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POLICY FOR TRAINING IN THE RESPONSIBLE AND ETHICAL CONDUCT OF RESEARCH (RECR) AND RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH (RCR)

(Last updated 08/01/2023)

NSF POLICY ON RESPONSIBLE AND ETHICAL CONDUCT OF RESEARCH (RECR)
Section 7009 of the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Act (42 USC 1862o–1), as amended, requires that each institution that applies for financial assistance from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for science and engineering research or education describe in its grant proposal a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research (RECR) to undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and other senior personnel supported by the proposed research project. Such training must include mentor training and mentorship.

RECR is critical for excellence, as well as public trust, in science and engineering. RECR involves not only a responsibility to generate and disseminate knowledge with rigor and integrity, but also a responsibility to:

1. conduct peer review with the highest ethical standards;
2. diligently protect proprietary information and intellectual property from inappropriate disclosure; and
3. treat students and colleagues fairly and with respect.

Consequently, education in RECR is considered essential in the preparation of future scientists and engineers.

Note: 

• The requirement specified in Section 7009 of COMPETES Act (42 USC 1862o–1), as amended,to have a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to faculty and other senior personnel who will be supported by NSF to conduct research is in effect for new proposals submitted or due on or after July 31, 2023. 

• In addition, Skidmore College extends NSF’s RECR training requirement to postbaccalaureate researchers supported by an NSF-funded project.

The  provides detailed information about the assurances required of all grant applicants and award recipients. Background information and details on institutional responsibilities pertaining to RECR are documented in .

NIH POLICY ON RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH (RCR)
NIH requires that all trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving support through any NIH training, career development award (individual or institutional), research education grant, and dissertation research grant must receive instruction in responsible conduct of research. 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. The purpose of the  is to update the agency’s policy on instruction in the responsible conduct of research, to convey some of the consensus best practices that have evolved in the research training community over the past two decades, and to provide access to additional information that may be useful to institutions and individuals in meeting their obligations under NIH policy.

TRAINING PLAN
This policy and related procedures are designed to assist faculty, postdoctoral, graduate, postbaccalaureate, and undergraduate researchers funded through an NSF grant or an NIH grant with a required training component in completing training in RECR/RCR.

Training Participants
Undergraduate students, graduate students, postbaccalaureate researchers, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and other senior personnel who are contributing to an NSF-funded research effort as part of a current/active NSF grant are required to satisfactorily complete a training course.

Trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving support through any NIH training, career development award (individual or institutional), research education grant, and dissertation research grant are also required to satisfactorily complete a training course This training requirement 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.

Training Timeframe
NSF Principal Investigators (PIs) are responsible for ensuring undergraduate students, graduate students, postbaccalaureate researchers, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and other senior personnel (for funded proposals submitted or due on or after July 31, 2023), supported through their grant(s) complete training at the start of work on the research project and no later than thirty (30) days immediately following the initiation of the NSF-funded research. Training must be renewed every three years thereafter.

NIH PIs are responsible for ensuring trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars supported through their grant(s) and subject to the NIH training requirement complete training at the start of work on the research project and no later than thirty (30) days immediately following the initiation of the NIH-funded research. Training must be renewed every three years thereafter.

Training Methods
Researchers are required to complete the training online through the RCR Course. Researchers can register for the RCR course by following these instructions: Instructions for Accessing CITI Training Modules.

Training must be renewed every three years thereafter through the completion of the CITI Program RCR Refresher Course.

Reporting Completion of the RECR/RCR Training Requirement
The Office of Sponsored Research will email an RECR Training reminder to PIs in early June, early September, and early January each year. The email will include a link to the RECR/RCR Training Certification Form.

PIs are responsible for completing the RECR/RCR Training Certification Form on behalf of all researchers subject to the training requirement. Upon completion of the training by all researchers, the PI will:

1. Complete the RECR/RCR Training Certification Form

For all NSF grants, list undergraduate students, graduate students, postbaccalaureate researchers, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and other senior personnel compensated through the grant.

For NIH grants, list all trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving support through any NIH-funded program that requires instruction in responsible conduct of research (as stated in the relevant funding opportunity announcement).

2. Print, sign, and date the RECR/RCR Training Certification Form

3. Email the RECR/RCR Training Certification Form to the Office of Sponsored Research at mhoehn@skidmore.edu

TRAINING ADMINISTRATION
The Director and Assistant Directors of Sponsored Research will inform PIs of the RECR/RCR training requirement during the pre-award/proposal preparation process. The PIs and co-PIs will receive an email reminder and shall complete the RECR/RCR Training Certification Form as described above and return to the Office of Sponsored Research at mhoehn@skidmore.edu.