Policy Perspective
Association Responses to Petitions to the USDA
The joint letter from the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) responds to a USDA request for public comment on a petition proposing amendments to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations. Specifically, the petition asks for the development of specific, ethologically appropriate standards for nonhuman primates used in research. In their respon
June 2016 Meeting Report and Summary Now Available
The June 2016 Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) meeting report provides a comprehensive overview of current developments, challenges, and policy changes affecting research administration and compliance in U.S. higher education and research institutions. Central themes include audit activities by oversight agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Health and Human Services (
National Academies Report Optimizing the Nation's Investment in Academic Research
The National Academies Committee on Federal Research Regulations and Reporting Requirements released Part 2 of its report, Optimizing the Nation’s Investment in Academic Research; A New Regulatory Framework for the 21st Century on June 29.
COGR Submits Comments to NIH on Postdocs Supported by NRSA and RGA Awards
The document is a formal correspondence from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) to Drs. Kay Lund and Henry Khachaturian at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), following a recent meeting regarding postdoctoral research funding and compliance. The letter, sent by Jackie Bendall, outlines the key concerns and requests for clarification raised by COGR and research compliance committees
COGR & AIRI Submit Joint Letter on Procurement as Requested by OMB
The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), representing over 190 major research universities and institutions, and the Association of Independent Research Institutes (AIRI), submitted a detailed analysis to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regarding the administrative and cost implications of enforcing a $3,500 micro-purchase threshold for federally funded procurements. Based on survey
COGR Submits Recommendations to ORI Director Dr. Kathryn Partin
The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), representing major research universities, submitted a formal letter to Dr. Kathryn Partin of the Office of Research Integrity (ORI), conveying appreciation for collaborative efforts and providing targeted recommendations to enhance research integrity processes. The letter, endorsed by COGR’s Board of Directors and the Research Compliance and Administra
COGR and AAU Submit Joint Comments on OMB's Draft Open Source Policy
The letter, jointly authored by the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) and the Association of American Universities (AAU), provides a detailed response to the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Draft Open Source Policy. Both COGR and AAU support the principle of providing public access to and preservation of federally funded research outcomes, recognizing the significant national benefi
