PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY

This policy establishes the applicable policies that govern Research and Research related activities for the Colorado State University System (the “System”) and the System institutions, including Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado State University Pueblo, and Colorado State University Global (each an “Institution”, or together the “Institutions”). In support of the Chief Research Officer of the System and to align the research activities and applicable policies for the Institutions, this policy promotes the System’s interest in research compliance and to advance the System’s research mission and environment by enabling and facilitating exemplary research, scholarship, and creative artistry at Colorado State University Fort Collins (“CSU Fort Collins”), Colorado State University Pueblo (“CSU Pueblo”), and Colorado State University Global (“CSU Global”).

APPLICATION OF THIS POLICY

This policy applies to each Institution and to all students, faculty, staff, contractors, consultants, affiliates, and any others who are engaged in Research Activities and other Designated Activities for the System or at any of the Institutions

EXCEPTIONS FROM THIS POLICY

There are no exemptions to this policy.

DEFINITIONS USED IN THIS POLICY

Institutions: Institutions within the Colorado State University System, including CSU Fort Collins, CSU Pueblo, and CSU Global, are referred to collectively as the Institutions in this policy.

Research: A systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.

Designated Activities: Activities that are related to research and federal research compliance that are designated by this Policy as falling within the authority, oversight, or responsibility of the Chief Research Officer, regardless of their organizational placement, including Conflict of Interest, Conflict of Commitment, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Radiation Safety, Chemical Safety, and International Travel. Designated activities may be governed by a policy, handbook, manual, process, or procedures.

Designated Policies: Policies that governs a Designated Activities. Institutional Designated Policies may be replaced or superseded as set forth in Section 2 of this Policy.

CSU Pueblo Research Policies: Those university research policies listed in the CSU Pueblo Policy Library as relating to research, including but not limited to the following policies: (1) Effort Reporting for Sponsored Projects; (2) Financial Conflicts of Interest in Public Health Services Funded Programs; (3) Institutional Base Salary; and (4) Responding to Allegations of Research Misconduct.

CSU Global Research Policies: Those CSU Global research related Institutional policies, such as the policy on Conflicts of Interest.

CSU Fort Collins Research Policies: Those university research policies listed in the CSU Fort Collins Policy Library as relating to research, as well as all university policies owned or jointly owned by the Vice President for Research now and in the future, including but not limited to the following policies: (1) Animal Care and Use; (2) Biosafety; (3) Classified Research; (4) Combating Trafficking in Persons; (5) Cost Transfers on Sponsored Projects; (6) Dual Use Research of Concern and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential; (7) Effort Reporting; (8) Export Control; (9) Human Subject Research Protection Program; (10) Institutional Base Salary; (11) Institutional Conflict of Interest; (12) NIH Required Individual Development Plans; (13) Organizational Conflict of Interest; (14) Prohibition on Participation in Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs; (15) Reporting Other Support to Federal Agencies; (16) Research Data; (17) Research Misconduct; (18) Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research Training; (19) Sponsored Projects Accounts Receivable; and (20) Financial Conflicts of Interest in Federally Funded Research

POLICY STATEMENT

The Chief Research Officer of the System is responsible for advancing the System’s research mission by enabling and facilitating exemplary research, scholarship, and creative artistry at CSU Fort Collins, CSU Pueblo, and CSU Global. The Chief Research Officer is a System position that is concurrent with the role as Vice President for Research at CSU, and the Chief Research Officer has the same authority over Research and Designated Activities at CSU Pueblo and CSU Global. To provide singular alignment and direction to all three Institutions, the CSU Research Policies shall apply to and govern the Research and Designated Activities at CSU Fort Collins, CSU Pueblo, and CSU Global, and thus the CSU Research Policies and Designated Policies apply to all students, faculty, staff, contractors, consultants, affiliates, and any others who are engaged in Research or Designated Activities at CSU Fort Collins, CSU Pueblo, and CSU Global.

POLICY PROVISIONS

1. The Chief Research Officer of the System has responsibility for and oversight and authority over all Research and Designated Activities at each Institution.
2. The CSU Fort Collins Research Policies and Designated Policies govern and control all Research and Designated Activities at each Institution. Accordingly, as of January 1, 2026, the CSU Fort Collins Research Policies and Designated Policies replace and supersede the CSU Pueblo Research Policies and Designated Policies and the CSU Global Research Policies and Designated Policies, and the CSU Fort Collins Research Policies and Designated Policies apply to Research and Designated Activities at CSU Pueblo and CSU Global and they apply to all students, faculty, staff, contractors, consultants, affiliates, and any others who are engaged in Research or Designated Activities at CSU Fort Collins, CSU Pueblo, and CSU Global. Accordingly, the following CSU Pueblo Designated Policies are replaced with and superseded by CSU Fort Collins Designated Policies: Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment, Policy 07.07.00.
3. At the discretion of the Chief Research Officer, certain CSU Pueblo Research Policies and Designated Policies and CSU Global Research Policies and Designated Policies or provisions of those policies may be incorporated or may apply to Research activity or Designated Activities that are unique to CSU Pueblo or CSU Global, as needed on a case-by-case basis. Where CSU Fort Collins Research Policies and Designated Policies reference the CSU Fort Collins Administrative Professional and Faculty Manual (the “Manual”), the provisions of the Manual generally are not applicable to CSU Pueblo or CSU Global and its Research and Designated Activities or CSU Pueblo and CSU Global employees, unless the Chief Research Officer determines that the Manual should apply to effectuate the purpose and intent of this policy as set forth in the Policy Statement herein.
4. The Chief Research Officer will coordinate with the Provost and President at CSU Pueblo and CSU Global to review the CSU Pueblo and Global Research Policies and Designated Policies, as well as any other related CSU Pueblo and Global policies or manuals, and will recommend to the Chancellor any revisions to those policies or any pertinent CSU Research Policies and Designated Policies to incorporate any needed provisions or references from the CSU Pueblo and Global Research Policies and Designated Policies and to best accomplish the System’s research goals and interests.
5. This System Research Alignment Policy will be regularly reviewed and updated by the Chief Research Officer, upon consultation with the Chancellor. The Institutions will review their Institutional manuals, handbooks, and policies to identify necessary revisions to align with this Policy, in consultation with the Chancellor and Chief Research Officer.

COMPLIANCE WITH THIS POLICY

Assistance with policy compliance is provided by the System Chief Research Officer and the CSU Office of the Vice President for Research. Failure to comply with this policy or applicable CSU Fort Collins Research Policies and Designated Policies may result in disciplinary action in accordance with applicable Institutional disciplinary policies. When CSU Fort Collins Research Policies reference potential disciplinary action under other CSU Fort Collins policies or manuals, for CSU Pueblo and CSU Global employees, that reference includes and incorporates a reference to the applicable CSU Pueblo or CSU Global Institutional disciplinary policies and manuals. Any failure to comply with this policy or applicable CSU Fort Collins Research Policies and Designated Policies that may result in non-personnel related action or sanction, such as the removal of funds or suspension of research, is governed by this policy and applicable CSU Fort Collins Research Policies and Designated Policies. 

REFERENCES

CSU Fort Collins Research Policies on the Policy Library

APPROVALS 

Anthony Frank, Chancellor, effective January 1, 2026

Revision approved by Tony Frank, Chancellor, on August 15, 2026