Jeremy Forsberg, associate vice president of research and innovation at The University of Texas at Arlington, has been named to chair a leadership committee within the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), the national authority on federal policies and regulations affecting U.S. research institutions.
"Higher education spends about $100 billion a year on research and development, with much of that funding coming from the federal government," Forsberg said. "Federal research regulations have grown significantly in recent years, and it's important that we find ways to address the associated burden."
As Chair of the Costing and Financial Compliance (CFC) committee -- one of only four standing committees within the COGR -- Forsberg will collaborate with leaders from top research institutions and federal agencies to assess the impact of regulations on researchers and research, and to help shape effective federal policies and practices for managing research grants and awards.
"UTA and other research universities – d need to be able to focus more on their research activities that improve lives and advance knowledge in meaningful ways," Forsberg said. "I look forward to streamlining how we can best administer and account for these valuable taxpayer-funded resources."
UTA was first designated as a Carnegie R1 institution in 2015, a designation given to U.S. institutions with "very high research activity." In 2021, UTA became just the fourth university in Texas to be acknowledged as a Texas Tier One university, the top state honor for research and academic advances.
"With Jeremy's help, UTA's research expenditures have increased 200% over the past 15 years," said Kate C. Miller, vice president of research and innovation. "In addition to graduating highly skilled individuals to support area business growth, those expenditures pay off directly for the community, with UTA's research activity contributing nearly one-third of a billion dollars to the national economy between 2018 and 2023. Plus, nearly 60% of that research spending stays locally with Texas vendors and contractors."
Forsberg said his immediate priorities for the committee are to help implement ways to make more efficient use of research funds.
"My hope is that we can help stem the tide of rising research costs associated with regulatory burden and inconsistent implementation of requirements by federal agencies," Forsberg said.
COGR represents a unified voice for more than 220 research universities, medical centers and independent research institutes, advocating for policies that strengthen federal partnerships and minimize administrative burdens on researchers.
"I am very pleased the COGR Board of Directors appointed Jeremy as chair of the CFC Committee," COGR President Matt Owens said. "He is a thought leader on the CFC Committee and the Board, and at the same time, he is someone who always rolls up his sleeves to contribute."
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. With an enrollment of approximately 41,000 students, UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the UT System. UTA's combination of outstanding academics and innovative research contributes to its designation as a Carnegie R-1 "Very High Research Activity" institution, a significant milestone of excellence. The University is designated as a Hispanic Serving-Institution and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education and has earned the Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to accelerating Latino student success. The University ranks as the No. 1 national public university in the U.S. for veterans (Military Times, 2024), No. 4 in Texas for advancing social mobility (U.S. News & World Report, 2025), and No. 6 in the United States for its undergraduate ethnic diversity (U.S. News & World Report, 2025). UT Arlington's approximately 270,000 alumni occupy leadership positions at many of the 21 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas and contribute to the University's $28.8 billion annual economic impact on Texas.
