Grand Valley State University is committed to supporting and nurturing a culture of scholarship and research that embraces research integrity and research ethics. GVSU has created on blended educational program to meet the RCR requirements as mandated by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

GVSU has selected CITI to provide a basic training in RCR.  CITI provides a flexible online course that uses videos and a blended learning environment to involve learners in the learning process. 

Two primary courses are available for GVSU researchers. 

The RCR course is available in several tracks, designed specifically for each graduate program.  This course can also be taken by new faculty researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate students. 

By the end of the course, researchers will be able to: 

• Explain the key responsibilities of a researcher
• Identify the challenges one could face in meeting those responsibilities
• Apply a range of strategies to respond and adapt to the challenges one may face when conducting research. 

The RCR Concise Course is required for those individuals doing research with human subjects.  Completion of one of the above RCR graduate courses may also satisfy this requirement. 

Additional Optional Courses

• Human Subjects Protections (Required for those individuals doing research with human subjects)
• The Humane Use and Care of Animals in Research
• Conflict of Interest
• Good Clinical Practice
• Export Controls

Certain grants received through the National Institute of Health require RCR training for investigators. NIH provides the following guidance for this training (full details are available here): Substantial face-to-face discussions among the participating trainees/fellows/scholars/participants; a combination of didactic and small-group discussions (e.g. case studies); and participation of research training faculty members in instruction in responsible conduct of research are highly encouraged. While on-line courses can be a valuable supplement to instruction in responsible conduct of research, online instruction is not considered adequate as the sole means of instruction. A plan that employs only online coursework for instruction in responsible conduct of research will not be considered acceptable, except in special instances of short-term training programs or unusual and well-justified circumstances.   

GVSU hosts an in-person RCR Workshop every two years that can be used to meet the NIH requirements. Contact ORCI to learn more:  [email protected].