America's leading research universities guard our nation's security by protecting knowledge, trade secrets, and classified information from foreign interference. In fact, AAU members have a vested interest in making sure this is the case. AAU works closely with its members and the government to ensure that appropriate security measures are in place at all times. Our members also work hard to strike a balance between two key priorities. One, that research must remain open to succeed. The integrity of our nation's research depends on it. On the other hand, some sensitive data must also be protected. AAU and APLU have jointly written a guide to help our members deal with this issue. The guide provides principles and values that steer our actions and helps universities limit risks.
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As lawmakers consider measures related to securing federally funded research data and intellectual property, it is important to understand the current state of play for research security in the country to avoid new requirements that are duplicative, unnecessary, or counterproductive
One pager for advocacy focused on securing scientific research against foreign threats.
AAU Statement on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Hearing "Examining Federal Science Agency Actions to Secure the U.S. Science and Technology Enterprise."
This resource document identifies key terms; effective practices proposed by institutions and government and non-government entities; links to various government and non-government entity lists, and topical analysis and proposed policy recommendations in several key areas..
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AAU joined ACE and 3 other higher education associations to send a letter to House Leadership in opposition of H.R.881, "DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act," specifically in regards to the new and very broad definition of "Chinese entities of concern."
AAU joined ACE and 4 other higher education associations in sending a letter to House Leadership expressing their opposition to H.R.1048, the "Defending Transparency an Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT)" Act.
AAU sent a letter to House Leadership about their concerns regarding H.R. 1048, the “Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT)” Act.
The American Council on Education (ACE), Association of American Universities (AAU), Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), COGR, and EDUCAUSE submitted comments on the proposed Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rule regarding Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), emphasizing the need for consistent definitions and exclusions for fundamental research across all fields. They also highlighted concerns about training burdens, reporting deadlines, and patent security requirements, advocating for adjustments to ensure that the final rule supports both CUI security and the efficient operation of higher education research institutions.
One pager for advocacy focused on securing scientific research against foreign threats.
