COGR representatives also may work with agencies to make sure that regulations are applied more consistently or to clarify ambiguous situations. Fife says the relationship between COGR and the federal agencies is a friendly one and agencies are more than willing to get COGR's input on draft legislation. They know we're going to have things to say about their policies. It's become more of a partnership, much more than when I started in this business 20 years ago. We look at these as common issues.
Fife wants to make sure that Carolina takes advantage of every invitation to comment.
The government is like any other large body. Fife cites the new Cost Accounting Standards as an example of unpopular regulations that were implemented largely because of a lack of comment from universities. Institutions didn't think it was going to happen, so they didn't tell the government about the problems it would cause. So I think in large part we got the Cost Accounting Standards because many of the institutions fell asleep at the wheel. COGR can help the University monitor and respond to the many policies and procedures under consideration in Washington at any given time.