News and Announcements
Don’t forget about the School of Education’s latest funding opportunity — Graduate Student Travel Grants. These grants allow graduate students, with advisor approval, to travel to off-campus sites, nationally or internationally, to conduct research and scholarship activities necessary for degree completion. Learn more and spread the word to your graduate students.
Federal agencies will soon prohibit grantees from using appropriated funds to support any bilateral participation, collaboration, or coordination with China or Chinese-owned entities. Although requirements are being implemented on an agency‑by‑agency basis, PIs and others working on federal awards are encouraged to keep this in mind.
NIH seeks community feedback through two webinars on the next agency-wide strategic plan, which will guide its work over the next five years. Learn more and register to attend on the NIH website.
Recent discussions at the February Council on Government Relations meeting highlighted several federal research administration trends that may affect School of Education faculty, PIs, and administrators. RSP is monitoring these changes closely and will continue to share updates and guidance.
- Plan to spend awarded funds on time. Carryovers and No‑Cost Extensions are receiving increased scrutiny, especially when large balances remain. Do not assume extensions will be approved.
- Monitor award finances closely. RSP will share tools (including the Workday Award Burn Rate report) to help PIs and departments track spending and avoid issues.
- Expect slower federal responses. Staffing shortages across agencies are causing delays in communication, approvals, and award notices.
- Be aware of funding uncertainty. Delays in releasing congressionally approved funds may be contributing to fewer and slower new awards.
- NIH proposals are getting simpler. NIH is reducing and simplifying funding announcements, increasing the use of parent Notice of Funding Opportunities, and moving from letters of support to letters of collaboration.
Congratulations to Arts faculty on their exhibitions currently showing outside of Wisconsin:
- Christina A. West, Body Shop | Scarab Club, 217 Farnsworth, Detroit, MI | March 26, 2026, 6–8 p.m.
- Germit Grimm, A Human Experience | Henry Ford College, Sisson Art Gallery, 5101 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, MI | March 2–28, 2026
- Meg Mitchell, A Fragile Unfolding: From the Seat to the Horizon | 2nd Story, 522 West Short St., Lexington, KY | Jan. 17–April 3, 2026
- Michael Velliquette, Liminal | Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (MoCRA), Saint Louis University, 3700 W Pine Blvd, St. Louis, MO | March 1–April 19, 2026
- Tom Jones & John Hitchcock, We Each Hold Stories | The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Blvd., Saint Louis, MO | Nov. 2, 2025–May 2, 2026
Build connections and discover opportunities for collaboration at the March 2026 SoE Research Collaborative Community of Practice on March 25, 2026. This month’s meeting will include a discussion with Chris Pfund around mentoring.
Events and Learning Opportunities
- March 16, 2026, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: NIH-Wide Strategic Plan Input Webinar
- March 25, 2026, 10–11 a.m.: March 2026 SoE Research Collaborative Community of Practice
- April 8, 2026, 1:30–2:30 p.m.: NIH-Wide Strategic Plan Input Webinar
- April 10, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.: Wisconsin Research & Education Network (WREN) Research Hub Meeting
- April 17, 2026, 10–11:30 a.m.: Youth Protection In Research Labs Virtual Workshop
Art Exhibits:
- Tom Jones, Tom Jones Returns to West: Photography Exhibition | Madison West High School Art Gallery, 30 Ash Street, Madison, WI | March 4–April 28, 2026
- Angela Johnson, Synthesis: Bits and Pieces | Mandelbaum and Albert Family Vision Gallery, McPherson Eye Research Institute, 9th floor, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave., Madison, WI | Feb. 5–May 29, 2026
- Gerit Grimm, Farther Afield | Overture Center for the Arts, Gallery III, 201 State Street, Madison, WI | March 17–May 31, 2026
- Michael Velliquette, Cut It Out: Papercutting Traditions and Beyond | Racine Art Museum, 441 Main Street, Racine, WI | Feb. 18–Oct. 3, 2026