Undue Foreign Influence

The University of Wyoming encourages and benefits from open and transparent collaborations, both domestically and internationally.  However, there is a growing concern amongst US universities, businesses, and government agencies of undue foreign influence negatively affecting good scholarly conduct and/or contributing to national security threats.  UW is committed to supporting responsible conduct of research and educating our researchers on how to mitigate the risks of improper foreign influence.

 

The Risks of Undue Foreign Influence

The primary risks with foreign influence negatively impacting UW include:

1. Failure to disclose substantial foreign resources
2. Foreign grants with overlap of domestic research or over-commitments
3. Non-disclosure of foreign research support (positions/titles/grants/funding)
4. Talent programs
5. Export Controls
6. Diversion of intellectual properties to foreign entities
7. Fake or misrepresented international journals, meetings, and/or societies

 

Transparency in Disclosure

All investigators on sponsored projects should check the sponsor’s current disclosure requirements carefully (especially with international funding sources) and, if in doubt, contact The Office of Research & Economic Development at research@uwyo.edu for disclosure assistance or further guidance.

 

Talent Recruiting Programs

Recently there have been numerous cases of US-based researchers (both US citizens as well as foreign nationals) being recruited directly or indirectly by foreign governments with the intended goals of exploiting the open nature of the research & development environment at US universities and government agencies. 

 

Specifically, Talent Recruitment Programs refer to initiatives undertaken by foreign-state entities to engage and attract scientists, engineers, academics, researchers, and entrepreneurs of all nationalities working or educated in the United States to join the foreign sponsored program and transfer their knowledge and expertise to the foreign state.  While this alone may not be problematic, it is often coupled with nefarious intentions that may cause a researcher to violate University, state, or federal regulations.

 

If you are ever contacted by a foreign entity regarding an unsolicited or prospective collaboration, position, salary, or research funding, contact Compliance@uwyo.edu immediately. 

 

Export Controls

Export control regulations are federal laws that prohibit the unlicensed export of certain commodities or information for reasons of national security or protections of trade.  UW researchers looking to collaborate, travel, or otherwise work with international persons or groups should consult the UW Export Controls page for guidance:

https://www.uwyo.edu/research/compliance/export-control/index.html

 

Undue Foreign Influence Training

UW encourages all researchers to complete the CITI Program course Undue Foreign Influence: Risks and Mitigations, which will highlight some of the biggest foreign risks to US academics.  For instructions on how to access this module, see below. 

The Office of Research Integrity & Compliance recently gave a talk on Undue Foreign Influence, which can be found by clicking here.

CITI Training for Undue Foreign Influence 

1. Enter citiprogram.org into your web browser.
2. Select “Register Here” next to “New Users.”
3. Select University of Wyoming from the drop down list under “Participating Institutions.”
4. Select your username and password.
5. Enter your name.
6. Enter your e-mail.
7. Select “Submit” at the bottom of the page.
8. Fill in the applicable information requested by the University of Wyoming.
9. Select “Submit” at the bottom of the page.
10. Select the appropriate learner group:---“Undue Foreign Influence: Risks and Mitigations”

 

Contact Us

Additionally, you can contact us at Compliance@uwyo.edu with any concerns or questions.  Concerns can be made anonymously by reporting a research concern here.