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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20550 



December 8, 1992 



OFFICE OF THE 

 DIRECTOR 



Honorable D. Allan Bromley 

 Assistant to the President 

 for Science and Technology 

 Room 358 



Old Executive Office Building 

 Washington, D.C. 20500 



Dear Allan: 



It is my pleasure to transmit to you, In the National Interest: The Federal Government and 

 Research-Intensive Universities, a report by the FCCSET Ad Hoc Working Group on Research- 

 Intensive Universities (WGRIU) and the Federal Government. This report constitutes a 

 landmark: seventeen agencies have developed a Federal government perspective on its 

 relationship with research-intensive universities both now and for the future, an unprecedented 

 achievement. 



This report conveys three key themes. First, it describes the broad, complex, and 

 interdependent relationship that has developed between research-intensive universities and the 

 Federal government. Second, it identifies critical trends and issues that are affecting this 

 relationship. And third, it reaffirms principles and makes recommendations whose purpose is 

 to assure that the relationship between the Federal government and the research-intensive 

 universities is maintained, nurtured, and enhanced. 



The strength of this report is directly attributable to the personal attention demonstrated by each 

 of the agencies in developing a common set of recommendations. The report is further enriched 

 by the individual agency perspectives papers ~ a reflection of the diversity of the Federal 

 government's relationship with research-intensive universities. This document provides a basis 

 for pursuing and nurturing this relationship with the research-intensive universities well into the 

 next century. 



I appreciate the opportunity to have chaired this effort in David Keams' absence. The process 

 has been valuable from an interagency perspective and I believe we have all learned a great deal 

 from it. 



Sincerely, 



Walter E. Massey 

 Director 



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