The December 2015 Update from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) provides a detailed overview of key regulatory, policy, and compliance issues affecting research institutions in the United States. Among the highlighted topics, the report addresses ongoing engagement with the NIH regarding grant closeout procedures, specifically critiquing the 180-day unilateral closeout policy as arbitrary and potentially problematic, and advocating for a more reasonable approach aligned with HHS’s own regulations. COGR also discusses its advocacy efforts to refine aspects of federal Uniform Guidance, including procurement standards and the methodology for calculating the Utility Cost Adjustment, aiming to reduce administrative burdens and more fairly allocate indirect costs. Data-driven trends from the NSF HERD survey are emphasized, noting a decline in the proportion of federally funded research and rising institutional contributions—a development placing increasing financial pressure on research universities.
The update provides in-depth commentary on regulatory developments impacting human subjects research, raising concerns about proposed revisions to the Common Rule that may increase administrative burden without enhancing protections. COGR also notes new audit findings and reporting requirements at NSF and other agencies, regulatory reform initiatives, and the growing costs of compliance for universities. Additional sections cover compliance with the Affordable Care Act for graduate research assistants, feedback on the revised NSF Proposal and Award Policies Guide, and concerns regarding new open licensing and service contract reporting mandates. Throughout, COGR maintains a focus on the collective interests of the research community, offering recommendations to streamline regulations, enhance efficiency, and promote effective federal-academic partnerships, while pledging ongoing engagement with federal agencies and continued updates for its membership.
