Skip to content
News and updates

Category: Federal Agency Developments

Dept. of Education Unveils New Foreign Gift Reporting Portal

Posted on

Today, the US Department of Education announced a new portal through which institutions must disclose foreign gifts or contracts under section 117 of the Higher Education Act. The portal will be utilized for the next reporting deadline of July 31, 2020.

In a press release, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos explained that currently, the Department is not receiving sufficient information to determine compliance with section 117. She also reiterated that transparency is necessary to ensure academic freedom and US national security.

GAO Recommends Improved Export Control Guidance for Universities

Posted on

A report published May 12th from the US Government Accountability Office recommends the US Departments of State and Commerce work together to improve export control guidance to colleges and universities. The report notes that, among schools visited for the report, security practices generally comply with US Government guidance. However, many schools have requested more detailed guidance specific to academia. The full report is available here.

Associations Ask for Regulatory Flexibility in Light of COVID-19

Posted on

On March 9, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) granted federal agencies the authority to provide regulatory flexibility on research and other federally funded efforts that they viewed as important in response to COVID-19.

Earlier today, four higher education associations representing a vast swath of the research university community– AAU, APLU, AAMC, and COGR– wrote to OMB asking that such regulatory flexibility be expanded to other federally funded research as institutions are grappling with research environments that are rapidly changing, sometimes by the minute.  The letter is available here.