Has President Aoun issued a statement on how Northeastern is navigating the current situation, or endorsed statements issued by others?

Last updated: June 13, 2025

Yes, President Aoun sent a message to all Northeastern students, faculty, staff, and parents on Wednesday, February 12. The message was also shared via Northeastern Global News and on the university’s social media channels.

In addition, President Aoun has signed on to two public statements in support of research and innovation: “A Renewed Call to Action” Statement by the Council on Competitiveness; and “A Call for Constructive Engagement” Statement by the Association of American Colleges & Universities

Is there a process for appealing the termination of federal awards?

Last updated: September 24, 2025

Yes, Northeastern has established a formal process for reviewing all notifications of federal award terminations. A dedicated task force has been convened to ensure a coordinated and thorough response. Members of the taskforce will meet with the Principal Investigator to gather essential information and documentation, which will inform a recomminendation for senior leadership review.

To date, about 40 grants from a pool of about 900 at Northeastern have been selected for termination. Several of these terminated grants are currently moving through the appeals process, and some have been successfully reinstated. We are continuing to monitor the situation and will provide updates as needed. If you are a researcher and have received a termination notification, a taskforce member will reach out soon to schedule a meeting. For questions, please contact: sponsoredresearchquestions@northeastern.edu.

The Trump administration has announced proposals to cap indirect cost recovery at 15% across a range of federal funding agencies. How would these changes impact Northeastern?

Last updated: June 5, 2025

A 15% cap on indirect cost recovery would have a profound effect on all major research universities, including Northeastern — along with hospitals and other research institutions dedicated to medical and scientific discovery. These proposals are currently being challenged in court. Researchers will continue to be updated as this fluid situation evolves. Meanwhile, Northeastern researchers should continue to pursue their work as planned.

What is the university’s stance on academic freedom for faculty?

Last updated: February 12, 2025

As described in the Faculty Handbook, the university does not impose limitations upon the freedom of faculty members in the exposition of the subjects they teach. Faculty members are always expected to exercise appropriate discretion and professional judgment in all facets of their teaching and research, and abide by Northeastern’s policies.

Is federal financial aid funding being impacted?

Last updated: September 24, 2025

The budget reconciliation act signed into law in July 2025 will affect some aspects of financial aid for the 2026-2027 academic year. These changes include new limits on Pell Grant awards and federal student loans. At this time, proposed reductions in funding for the federal Work Study Program and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) remain under consideration as Congress determines appropriations for the FY27 budget. The university will continue to seek clarity from state and federal officials on the impact to students and their families.

What will happen if a PhD student is working on a federal grant that is suspended or terminated?

Last updated: February 6, 2025

Northeastern outlines funding commitments to PhD students in their individual admissions letters. The university will fully honor those commitments to all currently admitted PhD students, even if a student’s federal grant funding is suspended or terminated.

Effective June 9, a travel ban was issued by the U.S. which currently restricts travel from 12 countries and partially restricts travel from seven other countries. If students, faculty, or staff are affected, where should they go for support?

Last updated: August 29, 2025

Students who have F-1 or J-1 status can find more information on the Office of Global Services (OGS) website and should reach out to OGS with any questions. U.S. based employees can find more information on the HR service center. Employees whose immigration status is sponsored by Northeastern should contact the Office of the General Counsel at OGCImmigration@northeastern.edu with questions related to travel and potential impact to their employment. Members of the Northeastern community whose visa status is independent from the university are encouraged to contact an immigration attorney. This is a dynamic situation and the university is continuing to monitor the impacts to our community. 

Some students, faculty, and staff may be considering travel outside the U.S. for academic programs or vacations. What should they keep in mind?

Last updated: February 13, 2025

Members of our international and immigrant community based at a U.S. campus should continue to be proactive about travel plans and prepare for the possibility of sudden change.

Any citizens of a country that was subject to a travel ban in the past may want to be particularly cautious about international travel in the coming months.

Anyone who holds an Advanced Parole re-entry document (rather than a valid visa) and has discretionary protection (rather than legal status) may want to re-consider travel abroad.

International students, faculty, and staff who are not citizens of a country subject to a past travel ban, and who have a valid U.S. visa, face fewer risks when traveling internationally. Still, all international travelers should expect additional screening by U.S. immigration when you return from abroad.

Transgender and nonbinary U.S. citizens can continue to travel with valid passports. The administration has announced through an Executive Order that it will only issue new passports that match a citizen’s “biological sex at birth,” though this order faces legal challenges. According to guidance from the U.S. Department of State, previously issued passports will remain in effect up to their expiration date.

If students, faculty, and staff have questions about their immigration status, where can they go for support?

Last updated: September 24, 2025

Students who have F-1 or J-1 nonimmigrant visas should contact the Office of Global Services (OGS) with any questions or concerns. Employees whose immigration status is sponsored by Northeastern should contact the Office of the General Counsel at OGCImmigration@northeastern.eduwith any questions. For faculty and staff whose immigration status is based on their Northeastern employment, please contact the Office of the General Counsel at OGCimmigration@northeastern.edu.

Those with other types of visa concerns, independent from the university, are encouraged to contact an immigration attorney. Members of the Northeastern community in Boston may refer to this guidance from the Massachusetts Immigration and Refugee Advocacy Coalition.

The Global Safety Operations Center (GSOC) has established a dedicated phone line at 617-373-1234, staffed 24/7 for immediate concerns about immigration enforcement on campus. 

For additional support, Northeastern offers a wealth of student wellness resources, including University Health and Counseling Services. Faculty and staff can find assistance through Human Resources and use the Ombuds for confidential consultation on workplace issues and concerns. Any form of discrimination or harassment should be addressed to the Office for University Equity and Compliance. Any imminent threat to safety should be reported to NUPD at 617-373-3333.

The administration has eliminated support for DEI within the federal government and across higher education. What does that mean for Northeastern?

Last updated: September 24, 2025

Northeastern’s commitment to embracing our entire global community remains steadfast. While internal structures and approaches may be adjusted to ensure continued compliance with the law, the university’s core values don’t change. We believe that embracing our differences — and building a community of belonging — makes Northeastern stronger.

What is the university doing to support the rights of LGBTQIA+ members of the community?

Last updated: September 24, 2025

Northeastern remains committed to providing a living, learning, and working environment free from discrimination and harassment for all members of our community. Moreover, the university’s Policy on Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity remains fully in effect. Several states where Northeastern maintains campuses (including MA, ME, CA, WA, VA, and NC) have laws expressly prohibiting gender discrimination.

This policy, and the commitment we reaffirm here, includes unwavering support and respect for transgender members of our community across all of our campuses. If these individuals have any concerns, we encourage them to contact our wellness, health and counseling, or ombuds services, or contact human resources or student life for support.