RCR & Research Security Training

Next Event

Overview

In order to meet new training requirements from federal funding agencies, all VU schools require that faculty and staff engaged in research complete training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and in Research Security. Currently, if you are applying for federal funding, you must complete this training before submitting a proposal. All others will be assigned this training in the near future, regardless of federal proposal activity. The training can be completed in CITI Program and takes about 1-2 hours to complete. Please read below for more information and direct any questions to ric@vanderbilt.edu.

Training Requirement

To complete the required RCR and Research Security training, you will need to take the following two courses in CITI Program:

RCR for VU Faculty and Staff
Research Security for VU Faculty and Staff

You can add these courses by clicking on the "Add a course" link at the bottom of your CITI Program homepage. Both courses are offered in classic (text-based) and audio-visual options. Once you complete the courses, you have completed your training. Completion data are compiled automatically and there is no need to email your training certificate. Please note that you must use your VU email as the preferred email on your CITI account in order to receive credit for the training.

For more information on managing your CITI account and enrolling in the course, please see below.

CITI Account Management and Course Enrollment

How to create a CITI Program Account

If you currently do not have a CITI Program account, you will need to create one. You can do so by registering at the CITI Program website. Please be sure to use your Vanderbilt email as the preferred email when registering.
For more guidance, please see the CITI Program Getting Started Guide. Please note that at this time, Vanderbilt University does not have Single Sign On access.
What to do if your CITI account is not affiliated with Vanderbilt University

In order to access the course, your CITI account will need to be affiliated with Vanderbilt University. You can add this affiliation on your CITI Program homepage. Please see this CITI Program guide on affiliations for more information.
How to update your email

In order to receive credit for course completion, your CITI Program account must include your Vanderbilt University email as your preferred email address. You can update this by clicking on your name in the top right and selecting "Profile." For more guidance, please see this CITI Program Guide on updating email addresses.
How to enroll in the required courses

If you created or updated your account and want to add the two required courses to your account, please click on the link below. Alternatively, you may email ric@vanderbilt.edu and we can add the course to your CITI account.
RCR and Research Security Training Enrollment Instructions

Office Hours

Drop in to a Zoom session from 1-2 p.m. Monday through Friday for guidance on completing RCR and Research Security training in CITI Program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this training required now?

If you are submitting a proposal to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or Department of Energy (DOE), this training is required now and must be completed before your proposal is submitted to the sponsor.
For proposals to all other federal agencies, this training will be required beginning October 1^st, 2025.
Does this training apply to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars?

This training applies to all Senior/Key personnel on an application for federal funding. If graduate students or postdoctoral scholars are listed as Senior/Key personnel, then they must also complete the training. This includes fellowship applications where graduate students are listed as the PI (for instance, NIH F series applications).
Who do I contact for help with my CITI account?

Please contact ric@vanderbilt.edu for help with your CITI Program account, including creating an account, updating emails, and enrolling in the courses, among other issues.
My CITI account shows that I have already completed the training, do I have to do it again?

If your CITI account indicates you have already completed the training, you do not have to take the training again. It is possible that you completed the required modules to meet other training requirements at your school.
Why did Vanderbilt select these trainings?

These trainings were selected by the Research Integrity and Compliance Committee and other key stakeholders on campus because they best fit the current needs of the VU community while meeting many federal requirements for Research Security and RCR training.
Do the trainings fulfill requirements for federal sponsors?

Yes, the Research Security training fulfills the requirement to complete research security training for agencies like the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Energy (DOE), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Additionally, it fulfills the NIH requirement on disclosure training. The RCR training fulfills the NSF requirement for training in the Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research.
Does Vanderbilt require VU specific training for subawardees?

No. When working with sub-awardees on a grant proposal, they must comply with federal (not VU) requirements for training. It is the sub-awardee's responsibility to verify training completion for covered individuals.
Does VUMC have a research security training requirement?

Yes, VUMC maintains a research security training requirement. You can find more information at the VUMC Research Security Training webpage.
For faculty with dual appointments at VU and VUMC, which training is required?

Faculty with dual appointments are required to complete training based on the appointment that is being listed on the application. If faculty are listed on an application for federal funding based on their VU affiliation, then they should follow VU's guidelines. If faculty are listed on an application for federal funding based on their VUMC affiliation, then they should follow VUMC's guidelines.
Can I take other RCR or Research Security courses in CITI?

Yes, you make take other RCR or Research Security courses for free. However, only "RCR for VU Faculty and Staff" and "Research Security for VU Faculty and Staff" will fulfill the current training requirements.
Can I get credit for completing a different Research Security course?

If a sponsor or prior institution had you complete a different research security course within the last year, please email ric@vanderbilt.edu.
Is Research Security training the same as Cybersecurity Training?

No. These are two separate training requirements. Please see the Cybersecurity Training page for more guidance on cybersecurity training.
Is RCR training the same as Human Subjects training?

No. These are two separate training requirements. Please see the VU SERB IRB page for more information on human research protection training.
Do I need to complete the training if I am not requesting any salary?

Yes, if you are listed as a Senior/Key Personnel on an application for federal funding, you are required to complete the training.
Do I need to complete the training if I am submitting a continuation or supplement proposal?

Yes, if you are submitting a continuation or supplement to a federal funding agency as a Senior/Key personnel and have not yet completed "RCR for VU Faculty and Staff" and "Research Security for VU Faculty and Staff," you will need to complete the training.
Is this training required for sponsored billing agreements?

No, this training is not required for sponsored billing agreements.
Is there a dashboard or report that grants managers can use to confirm training has been completed?

We are currently working on creating a dashboard and reporting system for grants managers and other departmental administrators to verify training completion. Until these features are available, please email ric@vanderbilt.edu with any questions about training completion and we will get back to you as soon as possible.