About

Mission

The primary mission of RSO is to assure research security at IU. Through its comprehensive research security program, RSO protects IU and its researchers from those who wish to exploit IU's open and inclusive academic environment. RSO operates a research security program in response to federal regulations and sponsor requirements that safeguards the IU research enterprise and mitigates threats to the IU research environment by protecting against:

• Misappropriation of research and development
• Violations of research integrity
• Foreign government interference

RSO supports this mission by:

• Engaging with faculty, staff, and students on research security topics, including cyber security, foreign travel security, and malign foreign actors and identification
• Identifying research security concerns and suggesting appropriate mitigation efforts
• Advising IU researchers on information security matters
• Assisting researchers in complying with related regulations and sponsor requirements
• Providing regular trainings on research security threat awareness and identification

RSO is guided by the common values set out by the Association of American Universities ("AAU") with regard to malign foreign influence academic freedom; free expression; inclusion and diversity; national interest; transparency; integrity; zero tolerance for harassment and coercion; and collaboration. RSO executes its research security program consistent with IU's longstanding commitment to global engagement and academic freedom, as well as its IU 2030 pledge to make IU a welcoming environment of mutual respect where students, faculty, and staff from every corner of the world are embraced as Hoosiers.