UB anticipates minimal short-term impact on current research projects and no disruption in the distribution of student financial aid due to the federal government shutdown that started at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

Research projects at UB that have already received federal grant funding should not be affected by the shutdown. However, it is expected that funding agencies will furlough or reduce staffing levels. As a result, UB researchers would be unable to apply for new federal grant funding, renew existing projects or receive technical assistance on recently submitted or pending applications during the shutdown.

“While we anticipate minimal short-term impact on current research projects, the effect of the shutdown on UB’s research operations in general will depend on both the length of the shutdown as well as the guidance provided by the affected federal agencies,” said Venu Govindaraju, vice president for research and economic development, in a memo to deans and principal investigators (PIs) on Tuesday.

Govindaraju encourages all campus PIs to stay current on the latest communications and updates from sponsoring agencies. PIs with questions or concerns can visit the VPR's website or contact VPR staff at vpr@research.buffalo.edu for assistance.

Federal financial aid
For students, federally funded aid programs such as Pell Grants fall under mandatory spending and are not expected to be affected by a short-term shutdown. Additionally, the majority of federal financial aid for the fall semester has already been drawn down and disbursed, further reducing the potential for direct student impact.

Visa processing
While U.S. consulates and embassies generally remain open during government shutdowns, services for American citizens are given priority. As a result, international students, visiting scholars and new faculty hires may experience delays in visa processing.