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.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: NSF now requires institutions to have a RECR/RCR training program for faculty and senior personnel supported to do research, in addition to undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars. Faculty and staff who have initial charges dated March 1, 2024 or later on an NSF grant will be required to participate in the Georgia Tech-developed RCR training. CITI RCR training does not satisfy this requirement.
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
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 | Faculty and staff who have initial charges dated March 1, 2024 or later on an NSF grant will be required to participate in the Georgia Tech-developed RCR training. More Info |
‡ Applicable doctoral students who have a catalog year prior to 2011-12 should check with the RCR Program if they need to discuss other options for satisfying the in-person training requirement.