The University of Vermont instituted a 60-day hiring freeze Tuesday in response to recent federal actions that could affect its funding, according to a memo from school officials.
University leaders shared the information with deans, directors and department chairs in a memo dated March 4, calling it “a difficult but necessary step” to respond to changes implemented by the Trump administration.
“With multiple federal funding sources for university operations facing proposed reduction or alteration, and outcomes of several federal actions uncertain, the university will pause general hiring for all long-term faculty, staff and postdoctoral positions, effective immediately and extending for 60 days,” states the memo, which came from Linda Schadler, acting provost and senior vice president, Richard Cate, vice president for finance and administration and Chris Lehman, chief human resource officer.
Although job offers already made will be honored, according to the memo, the freeze pauses the hiring of all long-term faculty, staff and postdoctoral positions, which are expected to be re-evaluated after the 60-day period.
Exceptions can be made for essential positions “deemed compliance, safety or mission critical,” the memo states, noting that essential temporary positions may continue to be filled on an “as needed” basis.
As of Wednesday morning, there were 131 jobs open on the university’s career portal. The memo states that positions posted this year will be removed and positions posted before Jan. 1 will be closed at 4:30 p.m. on Friday “unless an essential hire request form has been completed and approved to keep the position open.”
A university spokesperson did not immediately respond to comment Wednesday morning. The memo states that an update would be provided in April.
The White House Office of Management and Budget’s broad memo to freeze federal funds — including grant, loan and other financial assistance programs — sent shockwaves through higher education institutions but has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge. Matthew Vaeth, acting director of OMB then rescinded the funding freeze memo on Jan. 27, a day before it was supposed to go into effect, CBS reported.
The memo specifically targeted blocking funding to activities that “may be implicated by the executive orders, including but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.”
President Donald Trump has also made clear that he wants to close the U.S. Department of Education, which plays a key role in distributing federal funds, such as $1.6 trillion in student loans and about $30 billion in Pell Grants for lower-income college students.
UVM leaders, in the memo, acknowledged that a freeze would affect operations and asked for “cooperation and understanding as we await clarity and learn more about how we can best position the university for success in this changing environment.”
“As we implement this pause, we need your help minimizing disruption to the teaching, research and engagement mission of the university. This will require our collective goodwill, creativity, and flexibility,” the memo further notes.
Read the story on VTDigger here: With federal funding at risk, UVM announces 60-day hiring freeze.