Federal government information

If you have a public information officer, communications professional or web manager in your unit, check with them or the UAF federal response team first, as they are responsible for most institutional websites. Many pages have already been updated or are in the process of being updated. Here’s some basic guidance if you need to make updates to a page or pages you manage:

1. Search for the relevant terms in the administrative side of your web platform. These terms are based on the Board of Regents' Feb. 21 motion: DEI, diversity, inclusion, equity, diverse, affirmative action, equitable, inclusive, inclusivity. 

2. Review each of the pages that contains results: 

   • You don’t need to change things that are not related to DEI. Examples include things like the word “biodiversity” or the word “equity” in a financial context. 

   • You don’t need to change archival materials like old blog posts, meeting minutes or events that already happened. If you can, make sure those things are dated so it’s clear they are archival.

   • You don’t need to scan and update PDFs. They are also considered archival.

3. Edit the text to align with the board’s direction. Here are some ideas for words you could use instead: 

   • Diverse, diversity - many, varied, myriad, various

   • Inclusive, inclusivity - welcoming, belonging, you belong

   • Equity - fair, fairness, equal, equality, equal access, equal opportunity

   • Affirmative action - equal access, equal opportunity

   • Gender-inclusive - gender-neutral

4. Save the pages and republish. If available, make a log note in your content management system: Updated per BOR motion 2/21/25 re: federal guidance

Yes. The university’s required language is still in effect but has been recently updated. You can visit UAF’s writing guidelines for the new language.

No. Use already-printed materials until they are gone. The language just needs to be updated for the next time you print your materials. 

No. Researchers should continue to develop and submit grant proposals, unless they have specific guidance from the funding agency not to do so.

Yes, however it's strongly recommended that you do so using your personal time and resources. You can find more information on the rules surrounding advocacy on the UA federal relations website. Look for the "Advocacy & Outreach to Policymakers" section. 

In most cases, researchers and others working on grant-funded projects should continue to work unless otherwise directed by the university. In some cases, specific guidance from a funding agency may require adjustments to project efforts, but principal investigators should coordinate any changes with the research administration staff supporting their programs.  Where guidance is not sufficient to determine particular impacts or appears inconsistent with prior university guidance, researchers and research administration staff can reach out to the provost or their vice chancellors for additional assistance or to obtain an opinion from UA General Counsel about what actions, if any, should be taken.

For students, counseling is available through the UAF Student Health and Counseling Center or via the TimelyCare platform. Concerns about student well-being can also be directed to the CARE team. For employees, the Employee Assistance Program offers resources and access to counseling. In addition, the UAF health plan covers mental health services, including TalkSpace, an online counseling resource.

While we don’t have details of how the federal executive orders will be implemented, international students who have concerns should remain in close contact with International Student and Scholar Services for guidance.

We don’t have details about how students with these immigration statuses may be affected. Students who fall into these categories may want to speak with an immigration attorney. The American Immigration Lawyers Association is a good resource with information for students who are undocumented.

We aren’t expecting that student aid will be affected by any of the current executive orders and will continue to monitor the federal landscape. If you have concerns about your financial aid, please reach out to the financial aid office.

We don’t yet have a solid definition of what the federal government considers DEIA and what it doesn’t, but we will share that information if it becomes available. In the meantime, the Board of Regents has provided some guidance in a Feb. 21 motion. 

No. Students with disabilities who are registered with Disability Services still have the same accommodations that they had before the shift in federal policy. If you have questions about accommodations, please contact UAF Disability Services.