Research and Sponsored Programs Compliance

Need help registering for CITI trainings?

Refer to our How to Register for CITI Trainings Instructions.

Training, Certification and Disclosure Requirements and Guidance

Western Washington University (WWU) will not permit spending until required training, certification and disclosures are documented. Personnel and participants who join after the start of the project must complete their required training within sixty (60) days of accepting their position per WWU policy.  PIs are responsible for ensuring and documenting that all trainings are completed.

Responsible Conduct of Research

Western Washington University and certain Federal agencies require individuals engaged in federally funded research projects to complete formal Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training. WWU primarily fulfills this obligation through the CITI Program which provides nationally recognized, peer-reviewed, online regulatory content for researchers. 

All WWU PIs engaged in federally funded research must have a valid CITI RCR certificate of completion on file before the project begins and all researchers are responsible for ensuring their certification is up to date and current throughout the duration of the research project. In addition, all co-PIs, staff, students, and other faculty engaged in federally funded research are required to complete the CITI RCR training. NIH required training is program specific.* Contact the RSP office for more information.

The RCR Casebook: Stories about Researchers Worth Discussing provides case studies, role plays, and reflection questions to increase a researcher’s awareness of the various aspects of ethical decision making. Faculty and investigators are encouraged to use this resource to promote research integrity and supplement instruction provided by the CITI RCR Basic course. 

*Applicable NIH programs include D43, D71, F05, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F37, F38, K01, K02, K05, K07, K08, K12, K18, K22, K23, K24, K25, K26, K30, K99/R00, KL1, KL2, R25, R36, T15, T32, T34, T35, T36, T37, T90/R90, TL1, TU2, and U2R. Contact the RSP office for information about additional requirements for and timing of the eight (8) hour training.

Satisfactory completion of the online RCR training course offered by CITI must be documented before funding will be released for new federally funded research agreements. Personnel and participants who join after the start of the project must complete their required training within sixty (60) days of accepting their position. A refresher course is required every three (3) years.

Western Washington University (WWU) has partnered with the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) to provide a free online regulatory training course in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) 

The course we accept is called "Responsible Conduct of Research." The "Basic" course is appropriate for all research disciplines. The CITI program also offers a "Refresher" course for those who have previously taken the "Basic" course. Additional elective courses may be appropriate for you depending on your research. 

If you have completed this training with another institution, affiliate your profile with WWU to document it.  

Refer to our How to Register for CITI Trainings Instructions.

The steps on the How to Register for CITI Trainings page will assist you if you have mistakenly chosen the wrong institution, your institution has changed, or you have an affiliation with more than one institution and need to transfer module completion credit.

If you would like to receive credit for modules previously taken, the certain requirements must be met.

Research with Human Participants

WWU’s policies for human participants research are guided by federal regulations and codes of ethical principles developed by the scientific community.  

WWU currently requires that researchers complete and submit documentation of training as part of the HRPP application process, regardless of the funding source. 

NOTE: If your humans participants research is federally funded, you are also required to complete Responsible Conduct of Research training. 

  • The Principal Investigator (PI) 
  • The Faculty Advisor, if the PI is a student 

NOTE: PIs are responsible for ensuring that anyone engaged in their research has up-to-date training on file as part of the HRPP application process.  

Western Washington University (WWU) has partnered with the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) to provide a free online regulatory training course in human participant protections. 

The course we accept is called the "Social & Behavioral Research" course (#60805473). The "Basic" course is appropriate for all research disciplines. The CITI program also offers a "Refresher" course for those who have previously taken the "Basic" course. Additional elective courses may be appropriate for you depending on your research.

If you have completed this training with another institution, affiliate your profile with WWU to document it. See How to Register for CITI for instructions describing how to affiliate with WWU.

Refer to our How to Register for CITI Trainings Instructions.

The steps on the How to Register for CITI Trainings page will assist you if you have mistakenly chosen the wrong institution, your institution has changed, or you have an affiliation with more than one institution and need to transfer module completion credit.

If you would like to receive credit for modules previously taken, the certain requirements must be met.

The HRPP does accepts CITI certification within 5 years of completion. However, funded research typically requires training RCR and may require the standard 3-year CITI expiration. The PI is responsible for checking with funding agencies to meet their training expectations.

PIs are responsible for ensuring that anyone engaged in their research has up-to-date training on file. 

POL-U4520.08 Protecting Human Participants in Research

Research with Animal Subjects

Western Washington University Animal Care and Use Committee approval is required prior to conducting research or instruction using live vertebrate animals by any faculty, staff, or student. 

WWU policies for research with animal subjects are guided by federal regulations. 

A certificate in animal welfare and protections must be on file prior to any interaction or intervention with live vertebrate animals in research or teaching settings. Lab specific training may also be required. Please consult with your lab for additional guidance.

NOTE: If your research with animal subjects is federally funded, you are also required to complete Responsible Conduct of Research training. 

  • Principal Investigators (PIs) 
  • Any individual named on the Animal Care and Use Protocol 
  • Any person working in the vivarium or labs containing animals 

Western Washington University (WWU) has partnered the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) to provide a free online regulatory training course in animal protections. 

The course we accept is called the "Working with the IACUC" which will appear as “Investigators, Staff and Students." Optional modules that apply to your research must also be completed. For example, if your research involves mice, please also take the “Working with Mice in Research” module. 

If you have completed this training with another institution, affiliate your profile with WWU to document it.  

Refer to our How to Register for CITI Trainings Instructions.

The steps on the How to Register for CITI Trainings page will assist you if you have mistakenly chosen the wrong institution, your institution has changed, or you have an affiliation with more than one institution and need to transfer module completion credit.

If you would like to receive credit for modules previously taken, the certain requirements must be met.

A refresher course is required every 3 years. PIs are responsible for ensuring that anyone engaged in their research has up-to-date training. 

POL-U4520.09 Addressing Animal Care And Use in Research And Instruction