Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training

Education in the ethical and responsible conduct of research (RCR) is an essential component of  training for individuals engaged in any field of research. The purpose of this policy is intended to ensure that all faculty and students engaged in research and other sponsored and unsponsored projects receive RCR information to help comply with University of South Alabama policies and procedures and the following federal funding  agencies:

 

1.1  The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) implementation of the requirements of Section 7009 of the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o–1) found in the NSF Award and Administration Guide: Chapter IV.

 

1.2  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) requirements found in NOT-OD10-019.

 

1.3  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) program.

 

The applicability criteria below may expand to cover other groups of researchers and sponsors in the future.

All students (both undergraduate and graduate) and postdoctoral fellows involved in the conduct of research, regardless of whether or not they receive external funding, must complete the appropriate institutionally-endorsed RCR training.   

 

Although RCR training is mandated by federal law for those supported by NSF, NIH, and USDA NIFA as stated in Section 1 above, University policy requires all faculty engaged in research and other sponsored and unsponsored projects complete RCR training.

The Principal Investigator(s) (PI)/Project Supervisor is responsible for fostering and maintaining integrity and ethics in research, assuring oversight and supervision of students and other research personnel. The Principal Investigator(s) is responsible for informing students and trainees engaged in research activities of RCR requirements and directing them to institutional resources available to satisfy the requirements.

 

 

All faculty engaged in sponsored programs and other unsponsored research programs are required to register and complete the required yearly RCR training.  The following training plan must be adhered to:

 

4.1.1  Attend RCR training sessions coordinated by the Office of Research Compliance and Assurance, as defined in the RCR Training Plan, Section 4.6 below.

 

 

Effective for all proposals submitted on or after July 31, 2023, the NSF will require the expansion of RCR training to include faculty and other senior personnel.  The institution must have a plan in place to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and other senior personnel who will be supported by NSF to conduct research. 

 

 

4.3.1  NIH requires all trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving support through any NIH training, career development award, research education grant, and dissertation research grant receive training in Responsible Conduct of Research. The following programs apply: D43, D71, F05, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F37, F38, K01, K02, K05, K07, K08, K12, K18, K22, K23, K24, K25, K26, K30, K99/R00, KL1, KL2, R25, R36, T15, T32, T34, T35, T36, T37, T90/R90, TL1, TU2, and U2R. This policy also applies to any other NIH-funded programs supporting research training, career development, or research education that require instruction in responsible conduct of research as stated in the relevant funding opportunity announcements.

 

4.3.2  NIH Principal Investigators are responsible for including information about their RCR training plan in every New (Type 1) and Renewal (Type 2) application, as well as Type 5 Continuation applications. Detailed requirements for each type of application were published in NIH Notice NOT-OD-10-019, Requirement for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research. 

 

4.3.3  NIH indicates frequency of RCR instruction as follows:

 

Instruction must be undertaken at least once during each career stage (see below), and at a frequency of no less than once every four years. It is highly encouraged that initial instruction during pre-doctoral training occurs as early as possible in graduate school. Individuals at the early career investigator level (including mentored K awardees and K12 scholars) must receive instruction in responsible conduct of research at least once during this career stage. Senior fellows and career award recipients (including F33, K02, K05, and K24 awardees) may fulfill the requirement for instruction in responsible conduct of research by participating as lecturers and discussion leaders. To meet the above requirements, instruction in RCR may take place, in appropriate circumstances, in a year when the trainee, fellow or career award recipient is not actually supported by an NIH grant. 

 

“Career stage” includes the undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, predoctoral, postdoctoral, and faculty levels.

 

 

4.4.1  Terms and conditions state: “By accepting a NIFA award the grantee assures that program directors, faculty, undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and any staff participating in the research project receive appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research.” NIFA’s policy was effective February 2013.

 

4.4.2  NIFA Principal Investigators are responsible for ensuring that each individual participating in the research project obtains the required training in a timely manner.

 

4.4.3  On a quarterly basis, the Office of Research Compliance and Assurance will ask NIFA Principal Investigators to provide a list of all individuals who participated in the research project. The office will match this list against CITI records to ensure that all individuals completed training.  

 

 

4.5.1  NSF requirements apply to research grants. Per NSF policy, students who receive only scholarship or stipend support to enroll in an academic program through such NSF are not required to receive RCR training. However, students must take RCR training if they receive NSF scholarship or stipend support to engage in research, or if conducting research is included in their academic program. 

 

4.5.2  NIH requirements apply to education and training grants.

 

4.5.3  NIFA requirements apply to all individuals participating in the research project, not just postdoctoral researchers and students financially supported by the grant.

 

 

Outlined below are the specific RCR Training requirements:

 

4.6.1  RCR Classroom Instruction and USA Canvas Platform Training

 

Faculty engaged in research and other sponsored and unsponsored projects are required to:

 

4.6.1.1  Attend, at minimum, two hours of instruction/sessions yearly. The RCR training series runs January -October each year.  The RCR training series will not be offered November - December for Compliance reporting purposes. The training topics will vary from year to year.   This will help ensure continuity of learning and engagement in fundamentals on academic integrity and research ethics.

 

4.6.1.2  The following five (5) training sessions will remain available each year, in addition to new training content. 

• • Overview of Data Driven Research -and-  Overview Scholarly Driven Research
  • Research Misconduct;
  • Foreign Influence and Security;
  • Conflict of Interest;
  • Rigor and Reproducibility (not required for faculty only involved in unsponsored research).

In addition to classroom instruction, a variety of training topics will also be offered via the USA Canvas platform.  Successful completion of online training will include a case study exercise or similar task based on instructional content and a quiz with a passing score to earn RCR credit.

The RCR training will be publicized.   A complete list of topics and registration details will be posted on the Research Compliance RCR webpage and the Research Education and Learning Portal webpage. 

RCR sessions are highly beneficial for anyone engaged in research, and all faculty, students, and trainees are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in the program in addition to training required by designated federal policies. 

Additional RCR training resources are available through the web-based Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) accessible at: http://www.citiprogram.org.

4.6.2  RCR Online (web-based) Training

 

The RCR web-based training designated for students conducting research or NSF funded senior research personnel is comprised of the following modules:

Furthermore, students (undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars) and senior research personnel supported by the National Science Foundation are required to complete an approved course in Responsible Conduct of Research. Students supported on certain NIH programs, including training grants are also required to complete RCR training.

The Office of Research Compliance and Assurance has partnered with the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) program to ensure that USA student researchers and trainees have the opportunity to participate in RCR education. 

The University of South Alabama’s CITI online training is comprised of various learning RCR modules:

• Biomedical RCR (Nursing, Biomedical Sciences, etc.);
• Social and Behavioral RCR (Psychology, Social work, etc.);
• Physical Sciences RCR (Engineering, Natural Sciences, etc.);
• Humanities RCR (History, Philosophy, etc.).

Successful completion of additional training is required for specific research activities involving (i) human subjects, (ii) animal care and use, and (iii) biological hazard safety.  These training requirements are enforced and overseen by the appropriate institutional review committee.

The completion of institutionally endorsed graduate courses/programs will also satisfy training requirements for students and trainees, to include:

The following procedures outline institutional RCR training compliance with this policy. 

 

 

The Office of Research Compliance and Assurance will monitor sponsored research faculty training compliance as defined above in Section 4.6, USA RCR Training Plan. This information will be obtained from Sponsored Projects Administration and Cayuse reporting.

 

 

5.2.1  NSF requires all principal investigators, co-investigators, and senior research personnel who are or will be supported by NSF funds to complete RCR training.  This requirement is effective for all proposals submitted beginning July 31, 2023.

 

5.2.2  The Office of Research Compliance and Assurance requires RCR training to be completed within one month (30 days) of the start of the student or trainee’s participation in the project.

 

5.2.3  NSF award documents are reviewed through Research.gov quarterly to identify NSF funded projects. Research Compliance is responsible for implementing and monitoring compliance with the plan. Additionally, in order to validate compliance with NSF RCR training requirements, the Office of Research Compliance will monitor to ensure completion of training within the required time period. Thereafter, the project will be monitored during the Fall, Spring, and Summer term for new activity.

 

 

5.3.1  The Office of Research Compliance and Assurance monitors sponsored project awards during the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms for new activity to identify NIH funded projects that must comply with completion of RCR training.  Once identified an email will be sent notifying the Principal Investigator of required training.

 

NIH requires the inclusion of face-to-face instruction for grant funded personnel and trainees, such as workshops, academic course hours, University training programs, etc. While online instruction can be a valuable supplement to RCR training, it is not considered sufficient as the sole means of instruction. 

 

5.3.2  NIH indicates that instruction should involve substantive contact hours (face-to-face) and acceptable programs generally involve at least eight hours. 

The Office of Research Compliance and Assurance is responsible for monitoring the required RCR training and verifying completion of online and face-to-face instruction. Failure to fulfill these requirements in accordance with this policy may subject individuals to sanctions (such as prohibition from participation in research or scholarly activities).

 

Noncompliance with the NSF/NIH requirements for RCR training may result in withholding student/trainee payments or funding expenditures. 

Federal Resources:

 

National Science Foundation, America COMPETES Act, section 7009

National Science Foundation Regulations, Chapter IX: Receipt Standards

National Institute of Health, NIH Policy on Responsible Conduct of Research Education

USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture

 

 

University Related Resources:

 

University of South Alabama RCR webpage