Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
CITI (Online) Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) Training & RCR Workshop
All CUNY faculty members and students involved in research are required to complete the CITI RCR training within six weeks of initiating your research. RCR training certificate will be valid for four years. CUNY researchers are required to take a refresher CITI RCR training course every four years. You should attach it to any grant proposal (internal or external) for which you are a PI or co-PI that is submitted to the grant office.
If you and your students are involved in a research project on campus regardless of funding, per QCC's policy, both the faculty members and the students are required to (1) complete the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) CITI online training within six weeks of initiating their research and (2) an in-person RCR workshop within 12 months from the completion of the online CITI certificate.
Here are the steps:
- Step 1: Go to www.citiprogram.org, create an account with QCC email.
- Step 2: Submit your completion certificate to Jennifer Chabra (jchabra@qcc.cuny.edu) before you attend the in-person workshop.
- Step 3: Attend one in-person RCR workshops, RSVP for the workshop.
- On-line RCR training certificates are valid for four years. You are required to take a refresher course to renew the certification every four years.
Instructions for accessing CITI RCR Training(PDF)
Please click the link to learn more about the CUNY RCR Policy.
For more information on this workshop, please contact Dr. Moni Chauhan at mchauhan@qcc.cuny.edu. You can also check the RCR FAQ for more details.
Human Subject Research (HSR) Training
All CUNY faculty members and students involved in human subjects research as key personnel must complete the Basic Course in the protection of human subjects prior to Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval of your protocol. Certificate of completion of the basic course is valid for three years. Key personnel of human subjects research protocols must complete a refresher course every three years. Click here for instructions on how to complete the HSR training.
Click to check the IRB workshop schedule.
RCR Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who must complete RCR training?
In an effort to maintain the highest ethical standards in each research environment affiliated with QCC, every faculty member, staff, and student engaged in research or creative work (funded or unfunded) is required.
What is considered research?
According to CUNY, research is defined as “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, in any academic field designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge (e.g., presentation or publication) outside of CUNY.”
What are the RCR requirements?
- Complete the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiatives (CITI) Online Training within 6 weeks of initiating research activities and submit the completion certificate to Jennifer Chabra (JChabra@qcc.cuny.edu) and Dr. Moni Chauhan(MChauhan@qcc.cuny.edu)
- Attend a QCC RCR workshop - Certificate issued.
- Renew both trainings every four years.
- For Research involving Human Subjects: researchers must also complete HSR training and submit Human Subject Research (HSR) CITI certificate to IRB Manager, Anissa Moody (AMoody@qcc.cuny.edu)
When do the trainings need to be completed?
The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiatives (CITI) Online Training should be completed within 6 weeks of initiating research activities and the RCR Workshop should be completed within 12 months from the start of research.
I am part of a non-stem department. Do I still need to do RCR training?
All individuals engaged in research or creative work (in any educational department) that will be presented to others are required by CUNY to take the CITI RCR Basic Course and a RCR Training Workshop.
My research does not include human subjects. Do I still have to complete this training?
Human Subjects Research training is required in addition to the CITI RCR and RCR Workshop for anyone performing research that involves Human Subjects.
