Using the EP3 Guide to Support Physics Departments Navigating Changing Landscapes

Physics departments in the US are navigating an evolving higher education landscape marked by financial constraints, decreasing enrollments, and shifting student demographics. These challenges have been intensified by recent funding cuts and policy pressures. The Effective Practices for Physics Programs (EP3) Guide—developed through a collaborative effort between the American Physical Society (APS) and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT)—provides evidence-based recommendations and resources to support physics departments in facing these challenges and improving all aspects of their programs through continued self-reflection. I will discuss both pre-existing guidance that is increasingly relevant, as well as new efforts by the EP3 Initiative to address challenges that have arisen in the last year.