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Why is Research Security Training required? 

Pursuant to National Security Presidential Memorandum-33 (NSPM-33) and the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, U.S. federal sponsors including, but not limited to, NSF, NIH, DOE, DOD, and USDA, are requiring MSU's Office of Sponsored Programs and individual MSU researchers to certify completion of Research Security Training within the 12 months prior to submission of a funding proposal.

This training will be an annual requirement. The scope of MSU research personnel required to complete this training varies by federal agency and while typically limited to PIs and Co-PIs, certain agencies (e.g. USDA) may require all individuals participating in a given federally-sponsored research project to complete Research Security Training. 

MSU researchers planning to submit federal funding proposals are advised to confirm the scope of project personnel required to complete this training by reviewing proposal submission guidance provided by the relevant federal agency.

How to compete your training

The NSF-funded SECURE Center provides a free and publicly-accessible Consolidated Training Module to fulfill this Research Security Training requirement. 

Those required to complete Research Security Training should visit the NSF Secure Center Training Webpage, scroll to the section entitled, "Consolidated Training Module (CTM)", and click the graphic labeled "Research Security Training" (Firgure 1)  to complete the training.  

  • The training should take approximately 30 minutes to complete. 
  • Upon completion and when prompted, researchers should type their name into the Certificate of Completion, and then print/save to PDF to document their completion of the training. 
  • The Certificate of Completion PDF is date-stamped and may be shared as necessary to evidence completion of Research Security Training in accordance with applicable federal sponsor requirements. 
  • MSU researchers are responsible for retaining a PDF copy of their Certificate of Completion. 

 

Figure 1 & also a direct link into the training: 

NSF Icon

 

Whereas the MSU institutional certification of Research Security Training completion is typically captured within a proposal coversheet, individual MSU researcher certifications may be required within a Biographical Sketch, Current and Pending (Other) Support, both locations, or as otherwise directed by the relevant federal agency.  See for example NSF's guidance here regarding how Research Security Training certifications are documented within NSF proposal submissions.

Already completed your training in Canvas? 

Those MSU researchers who are already in process or have already completed MSU's Research Security Training modules via Canvas are not required to retake the SECURE Center's Consolidated Training Module; however, the MSU Research Security Training provided via Canvas will be inactivated on January 30, 2026.  Although the MSU-developed Research Security Training provided via Canvas was designed to meet NSPM-33 and CHIPS and Science Act requirements, this transition to the training provided by the SECURE Center reflects the fact that NSF, NIH, DOE, DOD, and USDA have all expressly confirmed that the SECURE Center's Consolidated Training Module fulfills their respective Research Security Training requirements. 

Looking for other training? 

 

Questions or concerns regarding Research Security Training may be directed to Quinton King (quinton.king@montana.edu) or John Harrison (john.harrison1@montana.edu)