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Note: Background on NSF Responsible Conduct of Research for students:
The University has been working on a plan to meet the NSF requirement, effective 1/4/10. We do not need to provide written language regarding this plan in each new NSF proposal. However, DRDA certifies to the "requirement" language regarding RCR as it appears on each NSF cover page at the time of the NSF fastlane proposal submission.

2011 Update: University of Michigan Responsible Conduct of Research website

Responsible Conduct of Research for Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Researchers participating in National Science Foundation Research Projects

The University of Michigan is committed to fostering an environment of responsible conduct of research. As part of this commitment and in compliance with NSF's implementation of Section 7009 of the America COMPETES Act, the University requires that all NSF-supported undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers complete appropriate training in the responsible and ethical conduct of research. Similar requirements have applied to NIH training programs for some time, and are likely to apply to research grants at NIH and other federal agencies in the near future.

The University has established the Program for Education and Evaluation in Responsible Research and Scholarship (PEERRS). PEERRS consists of on-line educational modules and short tests covering basic rules, procedures and professional norms for the responsible conduct of research. The Office of the Vice President for Research maintains certification records of completion of the PEERRS.

All undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers participating in NSF-supported research projects are required to complete the PEERRS module "Foundation of Good Research Practices" and pass the test with a minimum grade of 80%. In addition, NSF-supported graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers are required to complete the "Authorship, Publication, and Peer Review" PEERRS module. (NOTE: when initially registering in the PEERRS program, make sure to check your student status on page 2 of the profile and check the box stating you are supported by an NSF grant on page 3 of the profile. If you are already registered in PEERRS, confirm that your profile is accurate by clicking the "My Profile" link near the top of your personalized home page within PEERRS.)

U-M plans to continue to enhance the online RCR training programs over the next year to provide additional training options and improve linkages to U-M resources such as the PLAN: Profession, Life, Academics, Network (http://www.rackham.umich.edu/plan/).

Additional training options will include the PIBS503 short course on RCR, offering a combination of online and in-person training to bioscientists at the graduate and postdoctoral level.

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and Rackham Graduate School have created a joint task force to examine and implement resources for RCR training that can be adapted to multiple fields of research and scholarship. The intent is to provide content for modules that are both applicable to all areas (Integrity in Scholarship, Plagiarism, and Copyright issues) and discipline-specific in a format that is compatible with both verifiable online training, group discussions of RCR issues, and personal mentoring.

It is intended that the Task Force create a user-friendly and adaptable online platform and the widely applicable "front end" modules, while more discipline-specific modules are created in collaboration with participating schools and colleges.

College/School and Department specific requirements will be posted on U-M's RCR Web Site.

See also Resources for postdoctoral mentoring
(posted at on the Rackham Web site: http://www.rackham.umich.edu/faculty_staff/ensuring_success/promising_practices/mentoring_advising/)

Background on RCR:
Section 7009 of the America COMPETES Act mandates that the Director "require each institution that applies for financial assistance from the Foundation for science and engineering research or education describe in its grant proposal a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers participating in the proposed research project."

NSF's Implementation of Section 7009 effective January 4, 2010
The language specified below provides NSF's implementation of Section 7009. 2. Institutional Responsibilities

  1. An institution must have a plan in place to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who will be supported by NSF to conduct research. As noted in GPG Chapter II.C.1e, institutional certification to this effect is required for each proposal.
  2. While training plans are not required to be included in proposals submitted to NSF, institutions are advised that they are subject to review, upon request.
  3. An institution must designate one or more persons to oversee compliance with the RCR training requirement.
  4. Institutions are responsible for verifying that undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers supported by NSF to conduct research have received training in the responsible and ethical conduct of research.

The University's Training Plan to meet the RCR requirement is below as guidance to the faculty and research staff on this issue. This plan and future updates and improvements to the training plan will be posted here as it evolves over the coming months.

Last reviewed: December, 2009

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