Great Minds: Brainstorming & Benchmarking with COGR Member Institutions: June 2024

The document outlines the agenda and discussion themes for the "Great Minds: Brainstorming & Benchmarking" session held COGR on June 6, 2024. Moderated by key COGR directors and committee chairs from prominent research institutions, the session provides a collaborative platform for member institutions to discuss compliance, policy implementation, and operational challenges related to research administration and sponsored programs. Key areas of focus include research security in response to Department of Energy orders and CHIPS Act guardrails, compliance with federal requirements for international travel and collaborations, and strategies for managing transparency and reporting standards for foreign connections and research funding. The session also invites input on processes for monitoring threshold criteria for federal mandates (such as those under NSPM-33), and shares practices around education, screening, and documentation of compliance measures. Additionally, the meeting explores practical aspects of administrative and financial management, such as handling administrative close-outs, budgeting for closeout costs, applying appropriate F&A rates for remote research teams, and policies for tuition remission and scholar compensation under Uniform Guidance. There is a strong emphasis on technology transfer, especially relating to foreign gift reporting, non-standard intellectual property terms, and the use of AI in research administration. The document encourages knowledge sharing on collaboration between sponsored programs and purchasing offices, oversight of data management and sharing plans, and adherence to federal restrictions like the TikTok/Byte Dance ban. It also addresses the development and certification of formal training programs and seeks member input on how institutions interpret and report disciplinary actions for federal agency requirements. The session is structured to maximize participation through digital polling and open discussion, fostering benchmarking and collective problem-solving for ongoing challenges in research administration.