What is Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)?
- Key areas of focus include data integrity and management, collaborative research practices, and responsible authorship and publishing. The scope also encompasses ethical considerations in human and animal research, the creation of safe research environments, and the management of conflicts of interest. Additional priorities include ensuring data security, preventing research misconduct, upholding mentor-trainee responsibilities, and maintaining the integrity of the peer review process.
About Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
- Colorado State University is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service, guided by the CSU Principles of Community—accountability, civic engagement, freedom of expression, access, innovation, integrity, mutual respect, and opportunity for all. Responsible conduct of research includes all scholarly and inquiry activities associated with the mission of CSU. While research practices vary by discipline, training in research ethics is essential for every member of the academic community.
Face-to-Face Courses
Approved face-to-face training should take place in the first year of the trainee starting at CSU.
RCR Online Training & Certification
RCR Training Requirements at CSU for Researchers
Questions
Please email us with any questions.
Report Research Misconduct
This Reporting Hotline allows anyone to report issues anonymously
On Being a Scientist
The scientific research enterprise, like other human activities, is built on a foundation of trust. Scientists trust that the results reported by others are valid. Society trusts that the results of research reflect an honest attempt by scientists to describe the world accurately and without bias. The level of trust that has characterized science and its relationship with society has contributed to a period of unparalleled scientific productivity. But this trust will endure only if the scientific community devotes itself to exemplifying and transmitting the values associated with ethical scientific conduct.
– On Being a Scientist, National Academies of Science, 1995
Training Requirements
RCR Training Requirements at CSU for Researchers supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), or National Institutes of Health (NIH):
NSF: All individuals supported by NSF must complete online RCR training through CITI. Note: CITI now includes a Mentoring and Healthy Research Environments module to fulfill requirements under the CHIPS and Science Act.
NIFA: All individuals involved in research funded by NIFA must complete online RCR training through CITI.
NIH: Trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving support through any NIH training, career development award, research education grant, or dissertation research grant (T15, T32, T34, T35, T36, T37, T90/R90, TL1, TU2, F05, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F37, F38, K01, K02, K05, K07, K08, K12, K18, K22, K23, K24, K25, K26, K30, K99/R00, KL1, KL2, R25, R36, D43, D71, U2R) must complete online RCR training through CITI as well as face-to-face training through matriculating in an approved RCR graduate course. Faculty who receive support from these programs must both complete online RCR training through CITI and at least 8 hours of face-to-face RCR training per career stage. Faculty are responsible for maintaining records related to their RCR training and providing them to OVPR upon request.
Research Misconduct
Professional misconduct is unacceptable in all forms. CSU is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct. We seek to empower our faculty, staff and students to model ethical behavior in the proposing, performing, reviewing and publishing of all research and scholarly endeavors. In addition, federal agency regulations require that CSU have and maintain robust policies and procedures addressing research misconduct (also called “misconduct in science”).
Contact the Research Integrity Officer
Mark Hubbard, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Research Integrity and Compliance
(970) 491-1883
Email Mark Hubbard