All graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with start dates prior to May 15, 2020 are grandfathered into the previous policy.

These WSE training requirements for the Responsible Conduct of Research were first made effective June 2010, were revised in March 2012, and were most recently revised in March 2020.

A distinction is made between the 2.5 hour online Responsible Conduct of Research course (AS.360.624) available at all times and the approximately 10 hour in-person course (AS.360.625) offered at multiple points during the year.

Those needing the in-person course (AS.360.625) are encouraged to check SIS regularly for posted offerings. Usually, the in-person course is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters, as well as in the Intersession and Summer terms. Students and postdoctoral fellows, as well as their advisors and supervisors, must prioritize the completion of this requirement where mandated.

Requirements per Student Type

1. Any undergraduate JHU student and any non-WSE master’s student from any division of JHU being paid from non-NIH funds by the Whiting School of Engineering must complete the online Responsible Conduct of Research course (AS.360.624) offered through CITI at the first available opportunity.

The hiring department is responsible for:

– Notifying students of this requirement when starting the hiring process.

– Confirming the completion of the online course prior to placing the student on payroll.

Notes:

– Once per semester, the office of the registrar will download CITI reports and post the course on the transcripts for any WSE/KSAS student.

– WSE Undergraduate students who must complete Responsible Conduct of Research training will not receive a diploma until course completion is verified by the student’s academic department.

2. Any undergraduate JHU student and any non-WSE master’s student from any division of JHU being paid by the Whiting School of Engineering through formal NIH training grants or fellowships must complete the in-person training course (AS.360.625) at the first available opportunity but may be placed on payroll before the course is completed. This course is offered at multiple points during the year. (A course description can be found in SIS.) During the appropriate online registration periods, students can register for the in-person course via SIS. Outside of the online registration periods, students must visit the Office of the Registrar to enroll.

For these students on formal NIH training grants or fellowships, the in-person course must be completed at each level funding is received (i.e., the course must be re-taken as a master’s student even if the student took the RCR in-person as an undergraduate student at JHU).

The hiring department is responsible for:

– Notifying students of this requirement when starting the hiring process.

– Confirming the completion of the in-person course.

– Completing semesterly compliance reports with the Office of Graduate Academic Affairs and the Engineering Business Office.

Note: WSE undergraduate students who must complete Responsible Conduct of Research training will not receive a diploma until course completion is verified.

1. All WSE master’s students primarily enrolled in a full-time, residential program must complete the online Responsible Conduct of Research course (AS. 360.624) before the end of their first semester of enrollment. Individual students may have additional in-person RCR training requirements based on the funding sources of any research they do while in their master’s program (see II. below).

Notes:

– Students are notified of the online RCR completion requirement in the online orientation materials sent over the summer prior to their initial matriculation;

– The student’s department is responsible for tracking compliance and will complete a semesterly report for the Engineering Business Office and Office of Graduate Academic Affairs.

– Once per semester, the office of the registrar will download CITI reports and post the course on the transcripts for any WSE student.

– WSE master’s students will not receive a diploma until course completion is verified.

2. Master’s students funded through formal NIH training grants or fellowships must also complete the in-person training course (AS.360.625) at the first available opportunity but may be placed on payroll before the course is completed. This course is offered at multiple points during the year. (A course description can be found in SIS.) During the appropriate online registration periods, students can register for the in-person course via SIS. Outside of the online registration periods, students must visit the Office of the Registrar to enroll.

For these students on formal NIH training grants or fellowships, the in-person course must be completed at each level funding is received (i.e., the course must be re-taken as a master’s student even if the student took the RCR in-person as an undergraduate student at JHU).

The hiring department is responsible for:

– Notifying students of this requirement when starting the hiring process.

– Confirming the completion of the in-person course.

– Completing a semesterly compliance report with the Office of Graduate Academic Affairs and the Engineering Business Office.

Note: Master’s students will not receive a diploma until course completion is verified.

Master’s students who must complete Responsible Conduct of Research training will not receive a diploma until course completion is verified.

All WSE doctoral students, as well as all non-WSE doctoral students paid by the Whiting School of Engineering to conduct research, are required to complete the in-person training course in Responsible Conduct of Research (AS.360.625). WSE doctoral students are expected to complete the course by the end of their first year of enrollment.

This course is offered at multiple points during the year. During the appropriate online registration periods, students can register for the in-person course via SIS. Outside of the online registration periods, doctoral students must visit the Office of the Registrar to enroll. 

Failure to comply with this requirement by the end of the first year of enrollment may result in the inability to conduct research and received the associated stipend/salary. 

Notes:

– The course will appear on the student’s transcript automatically as it is a registered course through SIS.

– The student’s department is responsible for tracking compliance and will complete a semesterly report for the Engineering Business Office and Office of Graduate Academic Affairs.

– Lack of compliance and a timeline for completion should be included in a student’s annual review.

– PhD students will not receive a diploma until course completion is verified.

The hiring department is responsible for:

– Notifying students of this requirement when starting the hiring process.

– Completing a semesterly compliance report with the Office of Graduate Academic Affairs and the Engineering Business Office.

Notes:

– If the doctoral student completed the in-person course previously as an undergraduate or master’s student at Johns Hopkins, verification of course completion can be re-used, with one exception: for those doctoral students on formal NIH training grants or fellowships*, the in-person course must be completed at each level funding is received (i.e., the course must be re-taken as a doctoral student).

– For those doctoral students on formal NIH training grants or fellowships, in-person training must occur at a frequency of no less than once every four years within each level.

– Doctoral students who intend to depart JHU after completing the master’s degree are subject to the master’s student requirements found above.

– Biomedical Engineering doctoral students are permitted to meet this requirement using either the “Course on Research Ethics” or the “Introduction to Research Ethics I” and “Introduction to Research Ethics II” classes. (These will not appear on a transcript, but the student must provide certification of completion.)

If a student cannot attend the course before you expect to complete degree requirements, please contact Christine Kavanagh in the WSE Office of Academic Affairs.

All WSE postdoctoral fellows, as well as all non-WSE postdoctoral fellows paid by the Whiting School of Engineering to conduct research, are required to complete the in-person training course in Responsible Conduct of Research (AS.360.625) as soon as possible upon (but no later than 6 months after) the start of their appointment/work with the WSE.

This course is offered at multiple points during the year. During the appropriate online registration periods, postdoctoral fellows must visit/contact the Office of the Registrar to enroll. Failure to comply with this requirement by the end of 6 months may result in the inability to work and be paid.

The hiring department is responsible for:

– Notifying postdoctoral fellows of this requirement when starting the hiring process.

– Tracking compliance of all program postdoctoral fellows twice annually.

– Completing an annual compliance report to the Office of Graduate Academic Affairs and the Engineering Business Office.

Notes:

– If the postdoctoral fellow completed the in-person course previously as a student at Johns Hopkins, verification of course completion can be re-used, with one exception: for those postdocs on formal NIH training grants or fellowships*, the in-person course must be completed at each level funding is received (i.e., the course must be re-taken as a postdoc).

– For those postdoctoral fellows on formal NIH training grants or fellowships*, in-person training must occur at a frequency of no less than once every four years within each level.

– Biomedical Engineering postdoctoral fellows are permitted to meet this requirement using either the “Course on Research Ethics” or the “Introduction to Research Ethics I” and “Introduction to Research Ethics II” classes. (These will not appear on a transcript, but the postdoctoral fellow should provide certification of completion.)

If you cannot attend the course before you expect to complete your appointment, please contact Christine Kavanagh in the WSE Office of Academic Affairs.

WSE Responsible Conduct of Research Training Course Requirements

Postdoctoral WSE or other WSE; any source In-person by end of the first 6 months of appointment (360.625)
Level School Research
Funding Source
Course Requirement
Undergraduate WSE or other WSE; formal NIH training grant/fellowship In-person ASAP (360.625)
Undergraduate WSE or other WSE; other than formal NIH training grant/fellowship Online ASAP (360.624)
Master’s WSE or other WSE; formal NIH training grant/fellowship Online by end of first semester (360.624) AND also in-person (360.625) ASAP after funding begins
Master’s WSE or other WSE; other than formal NIH training grant/fellowship Online by end of first semester (360.624)
Master’s WSE Outside of WSE or unfunded; research related to degree Online by end of first semester (360.624)
Doctoral WSE Any or none In-person by end of the first year in PhD program(360.625)
Doctoral Other than WSE WSE; any source In-person ASAP (360.625)