Dear faculty members of the graduate community,
As you are aware, there are several changes to federal funding for higher education and science. These pressures include anticipated changes to the Federal Supplemental Research and Development (F&A) rate on federal grants and reduced funding from the federal agencies. Additionally, the University anticipates lower undergraduate and Master’s enrollments this year due to national admissions trends and challenges faced by some students in obtaining visas.
To ensure our continued support for our current PhD students and to maintain a high-quality academic experience, we will implement a few changes:
- Starting September 1, 2025, all grant applications will be required to budget $16,000 for tuition (or the maximum allowed up to $16,000, unless a school policy requires a greater amount). This amount will increase annually in line with University tuition rates, but for budgeting purposes, assume a 2% increase each year. Grant awards active prior to September 1, 2025, as well as grant proposals submitted prior to September 1, 2025, should they be awarded, will remain exempt from tuition charges for their full duration. Your grants office can assist you in implementing this change to proposals submitted after September 1st, 2025 (ORPA Policy https://www.rochester.edu/orpa/_assets/pdf/prop_Tuition_Alloc.pdf).
- Beginning July 1, 2026, internal university accounts will be charged the same level of tuition as external awards (including but not limited to departmental funds, endowed funds, pilot funds, and startup funds). This requirement applies only to students supported on internal university accounts. It does not affect students supported on grant awards active prior to September 1, 2025 or on grants submitted prior to September 1, 2025, should they be awarded. In addition, startup funds that already include committed graduate student support lines will receive additional funds from the appropriate School Dean to fully cover the tuition fees for those student lines that were directly committed. Specific information will be provided by the signatories (usually the School Dean) of individual commitment letters.
- For reference, this follows the same practice as many of our peer institutions, particularly those with membership in the AAU.
In addition, there will be a significant evaluation of PhD recruitment for the 2026-2027 academic year. Over the coming months, school deans will collaborate with departments to develop specific plans for each program, particularly focused on program outcomes and supporting our current students.
The University is fully committed to PhD education and does not make these decisions lightly. These tuition charges will not result in increased charges for our graduate students. Given the current financial situation and the ongoing threat to international student recruitment, higher education, and science funding, these measures were taken to ensure financial support and continued excellence in PhD education.
Thank you for your prompt attention and continued commitment to our PhD students. If you have questions regarding these changes, please reach out to your graduate dean.
Sincerely,
Nicole S. Sampson
Provost and Chief Academic Officer
University Professor of Chemistry
Stephen Dewhurst
Vice President for Research
Vice Dean for Research, School of Medicine & Dentistry
Rick Libby
Interim Vice Provost
Interim University Dean of Graduate Education