Federal regulations and sponsor agency requirements have resulted in mandatory research security and related training for covered individuals, defined as those who contribute in a substantive and meaningful way to the scientific development or execution of federally funded research projects.
Covered Individuals: Who is required take research security training?
At USC, we consider the following personnel to be "covered individuals" who are required to complete the National Science Foundation's (NSF) comprehensive, web-based Research Security Training:
- Those contributing to federally funded research and development.
- Faculty, staff, student workers or postdoctoral scholars serving as principal investigator, co-principal investigator, or key personnel on a federally funded research project (including subawards).
- Personnel with access to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). CUI is defined as sensitive information that does not meet the criteria for classification but must still be protected.
- USC researchers involved in export-controlled projects. (Most USC research is not subject to export control regulations, which apply to research on specific technologies that could be used for military purposes and items listed on the United States munitions list.)
- Personnel working on Department of Defense (DoD) contracts that require Operations Security (OPSEC) training.
All required research security training should be completed within 30 days of being appointed as a covered individual on a research project.
Trainings
Who: All covered individuals, as defined above.
What: Web-based training made up of 4 modules on research security risks and tools
When: After taking the initial training, this training must be renewed on an annual basis.
Don't forget: Download your certificate(s) of completion and submit to Research Training and Education Services.
Who: All USC personnel involved in export-controlled research; required by NSPM-33. Note that most USC research is not subject to export control regulations, which apply to research on specific technologies that could be used for military purposes and items listed on the United States munitions list.
What: Training to raise awareness about export control laws and regulations, including the potential risks of non-compliance.
When: After taking the initial training, this training must be renewed on an annual basis.
Don't forget: Download your certificate(s) of completion and submit to Research Training and Education Services.
Who: This training is only required for select DoD contracts/awards. If you are not sure if you are required to take this training, please check with your PI.
What: Web-based training designed to help deter, detect and mitigate actions by insiders who represent a threat to national security; housed within research training security
When: After taking the initial training, this training must be renewed on an annual basis.
Don't forget: Download your certificate(s) of completion and submit to Research Training and Education Services.
Who: All USC personnel with access to CUI information (defined as sensitive information that does not meet the criteria for classification but must still be protected); required by the DoD.
What: Web-based training on the eleven training requirements for accessing, marking, safeguarding, decontrolling and destroying CUI along with the procedures for identifying and reporting security incidents
When: After taking the initial training, this training must be renewed on an annual basis.
Don't forget: Download your certificate(s) of completion and submit to Research Training and Education Services.
Who: USC personnel working on DoD contracts/projects that list OPSEC as a training requirement; required by the DoD
What: Web-based training made up of 6 modules on protecting unclassified information about operations and personal information to ensure safe and successful operations and personal safety
When: After taking the initial training, this training must be renewed on an annual basis.
Don't forget: Download your certificate(s) of completion and submit to Research Training and Education Services.
Confirm completion of training modules
To receive credit for completing required research security training, users must download their certificates of completion and submit them to Research Training and Education Services.