COGR’s Emerging Research Institutions Pilot Program

COGR’s membership currently includes a range of public and private Research I and Research II institutions as classified by the Carnegie Foundation. The ERI Pilot initiative aims to create an opportunity for a diverse range of smaller research institutions to formally engage with COGR and its member institutions, and to learn how the association could better represent in its work and advocacy the interests of all U.S. research institutions.

ERI Pilot Institutions will engage with COGR and its members through meeting attendance (in-person and virtual), webinars, participating in COGR surveys (and receiving subsequent reports), participating in working groups that COGR convenes from time to time on key issues, having access to the COGR Portal, listserv, video library, job board, event registration, and more.

Institutions of higher education reporting less than $15 million in annual federal research expenditures on the NSF HERD survey are eligible to apply. As there is limited capacity in the Pilot, applications will be considered using a variety of factors to ensure diversity among participating ERI Pilot Institutions. 

During the application process, institutions will be asked for basic contact and demographic information, and asked the following three questions:

1. Please tell us how your institution meets the eligibility criteria for the COGR ERI Pilot and provide additional background on your institution's research program and its expected growth over the next two years.
2. How do you anticipate participating in the COGR ERI Pilot will benefit your institution's research programs?
3. For institutions that report between $10M-$14.9M in federal research expenditures on the NSF HERD Survey: Do you anticipate your institution will apply for COGR membership once eligible?

The individual completing the application should be an institutional representative (or representative's designee) with the authority to financially commit the institution if the application is accepted.

The initial duration of the Pilot Program was two years, from August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2026, coinciding with COGR's fiscal year. In October 2025, the COGR Board approved an extension of the Pilot for one year, through July 31, 2027. 

The annual participation fee for the pilot is currently $3,500 per year, per institution.

ERI Pilot Institutions may have up to ten representatives. Each will have access to the COGR Portal. One representative per institution is permitted to register for in-person Membership Meetings. Institutions may request to register additional attendees (if space allows) by emailing ERIservices@!zilch!cogr.edu. All representatives may register for virtual Membership Meetings and webinars. In-person meeting registration is currently $600 per person and virtual meeting registration is approximately $300 per person, or $250 per person if registering five or more. ERI Pilot institutions are also highly encouraged to participate in COGR surveys, working groups, and other opportunities to engage that may arise.

Benefits of ERI Pilot Participation (Trifold Brochure)

Participation in the ERI Pilot does not constitute membership in COGR. 

Representatives from ERI Pilot Institutions are ineligible to serve on the COGR Board of Directors. However, representatives from ERI Pilot Institutions are eligible to serve on working groups that may be organized from time to time. ERI Pilot Institutions interested in volunteering as opportunities arise are encouraged to complete COGR's Volunteer Survey.

Though ERI Pilot Program participation does not constitute COGR membership, once an ERI Pilot Institution becomes eligible for membership (reporting $15 million or more in annual federal research expenditures on the NSF HERD Survey) the institution will be invited to apply for membership for the following fiscal year. 

To view a full a directory of ERI Pilot Institutions and their representatives, click here.

Contact ERIServices@!zilch!cogr.edu with any questions regarding the ERI Pilot Program.