Regulatory Reform

COGR Submits Letter to OSTP on Reducing Administrative Burden

This letter provides specific suggestions to OSTP for achieving its objective of reducing administrative burden associated with federally funded research, including suggestions regarding research security requirements.  

Posted December 21, 2021

COGR Submits Joint Association Comments with AAU, AAMC, AAAS, and APLU to OSTP on Scientific Integrity RFI

Posted July 27, 2021

COGR Submits Joint Letter to EPA Expressing Concern on Proposed Rule "Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science"

Posted November 13, 2019

Foreign Influence Resources Provided by COGR Members (ARCHIVED)

Posted October 3, 2019

COGR Research Regulatory Reform Matrix

Posted December 19, 2018

COGR Releases Matrix of Recent Legislative Actions Taken to Reduce Research Regulatory Burden

Posted January 2018

COGR Recommendations on Research Regulatory Reform

Posted August 24, 2017

Recommendations for HHS and NIH Research Regulatory Reform (Updated 2/28/18)

Recommendations for Non-HHS Research Regulatory Reform

Discussion Points on Facilities and Administrative Costs and Regulatory Reform

Joint Association Request to OMB on the Research Policy Board

Posted April 27, 2017

GAO Report on Federal Research Grants

COGR Preliminary Analysis of GAO Report on Federal Research Grants 

Actions for Reducing Administrative Work for Federally Sponsored Research

Reports from the National Academies, National Science Board, Federal Demonstration Partnership and others have highlighted increasing regulatory burden for federally funded research. Many of the recommendations for reducing burden target federal regulations and policies. Part 1 of the National Academies report, Optimizing the Nation’s Investment in Academic Research, also recommended that research institutions review policies developed to comply with federal regulations to determine whether the institution has created additional and unnecessary administrative burden.

The checklist COGR has created highlights actions that more closely adhere to regulation and policy or otherwise offer the potential to reduce administrative work in a number of areas including those researchers have identified as being particularly burdensome. Many of the approximately 100 actions put forward have previously been initiated at some of our member institutions with positive effect. However, we note that they may not be relevant, or applicable, to all institutions and that institutions may have reasons for establishing criteria that exceed the minimum regulatory requirements (e.g., state law). The list is intended to represent action taken, and ideas to consider, rather than a recommended action plan. We will continue to modify and expand the checklist in response to member feedback.
 

Administrative Burden Checklist