Research

PSU’s Response to Federal Directives and Executive Orders Impacting Research Awards

March 13, 2025

Portland State University (PSU) is committed to upholding the principles of academic freedom, research integrity, and public-impact scholarship. As Oregon’s urban research university, we recognize that federal directives and executive orders can have significant implications for our faculty, students, research programs, and funding landscape. 

In response to recent shifts in federal policies, PSU is committed to the following principles and actions. These changes not only affect federally funded research but also disrupt the broader funding landscape, creating challenges for state and local governments, nonprofit partners, and other funding sources that rely on stable research support.

  1. Prioritize Research Integrity and Academic Freedom, and Maintain a Commitment to Public-Impact Research 

    1. PSU remains fully committed to the guiding commitments of our Strategic Plan: Future in Focus and the RGS Roadmap to 2030, which explicitly prioritize public-impact research and diverse, community-engaged scholarship.
    2. We will continue to support faculty in conducting research aligned with disciplinary standards, ethical principles, and scholarly rigor.
    3. We remain steadfast in protecting faculty researchers against restrictions or interference that could hinder academic inquiry and academic freedom. (see Academic Freedom: Responding to Challenges and Threats)
    4. We are committed to helping students continue progressing toward their degrees and providing guidance to staff whose employment may be impacted by federal policy changes, working to minimize disruptions to academic and professional trajectories. While PSU’s financial resources are limited, we will work to minimize financial harm to affected students, faculty, and staff where possible by:
      1. Following university policies and collective bargaining agreements to ensure that any employment impacts on staff are handled in accordance with established policies and procedures.
      2. Exploring possible alternative funding sources for students and employees whose research support may be impacted by funding terminations or restrictions.
      3. Providing guidance on financial aid options, employment resources, and internal funding opportunities for those affected.
      4. Advocating for flexibility in funding policies to help mitigate disruptions and ensure continued academic and professional progress.
         

  2. Ensure Compliance While Advocating for Faculty Interests 

    1. PSU will comply with federal regulations governing research funding while ensuring that our response aligns with any restraining orders, injunctions, or legal challenges. At the same time, we will not extend beyond or pre-empt legal obligations in ways that unnecessarily compromise our institutional values, research priorities, or mission. Our approach prioritizes safeguarding research activities while maintaining compliance with the law. 
    2. PSU will work with national research organizations, peer institutions, and policymakers to push back against policies that negatively affect the research enterprise and to advocate for a funding environment that reflects the diverse and interdisciplinary nature of scholarship. 
    3. Research and Graduate Studies (RGS) and the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) will work closely with faculty and researchers to assess the impact of new sponsor directives and executive orders, provide legal and policy interpretation, and determine the university’s institutional response. They will focus on ensuring compliance while advocating for faculty interests and preserving PSU’s research priorities.
    4. The Research Development and Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) teams will directly support faculty by clarifying compliance requirements, assisting with interpreting funding guidelines, and helping researchers adapt proposals and projects to align with changing regulations. 
    5. In addition to compliance support, to help mitigate the potential impact of federal funding restrictions and shifting priorities, RGS will work with faculty to actively seek alternative funding sources—including state, local, and philanthropic support—for research areas that may be adversely affected. We also recognize that reductions in federal funding may create secondary impacts at the state and local levels, potentially limiting available resources as agencies adjust to fill funding gaps.
       

  3. Engage in Transparent Communication 

    1. We will work proactively to ensure that faculty, students, and research staff have access to up-to-date guidance on any federal actions that may impact grants, proposals, or ongoing research projects.