Frustrations are high in Washington D.C. as the Republican and Democrat parties struggle to reach an agreement on the federal budget. When the clock struck midnight on October 1st, the two political parties had failed to strike a deal, prompting the first government shutdown since 1996. The primary debate on Capitol Hill is focused on President Obama’s Affordable Care Act (read more here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform). Republicans in Congress were, and continue to be, adamant to defund the act in protests that it raises taxes on the wealthy and harms private insurance companies. While they managed to pass a “stopgap bill” through the House of Representatives, it did not pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate before the deadline, prompting a government shutdown.
Protestor at the Capitol (Washington Post)
President Teresa Sullivan emailed all members of the UVA community on Tuesday, October 10th, in efforts to provide insight on what impression the shutdown may have on The University. As of right now, there have been no immediate impacts. However, that is not to say that there won’t be in the future, if Congress fails to reach a compromise in a timely manner.
First and foremost, students who pay tuition using federal grants or loans need not worry, as most of these funds have already been awarded for the Fall semester. What is raising concerns is the federally funded research that takes place here on Grounds, and whether it will be able to continue without government grants.
The University receives funding from multiple federal programs, primarily the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, and the National Institutes of Health. The Assistant Vice President of The Office of the Vice President for Research, Jeffrey Blank, said that “Of the University’s $283 million in sponsored research awards last fiscal year, roughly 62% was supported with federal funds.” The financial backing from the government goes toward purchasing equipment, conducting lab trials, and maintaining research facilities. At this time, the magnitude of the impact of the government shutdown on UVA’s ability to continue both undergraduate and graduate research is unclear.  If the shutdown continues, it is highly possible we will see huge reductions, or the complete elimination, of funding. Research is a fundamental academic endeavor here at the University of Virginia, so there is a lot at stake.
Let us all hope that the President and Congress can reach a compromise soon, before it becomes a serious problem for our University.
A student works in UVA chemistry Professor John Bushweller’s lab. Photo: Christian Hommel (http://www.c-ville.com/research-on-the-chopping-block-as-uva-faces-sequestration/#.UlbXe0I1bFI)
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