The Research Security Program (the Program) for The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) is intended to ensure UT Dallas complies with State of Texas and US Government requirements for research security, such as the National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 guidelines.

Commitment to Compliance and Academic Values

UT Dallas is committed to cultivating and maintaining a secure environment for the performance of federal and industry funded research, protection of intellectual property and research data, and management of other research assets. This commitment requires that UT Dallas provide the infrastructure and personnel to achieve the highest level of compliance with applicable ethical, legal, regulatory, contractual and system standards and requirements in securing research, and to promote an organizational culture of compliance in meeting federal requirements to maintain federal funding.

The operation of the Program will be balanced against the long-held academic values of transparency, integrity, reciprocity, and inclusivity, which are vital to the long-term wellbeing of the UT Dallas academic and research community. The Program will be implemented using a risk-based approach that tailors the security program requirements to the sensitivity of the research activity. A risk-based approach will allow UT Dallas to meet state and federal research security mandates while minimizing the impact on educational and academic activities.

Program Mission and Vision

The mission of the Program is to safeguard the research data, intellectual property, funding, facilities, and operations supporting federally funded activities, critical and emerging technology research activities, and other high and moderate impact research activities performed at UT Dallas.

The vision of the Program is to provide policy services, training, operational support, and monitoring to enhance funded research compliance, to safeguard critical and emerging technology research, and to provide support for addressing complex compliance situations and risks.

Program Scope

The Program is intended to address the research security risk areas applicable to the UT Dallas research portfolio, including, but not limited to research data security, foreign travel security, foreign relationship oversight, and management of foreign visitors and scholars.

The Program will have administrative responsibility for the following regulatory and policy areas.

1. Critical and emerging technology research safeguards
2. Foreign travel security
3. Foreign funding and relationship reporting
4. Relationships with sanctioned persons and organizations
5. Research data and information classification
6. Research data and information security planning
7. Research risk assessment and management
8. Research visitor access and management

To support institutional compliance with these regulations and to promote a culture of compliance, the Program will undertake the following activities:

1. Lead the development of the necessary policies and procedures to meet government-mandated research security requirements.
2. Provide training and educational opportunities, including regulatory and policy guidance.
3. Provide forums, reports, and other methods for internal communication.
4. Collaborate with partner offices and the Council to develop risk assessment and management tools.
5. Coordinate internal monitoring, noncompliance detection, and incident reporting.
6. Other advice and assistance needed by partner institutional offices in related compliance activities.

Responsible Officials and Responsibilities

Academic Research Security Council

The UT Dallas President has designated the Academic Research Security Council (the Council) to oversee the development and implementation of the Program, advise the President concerning the development and implementation of the Program, monitor coordination and collaboration between the institutional offices and stakeholders contributing to the Program, and ensure the development and implementation of the Program is consistent with the institution’s academic and research missions.

The Council is comprised of the following UT Dallas executive officers.

1. Vice President and Chief of Staff (Chair)
2. Vice President for Research and Innovation (Vice Chair)
3. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
4. Vice President for Information Technology
5. Vice Provost for Global Engagement
6. Speaker of the Faculty Senate
7. Chief Information Security Officer

Academic Research Security Officer

The UT Dallas President has designated the Academic Research Security Officer (the ARSO) to lead the development and implementation of the Program, ensure the development and implementation of the Program complies with UT System, State of Texas, and federal mandates, facilitate coordination and collaboration between the institutional offices and stakeholders contributing to the Program, and provide administrative support to the Council.

Designated Research Units

This framework applies to university research units, and affiliated employees, students and visiting scholars, which meet the qualification criteria set by the Academic Research Security Council. These criteria will reflect the research, technology, and intellectual property priorities of UT Dallas, UT System, the State of Texas, and the US Government. The research units covered by this framework will be determined on a semiannual basis by the Academic Research Security Council. Each designated unit will write and implement a research laboratory security plan under the guidance of the ARSO.

Assessment

The UT Dallas Office of Audit and Consulting Services will perform regular assessments of the research security program.

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