Fwd: [research] Research Security Training (RST)– Effective October 10, 2025
Grace Marasco-Plummer
____________________________
Grace Plummer
Managing Director
1117 Peacock Hall
828-262-7514
From: Charna Howson <hows...@appstate.edu>
Date: Thu, Oct 2, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Subject: [research] Research Security Training (RST)– Effective October 10, 2025
To: research <group-r...@appstate.edu>
Date: October 2, 2025
RE: Research Security Training (RST)– Effective October 10, 2025
You’re receiving this email as a member of the Appalachian State research and creative activity community, regarding newly introduced training requirements for applicants seeking federal funding from several agencies.
In alignment with the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-167), Section 10634 and the National Security Presidential Memorandum on United States Government-Supported Research and Development National Security Policy 33 (NSPM-33); The National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced new mandatory research security training for “covered individuals” applying for/receiving federal funding. These agencies seek to ensure federally funded projects “are free of malign foreign interference and misappropriation.” NIH has since rescinded this requirement with NOT-OD-25-166, with plans to post a new requirement once their policy work is finalized. Thus the current requirement applies to NSF, DOD, DOE, and USDA submissions.
Beginning on October 10, 2025, all covered individuals must certify that they have completed research security training within 12 months before proposal submission. Additionally, all covered individuals must take the required research security training on an annual basis for the duration of any award from these federal agencies. A “covered individual” is “any individual who contributes to the scientific development or execution of a project in a substantive, measurable way.” Examples of "Covered Individuals" include PI's, Co-PI's, project directors or managers, and consultants and graduate students who contribute to the project in a "substantive and meaningful way to the development or execution of the scope of work" on the funded project.
App State is directing PIs to the training provided by the NSF SECURE Center. The SECURE Center Consolidated Training Module is a condensed version that has been recognized by each of the 5 agencies listed above. The ORI Research Protections department has created a Research Security Web page to provide App State PIs with further guidance and commonly asked questions. To access and complete the RST, navigate to the SECURE Center and follow these steps:
Scroll to the ”Consolidated Training Module (CTM)” section.
Click on the ”Web Version with Certificate” Box
Click on the play button to start the training.
After completing your annual training, make sure to download and email your certificate of completion to Research Protections at compl...@appstate.edu.
Director, Sponsored Programs
Office of Research and Innovation
Appalachian State University
POB 32174, 385 JET Bldg.
287 Rivers Street
Boone, NC 28608-2068
828-262-7311 (Office)
828-262-2641 (Fax)
(She, Her, Hers, Charna)
- Sponsored Programs staff strive to respond to your emails within 48 hours. I also use Google Chat.
- Sponsored Programs External Grants Process (click here).
- Send me secure files using this link:
