Effects of the Government Shutdown at Boston University

TO: Boston University Faculty

FROM: Jean Morrison, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer

DATE: January 22, 2018

SUBJECT: Effects of the Government Shutdown at Boston University

As you are aware, the federal government shut down on Friday evening when Congress and the White House couldn’t reach agreement on a federal budget. While early indications are that the shutdown may be brief, it will likely impact Boston University’s interactions with the federal government. Unless informed otherwise, investigators should assume that deadlines for proposal submissions will remain the same. However, federal grants systems may become unavailable. For example, as of this writing, FastLane is currently offline. We do not expect that federal student aid will be affected.

Here are some resources you may find useful:

• Federal agency contingency plans in the event of a shutdown
• Updates from the White House Office of Management and Budget

When the federal government reopens, you can expect that program officers and other contacts may need additional time to respond to your inquiries as they adjust.

BU Federal Relations is closely monitoring developments. Additional updates will be available on the Research Support website. If you have questions, please contact Diane Baldwin or your OSP contact.

Cc: Academic Deans

Provost’s Cabinet