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Washington Update: Perspectives from an SRAI Webinar

By SRAI News posted 02-10-2021 03:41 PM

  

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Washington Update: Perspectives from an SRAI Webinar

SRAI had a chance to talk recently with Washington insiders about what research administrators might expect from the new Biden Administration and Congress as part of our January webinar series. The Administration is placing a high value on science while seeking to broaden participation in it. Scientific integrity and national security will continue to be a focus. And we can probably expect some kind of additional relief funding.  It is too soon to tell how all of this will play out so the best thing research administrators can do is monitor federal policy developments and be nimble. A few other quick takeaways are described below.

Relief funding

Funding from the second stimulus bill, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), provided another $23 billion in aid to higher education. Many of our institutions are now receiving these funds in the form of supplements to our existing CARES awards. While it brings welcomed relief, advocacy organizations like the American Council on Education (ACE) say it is not enough. Many research and higher education groups are advocating for more relief funding, for institutional aid as well as supplemental funding for federal science agencies to help grantees cover research disruptions due to COVID-19.  We should expect heightened scrutiny in our spending of all relief funds and take a long view of compliance.

Research and Development Priorities

President Biden nominated Dr. Eric Lander as Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), elevating the Director to a Cabinet position and sending a strong signal that science will play a key role in policy making for this Administration. It will be important to watch for various actions and legislation related to the pandemic, climate change, technology, diversity and equity, and scientific integrity, all top priorities for the White House. For research administrators, we should watch how these priorities come through in the Administration’s budget request, where Congress authorizes funds, and through legislation that could introduce new grant programs to broaden participation in science.

Administrative Burden

It is not clear what we might see in terms of administrative relief and despite the upcoming anniversary of OMB’s administrative cap on F&A, it is uncertain if there will be any interest in evaluating the long-standing F&A model to reimburse universities for the cost of research. Questions about how best to respond to foreign influence have added to the administrative burden discussion. The recently released JCORE report Recommended Practices for Strengthening the Security and Integrity of America’s S&T Research Enterprise and study by The MITRE Corporation, Improper Influence in Federally Funded Fundamental Research, may provide a roadmap for agencies and institutions alike.

 I would like to extend a special thank you to our panelists for sharing their timely insights.

Christopher Carter, Associate Vice President for Government Relations, Lehigh University
Ellyn Perrone, Senior Associate Vice President for Research, University of Texas, Austin
Dr. Anna Quider, Assistant Vice President for Federal Relations, Northern Illinois University
Sarah Spreitzer, Director for Governmental Relations, American Council on Education 

Watch this webinar on-demand and learn more from our panel of experts!


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Authored by Dara Little, Assistant Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs
Northern Illinois University
SRAI Board of Directors


#Catalyst
#February2021
#Education​​
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