RCR Training
Excellence Through Integrity: Defining RCR
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) is the ethical and professional framework that ensures the credibility and integrity of scholarly work. More than a compliance requirement, RCR reflects a commitment to transparency, objectivity, and respect across the entire research process, spanning study design and data collection through mentorship, collaboration, and publication.
At NC State, RCR education helps researchers meet federal sponsor requirements while building a culture where integrity is embedded in every stage of the research enterprise, contributing knowledge that benefits the University and the public.
NC State’s RCR program addresses a broad range of research integrity topics, including:
- Plagiarism
- Peer Review
- Authorship
- Research Misconduct
- Collaborative Research
- Research Security and Transparency
- Conflicts of Interest
- Mentoring
- Data Management
Select a box for more information on RCR at NC State:
Federal Sponsor Training Requirements
The table below outlines RCR training requirements by federal sponsor.
| Federal Sponsor | Delivery method | Personnel required to do RCR Training |
|---|---|---|
| National Science Foundation (NSF) | Online Through CITI or an approved NC State course | Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Researchers, Faculty and other Senior Personnel supported to conduct research |
| USDA - National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) | Online Through CITI or an approved NC State course | Program Directors, Faculty, Undergraduate Students, Postdoctoral Scholars, any staff participating in a USDA NIFA research project |
| National Institutes of Health (NIH) * | Face-to-face training | All trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving support through any NIH training, career development award (individual or institutional), research education grant, and dissertation research grant |
*Applies to NIH training, career development, research education, and dissertation research grants.
RCR Courses
NC State offers two options for fulfilling the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training requirement for faculty, staff, and students.
Authorized Course
NC State recognizes specific courses that fulfill federal and institutional Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training requirements.
Individuals meet the RCR training requirement by being currently enrolled in an approved course or by having completed an approved alternative within the past three years.
- CBS 662: Professional Conduct in Biomedical Research
- PHI 816: Introduction to Research Ethics
- BIT 501: Ethical Issues in Biotechnology
- TOX 861: Responsible Conduct in Research
- FW 730: Ethics in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
- ANS 811: Safety and Ethics in Animal Science (Topical Problems in Animal Science)
- GGS 840: Professional Development and Ethics
CITI Program
Researchers can meet federal training requirements by completing the comprehensive RCR course offered through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program.
How to Enroll in RCR Training
- Once you are logged in to the CITI Program, click the View Courses button next to the university’s name.
- Scroll down to the Learner Tools for North Carolina State University box, and click Add a Course.
- Select CITI Responsible Conduct of Research (NC State University). (Note – you can select multiple courses at the same time.) Click Submit.
- Confirm that the course has been added to your Courses Ready to Begin list.
Note: In order to pass and receive credit for completion of a course, all required modules must be completed with an average score of at least 80% on all quizzes. The CITI Program will notify the NC State RCR Administrator of your completion, and a completion report and certificate will be sent to you for your records.
Faculty
- Faculty who have instructed an authorized course in the past three years may receive credit toward the RCR requirement. To request credit, contact the RCR Administrator at [email protected].
- To submit a course for consideration as an authorized RCR course, email [email protected].
- “Special topics” courses with modifiable syllabi cannot be designated as Authorized RCR Courses. Authorized courses must have fixed syllabi consistent across all instances.
- Students: If your course isn’t listed because it is a “Special Topics” class, you may still be eligible for RCR credit. Follow the instructions to submit a request to the RCR Administrator for review.
RCR Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
I completed a course on the CITI program but it was not the Responsible Conduct of Research Course, do I still get credit?
While other CITI courses, such as the Social/Behavioral Research course and the Human Subjects Research course, cover some of the topics relevant to Responsible Conduct of Research, they do not address all of them. Therefore they are NOT acceptable substitutions for the RCR course.
Revised 1/1/2023
I am enrolled in (or have completed) an NC State catalog course that is not listed as an Authorized course for RCR, but the syllabus covered the topics relevant to Responsible Conduct in Research. Can I receive RCR credit for that course?
Possibly, however, the course syllabus will need to be reviewed before that credit determination can be made. Please visit (link to new page RCR Credit for Non-Authorized Catalog Courses) for more information.
What if I completed the RCR training at another University, will it be accepted at NC State?
In order for CITI RCR training through another university to be considered, the following must be true:
- You have provided a record of completion listing the modules and score (via email to [email protected]);
- It must have been completed within the last 3 years and;
- It must include all the modules listed below in order to meet NC State’s requirements.
The CITI Responsible Conduct of Research (NC State University) course consists of eight modules:
- Plagiarism
- Authorship
- Collaborative Research
- Conflicts of Interest
- Data Management
- Mentoring
- Peer Review
- Research Misconduct
Revised 1/1/2023
I am a NIH Fellow, will I receive a notification to complete the RCR training?
Because NIH RCR requirements are program specific and face to face training is required, RCR compliance documentation is maintained at the program level. You should consult the NC State program director about your specific requirements. NIH Fellows do not receive notifications to complete CITI RCR training. To see more information about the NIH RCR requirements, see NOT-OD-10-019: Update on the Requirement for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research.
Revised 1/1/2023
How long do I have to take the training?
Per RULE 10.15.01, Participants who have not taken one of the approved courses within the previous three (3) years are required to take either the online CITI Responsible Conduct of Research course within six (6) weeks from the date of appointment or enroll in one of the face-to-face courses the semester following their appointment on a NSF or NIFA – funded grant.
Revised 1/1/2023
I received a notification but have already completed the course, what do I do?
If you have already completed the CITI Responsible Conduct of Research (NC State University) within the last three years, simply contact the RCR Administrator directly at [email protected] and provide a copy of your record of completion from your CITI account
Revised 1/1/2023
How long does the CITI RCR training take?
The CITI RCR course currently consists of eight modules. A quiz is given after each. To successfully pass the course, you must complete all 8 required modules and achieve an average score of at least 80% on all quizzes. The course should take between 2 and 4 hours to complete.
Revised 1/1/2023
How does the recent CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 affect the RCR requirement for NSF funded researchers?
Section 10337 of the Act directed NSF to expand the requirement for responsible conduct in research training to include faculty and other senior personnel on NSF awards and expands the scope of such training to include mentoring training and training to raise awareness of research security risks as well as Federal export control, disclosure, and reporting requirements. In the PAPPG 23-1, NSF has added the mentorship topic and implemented the requirement for faculty and other senior personnel to also complete the RCR training for new proposals submitted on or due on or after July 31, 2023. The RCR CITI course meets the current NSF requirements.
Are Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) Students required to take RCR training? If so how are they notified?
National Science Foundation requires the completion of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training by all undergraduate students funded, in part or in whole, from an NSF grant. This includes any undergraduate student who receives an NSF stipend while participating in an REU program at NC State.
REU students are not sent a system-generated notification of their need to complete RCR training. If we do not receive notification from the College Research Office, PI/Program Director, or other research personnel, we will not know to enroll said students in the training.
To notify the RCR Administrators that one or more REU students require enrollment in RCR training, the following information must be emailed to [email protected]:
- For each NC State REU student: Full name, email address, and/or Unity ID
- For each REU student whose home institution is not NC State: Full name, name of home institution, an email address at home institution, email address and/or Unity ID at NC State (if available)
- PI’s full name and email address
- The 6-digit Account # associated with each REU student’s stipend
- Start and end dates of the REU program
The RCR Administrators will enroll each REU student in the CITI Program’s RCR course and email them information about the training, including instructions on how to access and complete it. The RCR Administrator will also monitor and document each student’s progress through and completion of the training.
For more information about NC State’s Summer Research Programs please visit the Office of Undergraduate Research’s Summer Research Programs.
What happens if I don’t complete my RCR requirement?
In accordance with RUL 10.15.01, failure to complete RCR training, if required, will result in the individual being removed from the sponsored project that triggered the requirement.
We strongly encourage you and/or the Principal Investigator of the funded project to notify the RCR administrator, as soon as possible, If you encounter circumstances that may prevent you from completing your RCR requirement on time.