Trainings and Disclosure Requirements for Investigators of Federally Funded Proposals and Awards


Investigators, i.e., all PIs, Co-PIs, and Senior/Key Personnel of federally-sponsored proposals and awards, must complete training to ensure that the research or sponsored project is conducted in a transparent and objective way. The required trainings ensure that activities are compliant with both federal sponsor regulations and requirements, as well as with Ball State policies.

Please view each accordion section below for information on the following training and disclosure requirements:

  • Financial Conflict of Interest in Federally Sponsored Projects (FCOI SP) Training and Disclosure Requirements
  • Other Support (OS) Training, Research Security (RS) Training, and Current and Pending Other Support (CPOS) Disclosure Requirements
  • Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training

For instructions on accessing the following courses in the Collaborative Institutional Training (CITI) Program, see the Ball State University CITI Program Manual:

  • FCOI Training for PHS-Funded Researchers
  • Research Security Training (Combined)
  • RCR Basic Course - All Funded Research

CITI training is required of all investigators participating in research involving the use of human subjects, or animals and certificates of completion are required at the time of protocol submission for review by the appropriate ethics boards (e.g., IACUC, IRB, etc).

CITI Training consists of a series of online modules, followed by brief quizzes. A score of at least 80% must be achieved on each post-module quiz for training to be considered sufficient. Instructions for registering and taking the RCR courses can be found on page 2 of the CITI Program Manual.

Ball State University’s Financial Conflict of Interest in Federally Sponsored Projects (FCOI SP) Disclosure and Management Policy establishes standards to ensure that the design, conduct, and reporting of research and projects funded by the federal government will be free from financial conflict or bias.

  1. All investigators must submit a Financial Conflict of Interest in Sponsored Projects (FCOI SP) Disclosure prior to submission of a federally sponsored proposal and at least annually during an award period.
    Complete Disclosure in InfoReady
  2. All investigators on a federally funded award must complete FCOI SP Training prior to the expenditure of funds and at least every 4 years during the award period. To satisfy this training requirement, investigators must complete both of the following trainings:

Watch the Course   

Federal agencies require all investigators identified as Senior/Key Personnel to disclose all resources made available in support of and/or related to all of their research or sponsored project endeavors. Ball State University’s Policy on Other Support Training, Research Security Training, and Requirements for Disclosure of Other Support provides investigators with the information, tools, and resources to ensure that CPOS Disclosures are current, accurate, and complete.

1. To meet the requirements of this Policy, investigators must complete both of the following trainings:

2. Investigators on federally funded proposals and awards must submit Current Pending (Other) Support documents, per agency requirements, at the proposal stage, at Just-in-Time (JIT), or with annual reporting. Your Proposal Manager and/or Grant Manager can advise on requirements specific to your sponsor. 

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The Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Program at Ball State University is a comprehensive initiative dedicated to ensuring ethical, honest, and accountable conduct of research activities within the institution.

  1. Ball State requires all federally funded researchers, their key personnel, and their students to complete RCR Training: