Government Affairs Updates

We know that our community is always attuned to and invested in government policies at the local, state and federal levels. Recognizing this rapidly-changing policy landscape can feel overwhelming, we believe that from an institutional standpoint it’s important to take a measured and focused approach to understanding how changes may impact the University’s mission.

One of the roles of MSU Denver’s Office of Government and External Affairs is to assess impacts of policies, regulations, executive actions and pending legislation to our institution and our people. If they do affect students, employees or programs, we are committed to providing timely and clear guidance and support for our community.

We encourage Roadrunners and MSU Denver stakeholders to regularly check official University Communication channels and to visit this page for the latest information regarding any policy impact on our mission.

To better understand and prepare for policy shifts, the University collaborates with advisory groups such as the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the President’s Alliance, the American Council on Education (ACE), as well as the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and peer institutions across the state.

April 29, 2025 – 5 things to know about the return of student-loan collections

April 22, 2025 – President Davidson joins AACU presidents calling for constructive engagement

April 14, 2025 – President Davidson provides update for students on government impacts, budget outlook

April 8, 2025 – Can the SBA handle student loans? Trump thinks so

We are committed to keeping our campus community informed with the latest verified updates on policies and orders that may directly impact our mission and those we serve. We will share reliable information here as it becomes available.

• At this time, two grants directly made to the university have been formally non-continued/extended and one subawarded grant has been rescinded. No additional direct grants have been rescinded due to executive orders and no other stop-work orders have been received.
  • The National Science Foundation (NSF) is implementing a 15% ICR cap on all new grant awards The NSF ICR cap does not impact active grant awards. We are actively monitoring NSF proposals awaiting decision and will work with P.I.s directly should funding be awarded.
  • The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a policy change that prohibits international subawards from being nested under primary grants. Instead, subawards will be managed as independent awards by NIH. The policy is expected to be implemented by Sept 30, 2025. The NIH policy change does not affect active grant awards. Current NIH proposals will receive relevant guidance on next steps should they be awarded.
• The U.S. Department of Education announced new identity verification measures to address student financial aid fraud.
  • There will be an increase in the number of financial aid applicants selected for identity verification. To meet verification requirements, universities must observe a valid, government-issued photo ID in-person or by video conference.
• The State of Colorado issued a statement via the Colorado Department of Higher Education affirming Colorado’s current in-state tuition and financial aid policies for immigrant students are in compliance with state and federal law and remain available to eligible students.
• MSU Denver does not anticipate any immediate operational changes as the result of the executive order on accreditation. We remain in close communication with our accreditor.
• MSU Denver, a modified open-access university, does not consider race or proxy measures in admissions and has long aligned its policies with civil rights law.
• The Department of Education now requires remaining COVID relief funds (CARES, CRRSA, ARPA) to be reimbursed instead of paid upfront. This change does not impact MSU Denver.
• MSU Denver is not the recipient of any SEED or TQP federal grants.
• The Department of Education has issued a statement confirming that “no employees working on core functions of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or student loan servicing were impacted by the reduction in force.”
• There are no current impacts to Pell Grants, federal student loans, work-study programs nor direct aid to individuals.
• MSU Denver was notified by the Department of Education on 3/10/25 that our designation as a university eligible for grants under Titles III and V is renewed. We are eligible for these grants because of our status as a Hispanic Serving Institution.
• The National Institutes of Health’s new supplemental guidance imposing a standard 15% indirect cost rate on all grants does not currently impact MSU Denver, as none of our active NIH grants exceed this threshold.

More information on all recent federal regulatory changes can be found here.

Staying informed and engaged is essential. Here’s how you can help:

Stay Mission Focused: Continue doing what you do best and stay focused on our student and teaching -centered mission.

Keep Updated: Follow university communications and trusted sources to ensure you have accurate information about the impact of any policy changes on the University.

Foster Open Dialogue: Encourage respectful discussions and critical thinking in your classrooms, workplaces and communities.

Share Requests and Recommendations: Employees with general federal policy concerns should inform their supervisors, who will escalate them to deans and senior leaders for review by Government Affairs and General Counsel.

• Any direct communications from federal agencies should be shared with [email protected].
• Specific research or grant-related questions should be directed to Deans, the Office of the Provost or Student Affairs leadership.
• Specific suggestions or questions can also be shared through the President’s Idea Catcher.