The June 2016 Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) meeting report provides a comprehensive overview of current developments, challenges, and policy changes affecting research administration and compliance in U.S. higher education and research institutions. Central themes include audit activities by oversight agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Health and Human Services (HHS), emphasizing compliance weaknesses in subrecipient monitoring and financial reporting. The report also highlights ongoing regulatory reform efforts, citing the National Academies' recommendations for reducing research regulatory burdens, calls for the formation of a national research policy board, and anticipated legislative measures to streamline research regulations and oversight—especially regarding the Common Rule and export controls.
Costing policies receive significant attention, particularly updates and advocacy efforts related to federal procurement standards and their impact on universities, as well as the allowable treatment of various costs in federally funded research projects. The report details ongoing concerns with the implementation of Uniform Guidance, subrecipient monitoring, proposal budgeting constraints, and the equitable treatment of off-campus research centers. Other major topics include reforms and compliance issues in contracts and intellectual property (e.g., Bayh-Dole Act invention reporting, DFARS clauses, and export control regulations), the influence of new rules on multi-site research (including the NIH single IRB policy), and engagement in public policy debates on drug pricing and intellectual property rights. The meeting also addressed institutional practices for ensuring research integrity, workforce considerations such as the new Department of Labor overtime rule, and administrative best practices. Throughout, COGR describes its collaborative efforts with federal agencies and peer organizations—advocating for clarity, efficiency, and equity—while encouraging member feedback and continued vigilance on emerging compliance and policy changes.
