Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR)

Responsible Conduct of Research Training Requirement - NSF

NSF Requirement

The National Science Foundation (NSF) requires grantee institutions to have a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research (RCR) to all faculty, principal investigators, co-principal investigators, senior personnel, undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who are conducting research and paid from a NSF grant awarded directly to the institution or as a subrecipient.

Effective July 31, 2023: The NSF expanded the Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RCR) training requirement to include all faculty, principal investigators, co-principal investigators, and senior personnel.

This requirement can be found in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), NSF 23-1, dated January 30, 2023.

UVM Plan for Meeting the NSF RCR Training Requirement

Effective July 31, 2023

All faculty, principal investigators, co-principal investigators, senior personnel, undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who are conducting research and paid from an NSF 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 RCR Basic 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 NSF and USDA/NIFA 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 NSF 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 NSF 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.