"Facing Change, Fueling Progress: UIC Pushes Forward Through Federal Challenges"

Image from the official UIC Instagram

In these uncertain times, the world around us is shifting rapidly—often in ways that go unnoticed. During this constant change, the UIC community is facing significant challenges head-on, working tirelessly behind the scenes to adapt, respond, and support one another through it all.

With many federal law changes, federal authorities have altered the immigration status of several UIC international students and staff. Those individuals are in the U.S. on “non-immigration visas” under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, administered by the Department of Homeland Security.

As the federal government does not directly notify universities when a student or scholar visa is revoked, this can leave affected individuals vulnerable with little or no warning. These changes can occur for many reasons, including shifts in policy or administrative delays, and universities have no legal authority to reverse them. As a result, students may be unable to enroll in classes, complete their degrees, or remain in the country legally—often with limited time to make alternate plans.

This also has directly impacted many departments as many of the International Language departments, like Polish, risk the complete disappearance of all its classes as its main professor, Dr. Izolda, and her professor contract and visa have not been renewed.

UIC’s Office of International Services (OIS) discovered the effect of these changes through regular monitoring and thus has contacted each affected student to offer support and recourses. Deans have contacted students likewise to ensure students do not lose their college credits. 

Although UIC itself cannot have legal authority to reverse the termination of these visas, UIC continues to collaborate with national legal and civil organizations to protect the rights of UIC’s international students. With many changes to the Department of Education, cuts to federally funded research have led to significant legal challenges and financial issues for many university departments nationwide.

Multiple states have filed lawsuits challenging the legality of recent grant terminations, particularly those related to medical research.

Illinois is currently protected under a temporary restraining order. However, many policy changes at deferral funding agencies have created challenges for UIC researchers

According to an official UIC email, “To date, UIC has received 29 grant termination notices, totaling approximately $12 million,” 

These developments underscore the growing instability in the relationship between higher education institutions and federal agencies. As universities like UIC face mounting uncertainty around research funding, faculty and students bear the consequences—through stalled projects, reduced opportunities for innovation, and diminished academic resources. The long-term implications of these cuts could compromise the university’s ability to attract top talent, maintain competitive research output, and support its public service and discovery mission.

UIC is working with university counsel to explore legal and administrative responses to these terminations and with other Deans to instigate the next steps for UIC research. Despite this challenge, UIC still has new awards, expenditures, and proposals that are pretend pending. 

Ultimately, UIC is engaging in five-year financial planning and annual budget-reduction exercises to ensure all units resolve any budget deficits over the next three years, prepare for potential economic disruptions, and prioritize resources.

While the current moment presents undeniable challenges, it also offers an opportunity for resilience, innovation, and growth. UIC remains committed to its mission of excellence in research, education, and service. 

By leaning into strategic planning, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, the university community is adapting and laying the groundwork for a stronger, more sustainable future. With the dedication of its faculty, staff, and students, UIC will continue to rise as a leader in higher education—proving that even in the face of adversity, progress is always possible.

“Sometimes the reason things seem hard is because they actually are hard. We ask our entire UIC community to be kind to one another and generous with yourselves. We will be more successful in addressing our challenges if we face them together. Our shared mission remains our greatest strength,”

(All information from UIC Official messages from Marie Lynn Miranda, PhD Chancellor, Karen Colley, PhD, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and Robert Barish, MD, MBA Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs)