With the ongoing changes in federal policies under President Donald Trump’s administration, Montclair State University President Jonathan Koppell issued a statement to the campus community.
The email addresses Koppell’s acknowledgments of said changes, how they have or could impact the University and how the administration plans to move forward.
Summarizing what has been issued from the Oval Office, Koppell lists the following:
Research:
The government has declared that the indirect cost recovery rate for all National Institutes of Health grant would be changed to 15 percent, while the historical average has been around 27 or 28 percent. He noted that this would result in a substantial decrease to Montclair State among other institutions.
“To date, two of Montclair’s federally funded projects have been affected by executive orders with one grant canceled outright,” Koppell said.
Immigration and International Students and Employees:
Koppell explains that if federal immigration enforcement officers are seen on campus to call the University Police Department right away.
Officers will then work to verify credentials, warrants and court orders. If a valid warrant or court order is given, he adds that the University must allow them to proceed by law.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI):
With the impact on higher education institutions to be determined, Koppell mentions how President Trump’s executive order issued to ban DEI efforts across the federal government.
He further shares how federal agencies have been directed to eliminate DEI programs and all work relative to receiving federal grants and contracts.
Sex and Gender Identity:
Koppell highlights the executive order issued on Feb. 5, which restricts participation in women’s sports only to those assigned female at birth.
With the NCAA changing their policy on Feb. 6 to abide by this order, it is also said that institutions that are federally funded must comply or else become ineligible to receive further funding.
Koppell says that there is currently no impact on student-athletes participating in intercollegiate programs at the main or Bloomfield campus.
He says that the senior leadership team at Montclair State is actively monitoring developments while communicating with federal and state officials and receiving information from national higher education associations.
“As a public serving university, we believe that everyone deserves access to the high-quality opportunities for which Montclair [State] is known,” Koppell said. “Each member of our community – staff, faculty and students – should find here a welcoming and encouraging environment where they receive the support needed to achieve their full potential.”
