The document is a presentation delivered by Paul R. Verkuil, Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS), at the Council on Governmental Relations meeting in March 2015. The presentation outlines the statutory purpose of ACUS as a public-private partnership aimed at improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and fairness of administrative processes within the federal government. It details the structure of ACUS as an independent executive agency comprising government officials, public sector representatives, and liaison members, and highlights its role in issuing recommendations—typically 8 to 10 per year—addressed to Congress, executive agencies, and the judiciary to enhance rulemaking, reduce litigation, and improve regulatory practices.
A significant focus of the presentation is on the challenges and reforms associated with federal regulation of higher education, particularly the burdens and costs imposed on universities by increasing compliance requirements. Responding to concerns voiced by organizations such as the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), as well as recommendations from a 2015 Senate task force, ACUS’s work is presented as pivotal in advancing regulatory reform through retrospective review of existing rules, interagency coordination, and the promotion of negotiated and collaborative rulemaking processes. The document describes recent and ongoing ACUS initiatives, including adoption of recommendations for making retrospective review a routine agency practice, improving coordination to address overlapping agency responsibilities, and enhancing the role of negotiated rulemaking, especially within the Department of Education. ACUS’s integration of higher education regulation into its broader reform projects and its engagement with stakeholders to identify and address key regulatory issues are also emphasized, highlighting the Conference’s continuing commitment to streamlining federal oversight and fostering effective governance.
