OPINION: USF should follow Harvard in self-allocating research funds
Since President Donald Trump’s first day in his second term, he has signed 152 executive orders, many of which affect higher education.
Trump’s policies are getting out of hand, impacting key resources that colleges are meant to offer.
More specifically, medical research is on the chopping block as Trump decides to retaliate against schools that do not bend to his every demand, as seen at Harvard University.
Related: USF professors alarmed by DOGE’s review of academic research
Harvard has decided to challenge Trump’s demands by self-funding certain research to make up for federal funding cuts, setting aside $250 million, according to the Associated Press.
Harvard’s vow to fight for research and innovation, even in the face of reduced funding, gives hope that other universities will do the same.
USF could be among the first state universities to fight against the government on federal funding for research.
Although Harvard is one of the top intellectual universities in the country, USF is among 71 universities that are a part of the Association of American Universities (AAU), leading in innovation and research.
Most of USF’s research funding comes from federal sources, such as the National Institutes of Health, which gave USF $227 million in research grants in 2024, according to USF.
As such, grant reductions and freezes could potentially hinder research at USF.
Related: USF researchers face uncertainty over NIH grant reductions
USF should follow in Harvard’s footsteps and self-allocate funds for medical research, so the university can be independent from Trump’s demands.
Federal funding for research efforts is important to higher education in many ways, as it helps boost prestige and innovation. It also provides financial support for students while paving the way for upcoming researchers.
USF leads medical research in the state, with our Morsani College of Medicine being ranked at number one by the U.S. News & World Report.
USF’s research efforts include medication that can help prevent dementia, which is crucial to the world of medicine. Because of federal funding cuts, life-changing research could be at risk.
Related: OPINION: What Trump has ruined in higher education so far
USF raised $168 million in funding from more than 54,000 donors in 2024 — more than half of the funds Harvard has allocated.
This shows that with the help of generous alumni and donors, USF has the potential to fund its research independently.
If USF were to follow in Harvard’s lead, reaching out to donors and organizations would help researchers on a broader scale while allowing the university to better maintain its political and academic freedom.
Our future researchers and doctors deserve to feel uplifted and supported, with or without federal research funds.
Donor contributions bridge funding shortfalls during periods of budget freezes, encouraging exploratory work and innovation that can turn into life-changing research.
USF should be among the universities to fight back and help the world of research thrive.
More Stories
OPINION: USF coaches need to be more than game-day leaders
In his first year at USF, baseball head coach Mitch Hannahs brought an old-school approach to the program. He stayed off social media and had minimal interactions with fans, except during press conferences and games. And toward the end of the season, Hannahs began to decline interviews with The Oracle — both for himself and […]
OPINION: Why students should visit MOSI’s planetarium near USF Tampa
Tampa has been home to the second-largest digital dome in the country since April. And it’s right across the street from USF Tampa at the Museum of Science and Industry. I visited MOSI this week to see the Saunders Planetarium and Digital Dome Theater, and I was not disappointed. The price for adult general admission […]
OPINION: USF is showing up for mental health despite federal cuts
Struggling with mental health has become a common experience in college. And yet, instead of responding with urgency, the federal government is cutting funding. But as the federal government is investing less in mental health, USF is doing the opposite. Through investing in research, continuing to support new initiatives and a campus-wide focus on mental […]
OPINION: How USF students can march smart: A guide to protesting
At the No Kings demonstration in Tampa on June 14, I saw firsthand how a well-organized protest can elevate voices, spark conversations and push society forward. But while protests are often powerful, they can also be unpredictable. As tensions rise nationwide around social and political issues, more students are joining protests to make their voices […]
OPINION: $10 million says USF gets artificial intelligence right
Artificial Intelligence often conjures up thoughts of ChatGPT or Snapchat’s My AI. But when perceptions of AI are broadened, its powerful applications in academia become clear. USF has a college focused on AI, which is home to a wide range of research and offers courses to promote ethical AI use. This college is a testament […]
OPINION: Florida schools should get rid of the summer enrollment requirement
Who wants to be cooped up at home all summer, hunched over the computer when you could be at the beach with your friends? Not me. But under Florida’s 6.016 Summer Session Enrollment policy, this is how you may find yourself spending the summer. Florida currently requires all students entering the State University System with […]