FAQs

The format of all ICTS RCR training is designed to include lecture and active learning such as small group discussion, case analysis, writing exercises, and brainstorming activities. These training approaches are evidence-based best practices. Trainees are expected to participate actively in all course sessions.

Objectives of the RCR course include the following:

  • Knowledge of institutional policies and regulatory requirements in research;
  • Sensitivity to ethical issues;
  • Good professional decision-making skills in research; and
  • Awareness of resources at WUSTL and elsewhere that support the responsible conduct of research.

The RCR course requirements are as follows:

  1. Become a member of the ICTS (free). Click here to join: https://ictsmember.wustl.edu/RegisterPerson.
  2. Register for the course. Click here to register: https://wucrtc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bBZjEgfNMYBORNP. Scholars are asked to include the name of their director.
  3. Complete the Washington University Online RCR Core Curriculum, a 90-minute WEB-BASED course, consisting of eight (8) learning modules. Completion of the course is documented in the scholar’s WUSTL Research Gateway Compliance Requirements profile and will be verified by the RCR Course Program Coordinator.
  4. Complete the Foundations session, “SMART Strategies for Professional Decision Making in Research.” This session is only offered twice a year.
  5. Complete six (6) 1-hour sessions. Please note the following:
    • In order to ensure that the curricular goals approved by NIH are met within our ICTS RCR program, we only recognize events listed on our RCR course calendar toward completion of the course.
    • Scholars must ensure that they attend 6 different sessions.
    • Advance registration for each session is required.
    • Sessions are conducted via Zoom and scholars are asked to be at a computer to type and fully participate in the sessions.
    • Scholars will not be permitted to join a session late. Leaving prior to the conclusion of a session will result in loss of credit for the session.
    • Scholars must engage in active learning exercises and submit the online writing assignment(s) and session evaluation in order to receive credit.

The RCR course is designed to satisfy the National Institutes of Health Requirement for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research. It may also be incorporated into plans to satisfy National Science Foundation RCR training requirements.

The course is offered at no charge to trainees and scholars who are members of the Washington University Institute for Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) and are enrolled in the 8-hour course. This course is sponsored by the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS) at Washington University in St. Louis. The ICTS is supported by grant UL1TR002345 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

To register for the course, please complete this survey: https://wucrtc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bBZjEgfNMYBORNP.

On average, we offer one (1) session per month. Click here to see our calendar.

The events calendar can be found on our website, https://bioethicsresearch.org/education/rcr/rcr-course-calendar/. Additionally, the sessions are featured in the ICTS Digest.

Yes, a scholar needs to register for the RCR course AND each session. To register for the course, please complete this survey: https://wucrtc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bBZjEgfNMYBORNP.

To register for individual sessions, please click on the selected registration link on the event calendar: https://bioethicsresearch.org/education/rcr/rcr-course-calendar/.

To comply with NIH’s RCR education guidance regarding face-to-face training, we offer a mix of in-person and on-line sessions. The Foundations session, “SMART Strategies for Professional Decision Making in Research,” is the only RCR session that a scholar MUST attend in person. The remaining sessions are conducted using an online, live format via Zoom.

The night before an on-line session, the Program Manager will email the registrants a Zoom meeting link and ID number. To participate fully in the session, we ask that attendees abide by the following:

  • Ensure adequate internet connectivity
  • Log in to the meeting early or on time as late entry is not permitted
  • Be at a computer during the session
  • Keep your camera on during the session to create a virtual environment that fosters engagement and learning for everyone
  • Turn off your email and phone notifications to avoid distractions
  • Mute your audio during the presentation unless called upon to ask or answer a question
  • Have session documents available during class, as the information will be the subject of discussion, e.g., case study
  • Participate in the active learning exercises
  • Submit in-class assignments
  • Complete a session evaluation before logging out

Prior to attending the first face-to-face session, course participants are expected to complete the Washington University Online RCR Core Curriculum, a 90-minute WEB-BASED course, consisting of eight (8) learning modules. Completion of the course is documented in your WUSTL Research Gateway Compliance Requirements profile and will be verified by the RCR Course Program Coordinator.

The Foundations session, “SMART Strategies for Professional Decision Making in Research,” is the only specific RCR session that MUST be completed. It is strongly recommended that you attend the SMART Strategies for Professional Decision Making in Research (2 hours IN PERSON) prior to attending any of the other sessions, as the evidence-based professional decision-making strategies are referenced in each RCR session and applied to research scenarios. Two (2) SMART Strategy sessions are offered each year, typically in January and August.

No, asynchronous online learning is not available with this RCR course. The course is meant to fulfill the NIH face-to-face training requirement. Active learning and dialogue are an essential part of the curriculum, which can only be accomplished in a live session.

You may attend a session more than once; HOWEVER, each session on a particular topic will only count once towards completion of the course, so scholars should ensure that they attend 6 different sessions in addition to the foundations session.

In order to ensure that the curricular goals approved by NIH are met within our ICTS RCR program, we only recognize events listed on the Bioethics Research Center RCR Course Calendar toward completion of the course. Click here to view the calendar.

Loss of credit for a session will occur if a scholar fails to meet session requirements including:

  • Arriving on time for the start of the session
  • Staying through the conclusion of the session
  • Participating in the active learning exercises, e.g., breakout room case study discussion, polls, etc.
  • Submitting class assignments, e.g., writing activities
  • Completing a session evaluation before logging out

There could be two reasons why the RCR session you attended did not appear on your course status update. First, you may have lost session credit for failing to meet session requirements as listed in the FAQ ‘Why did I not Receive Session Attendance Credit?’ Second, you may not have received session credit if the session you attended was not listed on the RCR course calendar. We only recognize events listed on the RCR course calendar toward completion of the course.

Certificates of Completion are not issued for each attended session, but rather upon meeting all course requirements.

Completion of the Washington University Online RCR Core Curriculum course is documented in the WUSTL Research Gateway Compliance Requirements profile of the Learn@Work system and will be verified by the RCR Program Manager. However, attendance at the Foundations session and the six (6) one-hour sessions is NOT documented in Washington University’s Learn@Work system. We encourage you to track your attendance and retain for your files a copy of the certificate of completion that we will provide upon meeting all course requirements.

A Certificate of Completion is issued to scholars who complete:

  • The Online RCR Core Curriculum
  • Attend and meet all session requirements for the Foundations session (2 hours)
  • Attend and meet all session requirements for six (6) additional 1-hour sessions

Scholars are expected to track their own progression towards course completion and share this information with relevant director(s), mentor(s), and admin personnel, as applicable. Additionally, participation is tracked in the BRC’s database. A copy of this database is shared regularly with WU’s training grant administrators via a Box folder. Due to the large number of scholars enrolled in the course, it is not feasible for us to provide additional individual and group reports.

Scholars are expected to track their own progression towards course completion and share this information with relevant director(s), mentor(s), and admin personnel, as applicable. Additionally, participation is tracked in the BRC’s database. A copy of this database is shared regularly with WU’s training grant administrators via a Box folder. Finally, course status update emails are sent to scholars 2 – 3 times per year. Due to the large number of scholars enrolled in the course, it is not feasible for us to provide additional individual and group reports.

As of May 2022, training grant administrators have access to a copy of the BRC’s database housed in Box. Additionally. we send your scholars a status email update 2 – 3 times a year and a certificate when they complete the course. Scholars are told that they have the responsibility of tracking their course attendance and progress. We encourage you to access the database and/or follow up with your scholars to inquire into their status for this required training.

As of June 2021, Only scholars receive course status update emails. A letter will be sent to the training directors 2 – 3 times throughout the year reminding them that as a training director, they have a requirement to ensure that their scholars complete eight (8) hours of face-to-face training.  The letter will state that we send scholars a status email update 2 – 3 times a year, and a certificate, when scholars complete the course. Additionally, they will be encouraged to follow up with their scholars to inquire into their progress for this required training.