The February 2014 Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) meeting, held at the Washington Marriott Hotel, focused on several critical topics relevant to research administration in higher education. The agenda included in-depth panel discussions on the newly released Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Guidance covering administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for federal awards, with perspectives offered by both institutional representatives and federal officials. Special sessions were dedicated to current issues such as the rise and regulation of Patent Assertion Entities (so-called “patent trolls”), addressing both legislative developments and implications for university technology transfer. Another significant area of discussion was the increasing regulatory burden on investigators and institutions, spotlighted by presentations from leaders of the National Science Board’s Task Force on Administrative Burden, and strategies for measuring and potentially reducing institutional compliance costs were explored.
Additional meeting elements included updates on the Faculty-Dependent Partnership (FDP) program, COGR committee reports on research compliance, intellectual property, and costing policies, as well as opportunities for audience engagement and networking. The overall structure of the agenda emphasizes COGR's commitment to informed dialogue, policy navigation, and collaborative problem-solving among member institutions. Attendance was restricted to representatives of member universities and their affiliates, ensuring focused discussions pertinent to higher education research administration.
