How to Fulfill NSF RECR Training Requirements at UMD

Undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and other senior/key personnel who will participate in research supported by NSF need to complete the appropriate RECR training.

RECR/RCR training had already been required for all undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers participating in research supported by NSF funds since 2010. The 2023 revision to NSF’s existing training requirement mandated that institutions that submitted proposals to NSF on or after July 31, 2023, certify that they also have a plan in place to provide appropriate training and oversight in RECR for faculty and other senior personnel as well, with a focus on mentor training and mentorship. The subsequently issued PAPPG (NSF 24-1) continued these requirements, but modified “other senior personnel” to “other senior/key personnel.” 

NSF defines “senior/key personnel” as follows: “Senior/key personnel include the individuals designated by the proposer/recipient organization and approved by NSF, who contribute in a substantive, meaningful way to the scientific development or execution of a research and development project proposed to be carried out with a research and development award. There are two categories of senior/key personnel as follows: 1. (co) Principal Investigator (PIs) – NSF does not infer any distinction in scientific stature among multiple PIs, whether referred to as PI or co-PI. If more than one, the first one listed will serve as the contact PI, with whom all communications between NSF program officials and the project relating to the scientific, technical, and budgetary aspects of the project should take place. ... Both the PI and any co-PIs, however, will be jointly responsible for submission of the requisite project reports. For purposes of [the PAPPG], when used throughout, the term Principal Investigator also includes Project Director (PD), and the term co-PI also includes co-PD. 2. Faculty Associate (faculty member) (or equivalent) – an individual other than the Principal Investigator(s) considered by the performing institution to be a member of its faculty (or equivalent) or who holds an appointment as a faculty member at another institution, and who will participate in the project being supported” (National Science Foundation, Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide Exhibit II-3 (2024)).

Is the training required at the proposal or the award stage? Can the training be completed after the proposal is submitted, but prior to the actual acceptance of the award? What happens if an award is announced but an individual who is subject to the training requirement has not yet completed the training?

Faculty, senior/key personnel, undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers participating in research supported by NSF must complete the requisite training prior to the funding of any impacted award. If the award is announced and the impacted individual has not completed the training, they must take it immediately before the award may be set up and the funds disbursed.

Undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and “other senior/key personnel” who will participate in research supported by NSF must complete the IRC@UMD and RSO courses, included in the Plan, prior to the funding of any impacted award and then every 3 years thereafter (for the duration of the time that the individual is supported by NSF funding).* 

(*Note: Individuals designated as senior/key personnel have an additional requirement to have taken the RSO course in the 12 months prior to the submission of any new proposal on which they are identified as senior/key personnel (National Science Foundation Important Notice No. 149 (2025)). The RSO will be responsible for increasing the frequency and population of the RSO course as needed to meet agency or project specific requirements (RSO Training).)

No. 

Researchers who completed the RCR/RECR training via CITI before August 2023 and have a certification that has not yet expired do not need to complete any new RCR/RECR training at this time. As that certification expires, however, they will need to complete the IRC@UMD training courses as described in the Plan.

Researchers who completed the CITI research security training previously administered by RSO between January 1, 2025 and September 11, 2025 and have a certification that has not yet expired do not need to complete any new research security training at this time.* As that certification expires, however, they will need to complete the UMD RSO training course as required by the Plan and the UMD RSO.

(*Note: Individuals designated as senior/key personnel have an additional requirement to have taken the RSO course in the 12 months prior to the submission of any new proposal on which they are identified as senior/key personnel (National Science Foundation Important Notice No. 149 (2025)). The RSO will be responsible for increasing the frequency and population of the RSO course as needed to meet agency or project specific requirements (RSO Training))