CSHEMA - Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association

CSHEMA Supports Academic Organizations in Advocacy to Reverse NIH Indirect Funding Cuts

February 20, 2025 – The Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA) is proud to announce its support for and offer of collaboration with several national associations dedicated to advancing higher education, research, and public service, including the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the American Council on Education (ACE), the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), and the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA), in their advocacy efforts to reverse the recent cuts to NIH indirect funding.

As an association dedicated to promoting Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) leadership in higher education, CSHEMA recognizes the critical role that EHS programs play in supporting teaching, research, patient care, and the overall success of universities. The inclusion of EHS programs in the NIH indirect funding model is essential to ensure these programs are adequately resourced and can continue to operate effectively.

"Many colleges and universities rely on the indirect funding model to achieve optimal efficiency and effectiveness for their EHS programs," said James Crandall, President of CSHEMA and Senior Director of Environmental Health and Safety for Pennsylvania State University. "The recent cuts to Facilities and Administrative (F&A) reimbursements to a 15% rate for all NIH research grants threaten to diminish the funds available for critical patient care and research, and directly impact the health and safety of faculty, staff, and students."

CSHEMA has developed key messages for university leaders to underscore how robust support for EHS programs directly facilitates institutional goals and advances the shared mission of research and education. EHS programs possess unique and core competencies crucial to the university environment, including:

• Expertise in identifying and understanding risks that can lead to accidents, injuries, property loss, and non-compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
• Experience in designing and implementing practical programs that effectively minimize these risks while remaining compatible with the unique dynamics of an academic setting.
• In-depth knowledge of safety and environmental laws and their specific application and interpretation within a campus environment.
• A nuanced understanding and appreciation of the complexities of scientific research, patient care, and associated laboratory activities.
• Specialized expertise in identifying prerequisites, procedures, and systems that prevent research and laboratory accidents, injuries, and property loss.
• Expertise across multiple technical areas pertinent to teaching, research, and campus operations, including health physics, microbiology/recombinant DNA, chemistry, machine guarding, public health, and ergonomics.
• Subject matter expertise serving in essential positions that act as first/emergency responders when incidents occur.

The value proposition for the inclusion of indirect funding in a strong EHS program is clear:

• EHS work prevents and minimizes campus accidents, injuries, and property loss, directly reducing lost time, workers' compensation costs, property claims, and liability expenses.
• EHS work ensures compliance with safety and environmental laws; ensures effective management of hazardous wastes and environmental conservation; and significantly reduces the risk of costly citations and fines.
• EHS professionals are adept at identifying and planning for emerging risks, proactively protecting the university.
• EHS activities protect and enhance the image and reputation of the institution, fostering trust and confidence.
  
  

Given the contributions of environmental health and safety to research success, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance, CSHEMA stands in strong support of the efforts to reverse the NIH indirect funding cuts. Restoring the indirect funding model will ensure that vital EHS programs have the resources necessary to continue supporting university missions of teaching, research, patient care, and service.

For more information, please contact:

James Crandall

President, CSHEMA

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