Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) is identified by executive branch entities including Department of Agriculture, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Education, and other federal agencies who sponsor research as sensitive information that demonstrates risk resulting from the unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction of information collected or maintained by or on behalf of an organization. Executive branch entities are required to identify and mark CUI that requires safeguarding.
OU policy requires that any contract having clauses invoking CUI requirements be reviewed and assessed for CUI by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships (OVPRP) at OU.
CUI Training Requirements
All personnel who will access, handle, or work with CUI—including Principal Investigators (PIs), Co‑PIs, senior personnel, students, staff, and applicable contractors—are required to complete OU’s CUI Awareness Training before an award involving CUI can be released. The training is delivered through Qualtrics and is monitored by the OVPRP, with support from the OU Information Technology Department.
When new personnel are added to the CUI project, they must complete the required training within 30 days of being assigned. Project work involving CUI may not begin until this requirement is met. The PI is responsible for ensuring that all project personnel remain compliant with CUI training requirements throughout the duration of the award.
OU requires researchers engaged in CUI projects to complete the CUI Training every two years following the initial training. Some sponsors—such as the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)—may require annual CUI training. When applicable, DoD‑provided training may be accepted in place of the institutional requirement, pending receipt and verification of the training completion certificate.
For additional information about CUI requirement, please visit:https://www.ou.edu/exportcontrols/in-academia/controlled-unclassified-information. For questions regarding CUI training, please contact ris@ou.edu.
