WVU, WVSU see research grants terminated under DOGE
dbeard@dominionpost.com
MORGANTOWN – Colleges and universities across the country have seen research grants terminated under DOGE efforts to rein in government spending. West Virginia has been a relatively tiny target, but not immune.
WVU Research Corp. recently saw two grants terminated, while West Virginia State University Research and Development Corp. saw one.
On April 22, the U.S. Department of Agriculture terminated a $4,795,047 grant to WVURC. DOGE listed the savings to be realized from the termination at $4,687,431, but had no other information. WVU filled in the gaps.
The project title was 'Grazing Regeneratively for Appalachian Sustainable Solutions,' (GRASS). Along with the nearly $.8 million federal allotment, there were non-federal funds – the 'cost share' – of $2,144,560.92, for a total approved budget of $6,939,607.74.
The project period was set to be Sept. 1, 2023 through Aug. 31, 2028.
WVU could supply no other information at this time – such as the number of researchers affected – noting that the Financial Closeout Report is still being processed.
On April 25, the National Science Foundation terminated a grant to WVURC.
DEI has been a particular target of DOGE, and this grant was titled 'Collaborative Research: Developing and Testing the Equity Departmental Action Team Model of Racial Equity Focused Departmental Change.'
The total intended award amount was $447,803, WVU said, and the current amount obligated for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 was $205,534.
DOGE's projected realized savings was $116,103.80. DOGE linked this grant to USASpending.gov, which shows that $89,430 ($89,430.20 to be exact) of the $205,534 had been outlayed to date – giving the $116,103.80 projected DOGE savings.
WVU had no additional information, again noting that the Financial Closeout Report is still being processed.
USASpending, though, gives a lengthy description of the project. It says, 'Given the persistent challenge of racial inequity in STEM, there is a clear need for new models that spur and sustain racial equity change. … This project will bring together experts in institutional change and experts in advancing racial equity with the goal of combining existing, well tested change models to produce a new, racial equity focused model of change in higher education.'
The project would use the EDAT – equity departmental action team – model. 'This project will advance the scholarship of racial equity by developing, testing, and refining the edat model with stem departments at a minority serving institution and disseminating the model through partnership with national higher education associations.'
The University of Colorado Denver was to serve as the pilot institution.
The WVSU grant, from the USDA, was terminated April 7.
DOGE lists the total grant at $268,000 and the savings as $58,008. It had no other information and WVSU filled in the gaps.
WVSU said the grant title was 'Impact of Water Quality on the Fluxes of Greenhouse Gases for Regulated Rivers.'
The termination of the grant terminated the project,' WVSU said. 'We will not seek other funding to continue this specific project.'
Two employees were affected by the grant termination, WVSU said. 'We identified alternative resources temporarily to support the salaries of the two employees in order to allow the individuals to remain employed and work on a different project for two months after the grant termination.'
Another office closure
In mid- and late March, we reported on various federal offices close around the state.
Another was listed as closed on April 28: the Internal Revenue Service national office in Wheeling.
The office space is 3,418 square feet, according to DOGE, with an annual lease of $49,526. Project savings from closing the office is $213,571.
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