Research Security and Compliance

Research Security and Compliance provides the University of Missouri System, its four universities and MU Health Care support in order to securely perform and manage international activity and research projects by managing global interests, export control and sanctions compliance and classified research compliance. These activities strive to meet a variety of federal requirements which support the national security, economic interests and foreign policy objectives of the U.S.

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University of Missouri-Columbia

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University of Missouri-St. Louis

Global Interests

International Activities Disclosures

The University of Missouri values international collaborations and recognizes that such collaborations are integral to fulfilling our mission as a public, land-grant university, and it is also important that University of Missouri investigators be open and fully transparent about their foreign relationships and activities.

Federal funding agencies are prohibited from issuing funding to faculty engaged in a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program.

Access guidance from each university by visiting the webpages below.

International Travel

International travel has many benefits, but also involves some degree of risk, especially regarding device and data security. Have no expectation of privacy when traveling abroad, especially on electronic devices. The UM System Information Technology Security Office has developed guidance and resources to assist university travelers. Avoid wi-fi networks when abroad, if you can, as they are regularly monitored by security services, and never leave electronic devices unattended while abroad. A hotel safe is never “safe.” Furthermore, travel with university-provided electronic devices to sanctioned destinations (Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, or the Crimea, Donetsk, or Luhansk regions of Ukraine) is not permitted without authorization from Research Security and Compliance.

Before your trip, it is a good idea to review the Department of State’s International Travel site to gain information about any travel advisories, identify where the closest U.S. embassy is and to learn additional information about the country you are traveling to. Additional information includes advice about vaccinations you should have prior to travel, whether visas are required for your travel and local laws. You can enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. U.S. Customs and Border Protection also provides helpful information when planning your travel needs.

Export Controls and Sanctions

View the Chancellors' Commitment to Compliance (06/08/2022).

There are a variety of laws (e.g., the Arms Control Act of 1976 and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018) that have empowered various federal agencies to implement regulations which outline how exports from the United States must be performed. They are focused on the export of items, technology and software that have either a purely military purpose or have both a military and commercial application. An export is the 'transfer or release' of a 'controlled item, technology, or service' to a 'foreign person or destination'. If any of these three elements is missing, an export has not occurred.

While universities transfer and release technology to foreign persons regularly, we do not often work with controlled technology. There are exclusions and exceptions that are generally only available to universities. However, the transfer of certain physical items, software, and technology outside of the United States or to foreign persons inside the United States are exports that need to be managed according to these regulations.

Sanctions regulations are established by the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and cover the transfer of goods and services from and to

• People and organizations located in comprehensively sanctioned destinations; and
• People and organizations subject to sectoral or targeted sanctions.

Currently, comprehensively sanctioned destinations are Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and the Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.

Interactions with a sanctioned party may require governmental approval. Your university’s export compliance professional can evaluate whether a party may be sanctioned and whether a proposed activity is permitted by the regulations.

Important policies and procedures related to export controls and sanctions are below:

• CRR 430.020 Export Controls and Sanctions Compliance
• Export Compliance Management Program
• Finance Policy Sanctions and Restricted Parties

Access guidance from each university by visiting the webpages below.

Classified Research

The Curators of the University of Missouri and selected subsidiaries maintain a security agreement with the Department of Defense in order to have access to information that has been classified because it would damage national security if improperly released.

The programs and activities at the University of Missouri and approved subsidiaries which require access to classified information are vital parts of the defense and security systems of the United States. The University of Missouri fully supports the National Industrial Security Program (NISP) and understands its obligation to implement security practices that contribute to the security of classified defense information.

• Standard Practice Procedures (SPP) for Industrial Security (PDF)
• UM System eCompliance clearance dashboard

Reporting a Concern

The University of Missouri System is committed to complying with all federal requirements and regulations which support the national security, economic interests and foreign policy objectives of the U.S.

Laws and regulatory requirements are complex and may not always be clear to you. Currently established procedures may not fully address every potential circumstance that employees and other personnel may face. The University depends on its employees and others to ask questions and seek answers to assist in complying with our federal obligations. If an issue or question arises related to these topics and you are not certain how to handle it, please reach out to your university’s export compliance point of contact or the Director of Research Security and Compliance.

Additionally, the ability of the University of Missouri to prevent and detect violations of these requirements depends, in part, on you and all university of Missouri employees. Despite our combined best efforts to foster an ethical and honest environment, transgressions may still occur. If this happens, report such conduct to your university’s export compliance point of contact, the Director of Research Security and Compliance, or to the Integrity and Accountability Hotline. Please visit the Reporting Concerns webpage for more information.