The document presents comprehensive reports from four key committees—Research Security & Intellectual Property (RSIP), Contracts & Grants Administration (CGA), Research Ethics & Compliance (REC), and Costing & Financial Compliance (CFC)—highlighting current issues, legislative developments, and institutional responses in October 2021. The RSIP committee details significant legislative and regulatory activity affecting academic research, focusing on prohibitions related to participation in foreign "talent programs," expanded foreign contract reporting requirements, export controls, and national security initiatives. Notably, evolving expectations from federal agencies regarding foreign national participation and enhanced cybersecurity measures are prompting universities to update compliance strategies and internal guidance materials.
The CGA committee provides an in-depth analysis of evolving work-from-home (WFH) practices within research administration, based on member surveys conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. While institutions have increasingly adopted hybrid or remote work models, responses detail varied approaches driven by public health considerations, regulatory compliance, operational needs, and staff retention concerns. The survey data reveals significant shifts toward remote work, tempered by challenges such as legal, tax, and job-specific requirements. The REC committee reports on collaborative federal guidance concerning research transparency, conflict of commitment, and responses to evolving human subjects and animal research regulations, alongside the implications of China’s new data privacy law for international research. Lastly, the CFC committee continues to monitor financial compliance, particularly in relation to federal audit requirements, emergency funding oversight, cost allocation strategies, and research data management. Collectively, these reports portray an academic research landscape navigating complex regulatory changes, administrative adaptation post-COVID, and enhanced security and compliance demands.
