The June 9–10, 2016 meeting report of the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) provides a detailed overview of regulatory, compliance, and financial policy issues impacting academic research institutions. Audit reports from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General highlighted areas of concern including cost-sharing, questioned costs, internal control weaknesses, and subrecipient monitoring—prompting legislative proposals to strengthen oversight mechanisms. Regulatory reform efforts, notably the National Academies’ report on research regulatory burden, urge a comprehensive overhaul of current frameworks through the establishment of a national commission and a research policy board, recommending streamlined regulations, improved administrative processes, and greater uniformity across agencies.
The report addresses significant policy developments governing human subjects and animal research, including the NIH’s new single IRB mandate for multi-site studies and updates on the Precision Medicine Initiative, as well as efforts to resolve conflicts between existing privacy and clinical certification requirements. Issues related to procurement standards, uniform guidance, and cost principles remain prominent, with ongoing advocacy for higher federal micro-purchase thresholds and clearer subrecipient monitoring guidelines. Policy implications of recent changes in export controls, safeguarding clauses in defense contracts, and invention reporting requirements are explored, with concerns over mounting compliance costs and institutional practices in intellectual property management. Additionally, the report covers the impact of new Fair Labor Standards Act overtime rules and Affordable Care Act requirements for graduate students, as well as ongoing efforts to secure more equitable funding mechanisms for off-campus research centers. Throughout, the report underscores the continued challenges faced by research institutions in navigating complex and evolving federal requirements, while highlighting collaborative efforts among agencies, universities, and associations to address regulatory and administrative burdens in support of the nation’s research enterprise.
