During a government shutdown, agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) generally pause new grant awards, proposal reviews, and program launches. Institutions with existing federal research awards may still be able to draw down previously obligated funds, but technical assistance, progress reviews, and application processing are typically suspended.

According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), most federal research staff and grant managers are classified as nonessential and furloughed, resulting in delays that can extend well beyond the shutdown itself. Past shutdowns have led to cancellations of reserved time on national lab instruments, closures of field research sites on federal lands, etc.

The impact on undergraduate research is not yet clear, but students applying for NSF, NIH or other federally supported programs might experience delays in response times to email and program timelines might change. UROP advises students involved in projects to stay in communication with project mentors and be attentive to program websites for updates.

CU Boulder’s administration is working to minimize disruptions to research and other grant-supported activities. In the unlikely event that students with UROP funding experience changes in their ability to accomplish project goals, such as the availability of mentors and/or resources, UROP will not withdraw previously awarded funding.
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Cultivating Brave Spaces

We work to cultivate brave spaces for critical conversations by supporting our project mentors with an online Mentoring Guide that includes information about the Lightbulb Moment and describes the transformative power of storytelling in the practice of inclusive mentorship. We also host workshops on storytelling in partnership with campus units and continue to explore partnerships for faculty development.

Though some participants have been reluctant to share their stories in these contexts, the conversations that emerge as participants share their stories have provided opportunities to surface issues of failure, uncertainty, imposter syndrome, belonging and many other themes common among students, faculty and staff. As with students who see their peers and mentors through the lens of success, faculty and staff participants are often surprised to hear these themes repeated so pervasively in a university setting.

We encourage the community to continue these conversations in their interactions with students who can find empowerment in knowing that their mentors have also struggled with doubt—and benefited from mentorship.Though we leave the stories shared in faculty and staff workshops in these spaces, we include many student Lightbulb Moment stories in the context of our Curiosity Lab workshop series, which provides an introduction to experiential learning for all undergraduates. ÌýWe partner with a range of student-support and equity-oriented programs in hosting these workshops and coordinating participation.

All workshops are designed to support students at any stage of their undergraduate career—and with any level of experience with research or other opportunities. ÌýEach workshop provides opportunities to connect with supportive staff and peers throughout the community with student stories integrated throughout the presentations and materials. ÌýThe overall objective of the series is to invite students to consider where their curiosity is pointing them and help them find where they can draw the confidence to explore their context—and seek new opportunities.

Lightbulb Moment

Empower inspiring students with transformative opportunities.Ìý

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