be found on the OSP website.

Visit the Office of Federal Affair’s Trump Administration Transition Resources webpage for latest updates on federal policies and executive orders.

These sites will be updated regularly.

F&A Costs Resources

F&A costs, or indirect cost, are an essential part of the total costs of research and are necessary for safely, securely, efficiently, and effectively conducting world-leading research.

F&A Fact Sheet

F&A Overview Handout

True Costs of Conducting Research, by VCR Penny Gordon-Larsen

The “A” in “F&A:” Understanding the Value of Research Administration, by VCR Penny Gordon-Larsen

Additional Resources:

OVCR Office Hours: April 23, 2025

Due to the dynamic federal funding landscape, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) is hosting an OVCR Office Hours session on Wednesday, April 23 at 1 pm.

Register to Attend

Registration is required for Zoom link

Submit Questions

Questions encouraged, please submit questions in advanced

Session Agenda

OVCR Leadership and the Office of Federal Affairs will provide updates and respond to audience questions about recent federal funding changes.

For questions, please email OVCROfficeHours@unc.edu


Current OVCR Guidance

04/11/2025: OVCR Office Hours Summary — a recap of the OVCR Office Hours webinar held on April 9 (this is an internal page, ONYEN login required)

04/3/2025: Office of Sponsored Programs Appeal Process for Award Terminations

03/28/2025: OVCR Office Hours Summary — a recap of the OVCR Office Hours webinar held on March 25 (this is an internal page, ONYEN login required)

03/21/2025: Provost Update on Department of Education Executive Order

03/17/2025: OVCR Office Hours Summary — a recap of the OVCR Office Hours webinar held on March 13 (this is an internal page, ONYEN login required)

03/09/2025: OVCR Office Hours Summary — a recap of the OVCR Office Hours webinar held on March 6 (this is an internal page, ONYEN login required)

03/05/2025: OVCR Update on Federal Funding Programs, March 5

03/04/2025: OVCR Office Hours Summary — a recap of the OVCR Office Hours webinar held on Feb. 26 (this is an internal page, ONYEN login required)

Previous OVCR Guidance

Current Federal Updates

3/05/2025: A federal court judge in Massachusetts granted a nationwide preliminary injunction against the NIH’s proposed indirect costs rate cap of 15%. This injunction extends the judge’s earlier prohibition on implementing the cap, and therefore the University may continue to use the normal rates pursuant to our negotiated indirect cost rate agreement.

Previous Federal Updates

Helpful Information from Partner Associations

APLU, AAU, & ACE Statement On Legal Challenge to the Administration’s Cut to NIH Research

COGR 2025 Administration Transition Information & Resources

APLU Overview of President Trump’s Executive Orders