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Research Security Training

A page within Research & Sponsored Programs

Purpose

This policy’s purpose is to comply with the provisions of federal law, including 2 CFR 200, the Uniform Guidance, National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33), the CHIPS & Science Act, and other relevant sponsor requirements related to research security training. 

Research security refers to national security concerns surrounding research involving types of sensitive data, intellectual property, export-controlled information, and other risks. Research security is important to protect public investment in research, prevent the misuse of research data and advanced technology generated at universities by malign actors, and to protect the safety and security of employees and students traveling abroad. The federal government is focusing on areas critical to protecting the security of US research such as the disclosure of conflicts of interest and commitment, including relationships or affiliations with foreign entities, and research support provided by those entities. Federal agency partners have indicated that failure to disclose foreign relationships and activities may jeopardize eligibility for future funding. 

Scope

This policy applies to all UW-La Crosse personnel identified as senior/key personnel who engage in or propose to engage in federal sponsored projects with the National Science Foundation (NSF); US Health & Human Services (HHS), including the National Institutes of Health (NIH); US Department of Agriculture (USDA); or US Department of Energy (DOE). The policy scope may extend to include additional federal agencies as implementation plans are announced. 

Policy

In accordance with federal regulations and agency requirements, prior to submitting a proposal to a covered federal agency, all UW-La Crosse personnel identified as senior/key personnel must complete research security training within the 12 months preceding the proposal submission deadline. 

During the course of an active, covered federal award, all individuals identified as senior/key personnel must complete research security training annually.

Covered individuals added to an existing award after the award start date must complete research security training prior to beginning work on the sponsored project.

The UWL principal investigator (PI)/project director (PD) is responsible for accurately identifying all senior/key personnel prior to proposal submission as well as those added to a project during the course of an active award. The PI is additionally responsible for communicating research security training requirements to all senior/key personnel and for maintaining an updated list of senior/key personnel with the UWL Office of Research & Sponsored Programs in a timely manner to enable federal research security requirements to be fulfilled.

Supporting Information

Procedures
  • Within 12 months prior to the proposal submission deadline, all UWL personnel identified as senior/key personnel in a covered federal proposal must self-enroll in and complete the UWL Research Security Canvas course (approximately one hour).
  • Completion of the training requirement is satisfied by completing the two assignments in the Research Security Canvas course:
    • Upload a copy of the Federal Research Security Training completion certificate.
    • Achieve a score of at least 80% on the quiz. Individuals may take the quiz an unlimited number of times.
  • Training is valid for one year. 
  • During the course of an active, covered federal award, all UWL personnel identified as senior/key personnel for the award must re-complete the UWL Research Security Training Canvas course annually.
  • Senior/key personnel joining work on a project under an active, covered federal award must complete the UWL Research Security Training in Canvas before beginning work on the project.
  • During the course of an active, covered award, the PI/PD is responsible for notifying added senior/key personnel of the research security training requirement and for maintaining an updated list of senior/key personnel with the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs.
  • Training records are maintained by the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs in accordance with the requirements of the Wisconsin Open Records Law (State Statutes 19.31 through 19.39) and federal regulations. 
Resources

Last updated: September 2025

Some content adapted with permission from UW-Madison