Scholarship and Research Integrity (SARI) Resource Portal

The SARI program at Penn State is designed to offer graduate students comprehensive, multilevel training in the responsible conduct of research, in a way that is tailored to address the issues faced by individual disciplines. The program is implemented by PSU colleges and graduate programs in a way that meets the particular needs of students in each unit. In general, SARI programs have two parts: an online program to be completed in the first year of graduate study; to be followed by five hours of discussion-based RCR education prior to degree completion. The SARI Resource Portal provides information, teaching tools, and links to other resources to support SARI program activities, as well as access to an online training program provided by the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI), which most programs will use for first-year training.

Click here if you need information about the SARI program for your NSF (or other) grant proposal.

CITI Program

Most SARI programs require students to complete online training offered through the CITI program. Penn State offers CITI courses in several areas, including Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) courses in Biomedical Science, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Humanities (the Humanities course will be available in late summer 2009). For some SARI programs, the CITI course in Human Subject Research has been designated. *Students must take the CITI course specified by their program's SARI plan*. Students should check with their graduate program director for information on which CITI course to take. Students who have successfully completed a CITI course (with a grade of 80% or higher) will receive a certificate at the end of the course.

To access the CITI courses:
Students can register for Penn State's CITI courses at www.citiprogram.org. Select "Pennsylvania State University" as the participating institution, and complete the rest of the enrollment information. On the "Curriculum Selection" page, choose the CITI course that is required for your SARI program. Once you have registered, you may enter and leave the course at any time, completing modules as time permits.

RCR Teaching Support

Faculty who are involved in implementing the SARI program educational initiatives will find useful resources here to support their efforts. Teaching tools are available for general RCR education as well as many specific topics, and include background information, Powerpoint presentations, articles, and links to online resources. Video archives of ORP workshops can be viewed and discussed by students, and workshops to help train faculty to lead discussions on these topics are offered by ORP staff.

• Teaching Tools
  • General RCR Education
  • Authorship/Plagiarism
  • Conflict of Interest
  • Acquisition, Management, Sharing and Ownership of Data
  • Research Misconduct
  • Peer Review
  • Collaboration
  • Animal Welfare
  • Mentoring
  • Human Subject Protections
• Video Archives of RCR Workshops and Educational Presentations
• Train the Trainer Workshops

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.

SARI Documents

SARI Program Flyer (PDF) Color | Black-and-White
*Download and print this one-page orientation handout describing the SARI program for graduate students. Color (preferred) and black-and-white versions are available.

SARI Program Announcement
SARI Program Introduction from Eva J. Pell, Former Senior Vice President for Research (PDF)

SARI Program Plan Template (DOC) | (RTF)

SARI Program Plan Example (Masters Program) (PDF)

SARI Program Plan Example (Ph.D. Program) (PDF)