Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR)

Responsible Conduct of Research Training Requirement - NIFA

NIFA Requirement

The National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requires program directors, faculty, undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and any staff participating in a NIFA research project, including capacity (formula) funds receive appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research (RCR) and that documentation of such training is maintained and available upon request.

The RCR Training requirement can be found on page 9 of the NIFA Grant Agreement Terms and Conditions.

UVM Plan for Meeting the NIFA RCR Training Requirement

All faculty, principal investigators, co-principal investigators, graduate students, undergraduate students, postdoctoral researchers and staff who are participating in a NIFA research project and paid (salary or stipend) from a NIFA grant awarded to UVM directly or as a subrecipient are required to complete the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) - Basic Training Course offered on-line through the CITI Program. The CITI Basic RCR Course covers all essential RCR topics.

RCR Training should be completed within the first 3 months on the project.
RCR Training is completed once.
RCR Training satisfies both the NIFA and NSF RCR Training requirement.
Research Integrity will notify individuals by email and provide CITI login instructions.
RCR email reminders will be sent monthly to only those that have not completed RCR Training.
Once RCR Training is complete the email remiders will stop.
The PI of the NIFA award will be copied on all emails, keeping them informed about who on their grant needs RCR training.
When needed, Research Integrity will request assistance from the PI to help push along all those that remain delinquent in completing the RCR training.
RCR Exceptions: If the PI believes there is an individual that does not meet the RCR requirements they may request to have the RCR requirement removed. Requests must be emailed to the RCR Coordinator and please provide a reason for the exception (i.e: the individual is not conducting or participating in the research, conference, travel, workshop, or symposium specific award).
UVM RCR Coordinator, Nicole Schwartz or Brian Prindle.

RCR Notifications

RCR email reminders will be sent monthly to only those who have not completed RCR Training.
Once RCR Training is complete the email remiders will stop.
The PI of the NIFA award will be copied on all emails, keeping them informed about who on their grant needs RCR Training.
When needed, Research Integrity will request assistance from the PI to help push along all those that remain delinquent in completing the RCR Training.
RCR Exceptions: If the PI believes there is an individual that does not meet the RCR requirements they may request to have the RCR requirement removed. Requests must be emailed to the RCR Coordinator and please provide a reason for the exception (i.e: the individual is not conducting or participating in the research, conference, travel, workshop, or symposium specific award).
UVM RCR Coordinator, Nicole Schwartz or Brian Prindle.

CITI Registration and Login Instructions

A. CITI Login for those who are already registered for a UVM CITI Account

Go to the CITI Login page.
Choose "Log in through my Institution". Scroll down and click on "University of Vermont".
Login using your UVM NetID and Password (if necessary).
From the Main Menu, select "University of Vermont Courses.
Select "Add a Course."
Choose "Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) - Basic."
Start course and complete the Required modules.
Users may save their work and return to CITI at any time to complete the training.
When you return to CITI, always login thru "Log in through my Institution". This avoids creating multiple CITI accounts and having to restart training.

NOTE: DO NOT CHOOSE "Responsible Conduct of Research - Refresher". This course will NOT satisfy the requirement.

B. Registration Instructions for those who do not have a UVM CITI Account

Go to the CITI Login page.
Click on "Log In" located at the top right of the CITI page.
Click "Log In Through My Institution". Scroll down and click on "University of Vermont".
Enter your UVM Net ID and password to sign in.
If you have not associated your UVM account with CITI, you will be prompted to choose whether you already have a CITI Program account or if you do not have a CITI Program account.
If you have a CITI Account, choose the first option and follow the instructions to link your UVM account with your CITI Account.
If you do not have a CITI account, choose the second option and select "Click here to create a new CITI Program account." If you do not receive these prompts, then proceed to step 8.
From the Main Menu, select "University of Vermont Courses."
Select "Add a Course".
Choose "Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) - Basic."
Start course and complete the Required modules.
Users may save their work and return to CITI at anytime to complete the training.
When you return always use the command "Log in through my Institution". This avoids creating multiple CITI accounts and having to restart training.