PLATFORM : Reining In Research

Are universities cheating the federal government on research contracts? As one who has been grappling with the problem of fair charges for over a decade, I can categorically answer no . The problem should be familiar to anyone who’s ever filed an expense account or even toiled over an IRS Form 1040.

There are many items on which legitimate disagreements may arise, even when research contract terms are diligently worked out. The Assn. of American Universities has been working with federal officials on a simplified code of research charges, aimed at minimizing disputable areas. Some accounting changes have been instituted, and we’re hopeful of getting federal approval for others.

Collaboration between universities and federal agencies has yielded many crucial national scientific, military and social advances, and that partnership should not now be put at risk.