The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), representing over 165 research-intensive universities and affiliated institutions, issued a formal statement opposing proposed tuition caps on the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA). COGR emphasizes the essential role of NRSA funding in training the next generation of U.S. scientists and expresses concern that stagnant federal support, coupled with rising tuition and health insurance costs, threatens the scope and effectiveness of the NRSA program. The statement argues that imposing tuition caps or fixed allowances would shift undue financial burdens to universities, potentially forcing them to subsidize significant unsubsidized costs, reallocate limited resources, or reconsider participation in NRSA training programs.
COGR further cautions that such measures could result in reduced university participation, particularly among institutions with higher tuition or a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research—thereby undermining NIH’s goals to advance clinical and translational science. Instead, COGR advocates for retaining the existing NRSA tuition reimbursement formula, which they describe as distributing cost-sharing responsibilities more equitably between the NIH and university partners. The organization concludes by expressing willingness to engage further in discussions, emphasizing the importance of collaborative solutions that maintain the integrity and reach of NIH-supported research training.
COGR opposes proposed caps on tuition for NIH NRSA awards.
