Research and Sponsored Programs

As of October 10th, 2025, federal funding agencies require research security training certifications from proposers and individuals identified as senior/key personnel by the proposer, as required by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. Certification is required within 12 months prior to proposal submission. 
 
NSF has provided four online research security training (RST) modules that comply with federal funders. Online training is available here.   
 
The online training consists of four modules: 

• Research security
• Disclosure  
• Manage and mitigate risk
• International collaboration 

 
The estimated total completion time is 4 hours. You can leave a module and return without losing progress if you continue work on the same browser.   
 
Everyone identified as a senior/key person must certify that they have completed the requisite research security training that meets the requirements. When you complete the module, you can download or print a completion certificate, but the module will not save a record of your training.  You will upload the certificate in InfoReady when you circulate the proposal for internal review.   
  
Please note this training is not the same as the Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR) that is completed on CITI.   

InfoReady is an automated workflow system used by WCU as its proposal management system for external and internal funding opportunities to support research. All externally submitted proposals must have chair, dean and provost approval before submission. Faculty may request approval for external grant applications via InfoReady. Internal grants such as the Provost Research Grant, Campus Sustainability Research and Creative Activity Grant and college opportunities may be applied via InfoReady.

Please complete the Dual Compensation Request Template and email it to your Assistant Dean (or Divisional Budget Associate/Manager). They will submit the request via the Nintex form on your behalf. You will receive routing updates and be asked to approve the form before it travels through the workflow.

Access to submit forms is limited to Assistant Deans, Divisional Budget Associates, Divisional Budget Managers. If you feel that you should have access to submit Dual Compensation Forms, please contact your Divisional Budget Manager. 

Dual Compensation Request Template  

Do you currently have an P-card you are using toward an active grant? If so, please use this link to submit your PCard reconciliations.  

The Grant PCard Reconciliation form, completed by the PI, utilizes the 3rd party DocuSign tool. Once complete, the form will be routed automatically through an approval flow. When completed, the PI will receive a notification from DocuSign. The completed form can be viewed, printed, or downloaded by the PI for future reference.  If you have not been set up with a DocuSign account, please contact FBSSupport@wcupa.edu.

Please use this link to go to the New Student Payroll Portal. The Portal will contain links to the Excel based Student Payroll form, as well as a link to the new Submission form. FAQs, training guides and other resources are also available on the Portal page.

Follow this link for info describing the student hiring process . If you have any further questions, contact StudentPayroll@wcupa.edu.

All purchases must be made using SourcePoint. SourcePoint is the Procurement software platform which integrates directly with the SAP financial system. Visit the PASSHE's SourcePoint Portal for the latest information for training, FAQs, Policies and Procedures, etc.

(PLEASE NOTE: You must be logged onto the VPN to access the PASSHE Portal site). SourcePoint Training Dates and Registration can be found on the university's FAST Training site.

Please access this link to find a listing of the various forms you can utilize to request services from the Finance and Business office. This office is designed to streamline and expedite business processes for university employees. Forms include: Fund Center \ Cost Center Maintenance, Travel Reimbursement, Expense Transfers, Budget Transfers, etc. Select the form you are interested in using to see a description of what it will do for you. A direct link to the form will be shown. These forms are only available to WCU employees (students cannot access them).

For further information, please contact Accounts Payable, invoices@wcupa.edu.

For Multiple PI grant applications, a new section for Leadership Plans must be included. Leadership Plans should address the following administrative processes and PI responsibilities:

• Roles/areas of responsibility of the PIs
• Fiscal and management coordination
• Process for making decisions on research/scientific direction and allocation of resources
• IDC disbursement
• Data collection, sharing, and communication among investigators
• Publication and intellectual property (if needed) processes
• Procedures for resolving conflicts among PIs

Example Leadership Plans

Example 1
PI#1 and PI#2 will provide oversight of the entire program as well as development and implementation of all data, procedures, and processes. In these roles, PI#1 and PI#2 will be responsible for the implementation of the program, the Leadership Plan, and the specific aims of the project. The PIs will ensure that systems are in place to guarantee institutional compliance with university, local, federal, and (grant funder) policies. PI#1 and PI#2 will be responsible for submitting the IRB human subjects application. PI#1 will oversee goal 1 and PI#2 will oversee goals 2, 3, and 4. PI#1 will serve as contact PI and will assume fiscal and administrative management including maintaining communication among PIs and key personnel through monthly meetings. They will be responsible for communication with (grant funder) and submission of annual reports. IDC for both PIs (15% total) will be split evenly. This will be communicated to Finance and Administration at the start of the grant. Publication authorship will be as follows: PI#1, PI#2, key personnel. This is open to modification if both PIs agree to a modification. All PIs will be responsible for submitting, reviewing, and following IRB protocols.

Example 2
PI#1 at Institution A will be responsible for the oversight and coordination of project management for goal 1 involving the design and production of ____________. PI#2 at Institution B will be responsible for goals 2 and 3 including the ___________and _________. Each PI will be responsible for their own fiscal and research administration.

The PIs will communicate weekly, either by phone, e-mail, or in person, to discuss experimental design, data analysis, and all administrative responsibilities. All PIs will share their respective research results with other PIs, key personnel, and consultants. They will work together to discuss any changes in the direction of the research projects and the repurposing of funds, if necessary. A publication policy will be established based on the relative scientific contributions of the PIs and key personnel by end of year 1. All PIs will be responsible for submitting, reviewing, and following IRB protocols.

Example 3
PI#1, PI#2, and PI#3 will serve as PIs for the project. PI#1 will be responsible for the ______________. They will supervise the (Biology) graduate students. PI#2 will be responsible for __________________________. They will supervise the Post-Doc focused on _____________. PI#3 will oversee all data collection and will work with PI#1 and PI#2 on all data analysis. The PIs will form a Steering Committee (membership may include PIs, key personnel, consultants, etc.) that will manage the oversight and coordination of project management, research administration, publications and data sharing, and integration of all resources needed for the project. The Institution will subdivide the IDC and PI#1 will be responsible for approving all budget requests. PI#1 will serve as Chair of the Steering Committee and be responsible for communication among PIs, including meeting schedules and agendas. PI#2 will be designated the contact PI and be responsible for submitting all necessary documents to (grant agency), including IRB approvals, and annual progress reports. PI#1 will serve as contact PI and be responsible for submission of progress reports to (grant agency) and all communication. All PIs will be responsible for submitting, reviewing, and following IRB protocols.

Conflict Resolution
If a potential conflict develops, the direct supervisor(s) representing the PIs shall meet and attempt in good faith to settle any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to the interpretation, performance, or breach of this disagreement. However, if the direct supervisor(s) fail to resolve the disagreement within thirty (30) business days, then such disagreement shall be referred for resolution to the Associate Provost for Research and Creative Activities who has the authority to settle the disagreement but who is not directly involved in the disagreement. If resolution cannot be found, the disagreement will go to Labor Relations.

Change in PI Location
If a PI moves to a new institution, attempts will be made to transfer the relevant portion of the grant to the new institution. In the event that a PI cannot carry out their duties, a new PI will be recruited as a replacement at one of the participating institutions.

Intellectual Property (if applicable)
The Technology Transfer Offices at Institution A will be responsible for preparing and negotiating an agreement for the conduct of the research, including any intellectual property.

FIELDWORK SAFETY & MANAGEMENT PLAN – TEMPLATE