The following memo was shared with UVM Deans, Directors, and Department Chairs on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

From: Linda Schadler, Acting Provost and Senior Vice President
Richard Cate, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Chris Lehman, Chief Human Resource Officer

Date: March 4, 2025

Subject: University Hiring Pause

The university community has responded collaboratively and expediently to the evolving circumstances created by the transition in Washington, DC. We appreciate the leadership of our colleagues and the patience and flexibility demonstrated by staff, faculty, and students over the past several weeks.

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. This is a difficult but necessary step that will preserve our flexibility and improve our ability, to the extent possible, to respond to the likelihood of change.

Positions deemed compliance, safety or mission critical will be considered for hiring, following the process outline below.  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. We acknowledge that this will affect some university operations and ask for your cooperation and understanding as we await clarity and learn more about how we can best position the university for success in this changing environment. We will assess circumstances at the university and in the federal funding environment over the next 60 days, and we will provide an update in April.

We share the following guidance to facilitate your understanding of the pause and provide direction for seeking approval to hire.

  • Effective March 4, 2025, all hiring of long-term faculty, staff and postdoctoral positions will be paused for 60 days, at which time the situation will be re-evaluated. This pause includes positions currently posted. Verbal or written offers already extended for open positions will be honored and permitted to move forward. Essential temporary positions may continue to be filled on an “as needed” basis but rules regarding their term limits will remain in place.
  • Exceptions will be granted only for essential positions. Unit leaders should continue to work with their HR Partner to ensure all other options for completing the work have been exhausted before considering moving forward with an exception request. If the leader determines a position is essential, then an exception request may be made via the Essential Hire Request Form.
  • Requests should come from dean/division leaders only. Units reporting to the Provost should submit their requests to Kerry Castano for the Provost’s review. All other units should submit their request to John Sisler for the Vice President for Finance and Administration’s review.
  • Staff positions posted before January 1, 2025, will be closed at 4:30 pm on March 7 unless an essential hire request form has been completed and approved to keep the position open.
  • Staff positions posted on or after January 1, 2025, will be suspended and removed from the web at 4:30 pm on March 7 unless an essential hire request form has been completed and approved to keep the position open.
  • If an exception is approved for a current position, then a second exception approval will not be needed at the time a successful candidate is found.


We understand the concerns many in our community hold during these times, and we are aware that this measure may introduce challenges or delays in the work of our valued colleagues. This pause is intended to help safeguard UVM’s financial position, our community, and our ability to serve our students and the state in the face of uncertainty. We will of course continue to monitor federal actions and the evolving funding environment and will update and revise this guidance as necessary.

We sincerely appreciate your cooperation and support.