Applicability Criteria

The Georgia Tech RCR Compliance Policy applies to all undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars, whether as an employee, GRA, or other trainee, funded by new NSF proposals submitted, or due, on or after Jan. 4, 2010, to conduct research. It excludes, for example, conference, symposium, workshop, or travel proposals. The policy also applies to NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Fellows funded by fellowship offers effective with the 2010 Competition.

Beginning with proposals submitted or due on or after July 31, 2023, faculty and other senior personnel funded by NSF to conduct research will need to participate in RCR training.

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Training Requirements

The Compliance Policy has the following two training requirements for students and postdocs funded by covered NSF projects:

An online CITI RCR course must successfully be completed within 90 days of first being appointed to a covered NSF or NIH project, or before an applicable person graduates, or otherwise leaves the Institute, even if that imposes a shorter deadline.

In-person training must be completed within the first year of appointment to the project, or before an applicable person graduates, or otherwise leaves the Institute even if that imposes a shorter deadline. The type and amount of in-person training varies by career stage (see Compliance Training Matrix below).

NSF Compliance Training Matrix

NSF Compliance Training Matrix
Funding Source
Career Stage
NSF
Online
AND
1 hour
In-Person
Online
AND
2 hours
In-Person
Online
AND
RCR Doctoral
Course
Online
AND
4 hours
In-Person
Required for faculty and senior personnel beginning with proposals submitted or due on or after July 31, 2023 - More Info

Applicable doctoral students who have a catalog year prior to 2011-12 should check with the Office of Sponsored Programs if they need to discuss other options for satisfying the in-person training requirement.