APLU Webinar Seeking Feedback on OMB Uniform Guidance

Please join APLU for a webinar on July 6, 3:30-4:30pm ET to discuss a response to the White House Office for Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed rule on “Uniform Guidance.”

APLU has been working throughout the organization to develop its comment letter and retained Ropes & Gray to support us in this work. APLU wants to ensure that our response represents the views and concerns of member institutions to the maximum extent practicable. Please join us for a presentation on our analysis of the proposal and the association’s preliminary plans for a response. The association will welcome feedback from participants.

 

Understandably, since the release of the proposal on May 29, many questions and concerns have emerged on implications to public and land-grant universities. The proposed rule would establish baseline requirements for federal programs governing how grant awards are issued, approved, managed, monitored, or canceled. Comments are due by Monday, July 13 at 11:59 pm EDT. OMB indicated it would like to issue a final rule that would put the proposal into effect at the beginning of the next fiscal year on October 1, 2026. 

Introduction by: Waded Cruzado, President, APLU

Debbie Altenburg, Vice President, Research Policy and Advocacy

Presentation by: Leslie A. Thornton, Counsel, Ropes & Gray

Stephen D. Sencer, Counsel, Ropes & Gray

Additional background information:

APLU Key Issues Document

APLU, AAU, and COGR Summary

To facilitate an open dialogue the webinar will only be open to the councils on Academic Affairs, Governmental Affairs, Legal Affairs, Presidents, and Research. No substitution will be permitted, nor will the webinar be recorded.

Register Here

Nutrition and Health Tiger Team Informational Webinar Recording Available

On June 26, ECOP held an informative webinar on the Nutrition and Health Tiger Team recommendations, ongoing actions, and next steps. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions and invited to provide feedback and ideas on the Tiger Team report. 

Registration for the 2026 National Extension Directors and Administrators Meeting is Now Open

Join us in Seattle, WA, from September 15–17 for the 2026 National Extension Directors and Administrators Meeting. This year's theme is Lessons from the Field: Learning from Each Other. The program will feature engaging sessions centered around meaningful discussion and provide opportunities for professional growth designed to support leaders across the Cooperative Extension System.

In keeping with this year's theme, participants will explore effective approaches to current issues, consider challenges facing the field, and exchange ideas drawn from practice and experience. The meeting will also provide space to strengthen relationships, broaden professional networks, and learn about emerging work across Extension.

Click here to register and learn more!

Washington Update - Prepared for the Board on Agriculture Assembly by Lewis-Burke Associates

 In this edition:

• FY 2027 Agriculture Appropriations: House Advances, Senate Delays
• Senate Farm Bill Outlook
• House and Senate Agriculture Committees Hold Oversight Hearings with Secretary Rollins
• Senate Agriculture Committee Holds Hearing with Forest Service Leadership

 Read the full report.

Scoops of Science: APLU Hosts Capitol Hill Reception Showcasing the Impact of Public Universities’ Agriculture Programs

APLU hosted a Capitol Hill reception on June 2 showcasing the joys and real-world impact of public and land-grant university creameries. The reception featured ice cream and cheese products from public and land-grant university colleges of agriculture, highlighting the societal benefit of university-based research, teaching, and Extension in food and agricultural sciences. Nearly 1,000 congressional staff, members of Congress, and other stakeholders attended the event. View a roundup of photos from the event.

Lawmakers and congressional staff had the opportunity to sample ice cream and cheese from 20 university creameries. The showcase included classics like cookies and cream and flavors highlighting state agricultural products. such as muscadine from Mississippi, pecans from New Mexico, and even sweet corn from Iowa and Nebraska all spun into bite-sized scoops.

Read the full press release.

Research Facilities Act Program (RFAP)

The RFAP is listed in the Assistance Listings under number 10.246. RFAP is designed to provide financial assistance to qualifying institutions for the construction, alteration, acquisition, modernization, renovation, or remodeling of agricultural research facilities to conduct research in the fields of food and agricultural sciences (as defined in 7 U.S.C. 3103, see Appendix III for definition). Download the NOFO.

USDA Terms and Conditions Update

On June 3rd, the United States Department of Agriculture issued a three-page supplement to their general terms and conditions. APLU will be preparing a short analysis of these changes but some institutions have already relaxed previous draw down restrictions.

Key Issues within OMB Uniform Guidance Revision Proposal

On May 29th, the Office for Management and Budget (OMB) released a proposed rule to update the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards or Uniform Guidance (found at 2 C.F.R. § 200). This proposed rule would establish baseline requirements for federal programs including research grants. These requirements will govern how awards are issued, approved, managed, monitored, or canceled. Comments are due by Monday, July 13 at 11:59 PM EDT. OMB indicated it would like to issue a final rule that would put the proposal into effect at the beginning of the next fiscal year on October 1, 2026. 

A June 1st APLU analysis of these revisions is available here. There will be a webinar hosted by a consulting company on this topic on June 8 at 12 EDT. The actual relationship between the consulting company and the OMB is currently unclear. However, there does not appear to be a registration fee associated with this webinar.

The Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA) is hosting a New Administrators Orientation on December 8-10, 2026 in the D.C. metro area

This event is intended for individuals on the Board on Agriculture Assembly and their supporting administrators or faculty, who have entered an administrative position recently and any others who would like to learn more about APLU, the Land-Grant University System and the BAA. Information presented will be particularly useful to administrative heads, deans/directors, and associate/assistant deans/directors. More details and draft agenda will be available soon.