Policies and Compliance

 

UNCP sign

The Office of Sponsored Research and Programs (OSRP) advances UNC Pembroke’s research mission by upholding the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and accountability. We safeguard public trust by ensuring every project complies with federal, state, and university regulations. At the same time, we actively support faculty, staff, and students by clarifying requirements, providing training, and guiding proposals through the review and approval process. In doing so, OSRP not only protects the integrity of research but also empowers the UNCP community to pursue discovery that strengthens our region and enriches lives.

Sponsored and Other Programs Compliance

The Institutional Review Board is an independent administrative body established to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects; the IRB ensures compliance with federal requirements related to protection of human research subjects (45 CFR 46.111).

Dr. Erik Tracy, IRB Chair
Phone: 910.775.4512
Email: erik.tracy@uncp.edu

The IACUC ensures that UNCP is in compliance with the Public Health Policy on Human Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The IACUC reviews and approves protocols for individuals at UNCP who are using vertebrate animals in teaching and research. It also conducts inspections of facilities to ensure that animals are treated humanely and safely and that work environments remain safe for personnel involved in animal care and use. The federal Animal Welfare Act (9 CFR Ch. 1 Subpart C 2.31 (c) (1-8)) requires universities to have an IACUC. UNCP's IACUC follows the protocols of the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Section IV.B. (1-8)), and the recommendations and standards of the National Research Council of the National Academies' Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (8th edition).

Dr. John Roe, IACUC Chair
Phone: 910.775.4081
Email: john.roe@uncp.edu

Implementing and exercising RCR practices and procedures is crucial to maintaining standards of objectivity and achieving unbiased research results, which in turn safeguards the public’s trust in the research community’s efforts.

The National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and most recently the USDA/National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) require institutions to have a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in RCR to undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers participating in sponsor-supported projects.

Although the requirements differ slightly, the result is the same: students participating in NSF-funded projects; students participating in NIH-funded projects with a training component; and students, faculty and research staff participating in NIFA-funded projects must complete RCR training.

RCR Training is available through CITI.

On July 10, 2025, NSF issued an Important Notice providing updates to NSF Research Security Policies, including research security training certifications from proposers and individuals identified as senior/key personnel, that come into effect on October 10, 2025. While proposers may utilize any training that addresses cybersecurity, international collaboration, foreign interference, and rules for proper use of funds, disclosure, conflict of commitment, and conflict of interest, the NSF-funded SECURE Center has developed an updated and condensed version of the four modules, designed to meet the government-wide RST requirement. To that end, NSF, NIH, DOE, and DOD all recognize completion of the condensed module as compliant with their respective RST requirements.

https://www.nsf.gov/research-security/training

Export control regulations are federal laws governing the export, transfer or sharing of certain commodities or information for reasons of national security or protections of trade. Export controls may arise for one or more of the following reasons:

  1. The nature of the export has a military application or economic protection issues, or
  2. There are governmental concerns about the country, organization or individual receiving the information or technology, or
  3. The end use or the end user of the export is of concern.

Most of the university's research and education activities are excluded from export controls because UNC Pembroke can assert the fundamental research exception.

U.S. Dept Commerce — Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Training Resources
BIS - Export Controls: A Quick-Start Guide

This committee recommends expenditures of research royalty funds, resolves questions of invention ownership, and reviews and recommends service marks and trademarks resulting from UNCP research and inventions. It exists pursuant to UNC System Office (General Administration) policy (500.2: Patent and Copyright).

Unversity policy.

It is the policy of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke that activities undertaken by its faculty, staff, and students in furtherance of the university's mission shall be conducted ethically and transparently, consistent with federal and state law and university policy.

UNCP Covered Employees (EHRA employees, including faculty, non-faculty, and designated SHRA employees who are paid with sponsored research funds), students, visiting scientists or scholars, or trainees engage in many activities within the academy related to their teaching, research, and service.