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New SDSU Drone Policy in Effect

There is a new university policy regarding the acquisition and use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as drones. This policy is effective immediately, beginning on Dec. 4, 2025.

Key Policy Changes You Need to Know:

1. Procurement
   1. Federal Funds: Anyone using any federal grant, contract, or cooperative agreement funds is prohibited from using these funds to purchase UAS and/or drones and their associated elements related to the collection and transmission of information from covered foreign entities, which include popular manufacturers in China, such as DJI and Autel Robotics.
   2. Pre-Purchase Review: Before any drone purchase with these federal grant, contract or cooperative agreement funds, the purchaser must contact the appropriate procurement office for a mandatory review to ensure compliance with this policy. If using funding as a state employee, please contact SDSU Procure to Pay. For SDSU Research Foundation-funded purchases, please contact the Research Foundation’s Purchasing department (SDSU login required). 
2. Use of Existing Drones
   1. If your department or lab currently owns a drone and associated elements related to the collection and transmission of information purchased with federal funds from a restricted foreign entity, it must not be used on any federally funded projects or research activities after Dec. 22, 2025. Disciplinary action will be pursued against anyone using drones improperly, as outlined in the full policy.
3. Data and Insurance
   1. All data collected by a SDSU/SDSURF owned drone and their associated elements related to the collection and transmission of information must be handled in accordance with the university's data security and privacy policies.
   2. All UAS and/or drones and their associated elements related to the collection and transmission of information should be covered by university or other private insurance prior to operation. For insurance related questions and inquiries, please contact [email protected].

Guidance for Specific Groups

• Faculty & Principal Investigators: Please review your current and future research projects, especially those with federal funding, to ensure your UAS and/or drones and their associated elements related to the collection and transmission of information are in full compliance with the new regulations by the Dec. 22, 2025 deadline. The acquisition process for any new drones and their associated elements related to the collection and transmission of information must now involve consultation with the appropriate procurement office.
• Managers & Staff: Please review your departmental procurement procedures and communicate these new guidelines to your teams. The new purchasing protocol for drones is in effect immediately.
• Students: This policy applies to students conducting research or academic projects using a drone owned by the university or SDSU Research Foundation. If a student needs to use a drone on a project supported by federal funds, they should work with their faculty advisor to ensure compliance with this policy and all FAA regulations.

For questions or to initiate a UAS purchase review, please contact:

• SDSU Research Foundation Procurement Department: [email protected]
• Stateside SDSU Procurement Office: Service Now Request to Stateside Procure to Pay Team (Requires SDSU Single Sign-On)
• SDSU FAA Drone Committee: [email protected]
  
  

We appreciate your cooperation in helping the University and SDSU Research Foundation navigate this evolving regulatory landscape.

New Research Misconduct Policy Effective January 1, 2026

San Diego State University is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity in research. To reinforce this commitment, the SDSU Policies and Procedures for Addressing Allegations of Research Misconduct have been finalized and will take effect January 1, 2026.

This policy applies to all individuals engaged in research under the auspices of SDSU, including faculty, staff, students, and visiting scholars. It establishes clear procedures for reporting, assessing, and addressing allegations of research misconduct, defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, reviewing, or reporting research results.

Key highlights of the policy include:

• Scope: Applies to all funded and unfunded research conducted at SDSU.
• Institutional Commitments: Ensures fairness, confidentiality, and protection against retaliation throughout the process.
• Reporting: All institutional members have a responsibility to report suspected research misconduct immediately to the Research Integrity Officer (RIO) or through the anonymous reporting form.
• Compliance: Aligns with federal regulations, including PHS (42 CFR Part 93) and NSF (45 CFR Part 689) requirements.

To review the full policy, visit: SDSU Research Misconduct Policy. For questions, contact [email protected].

Research Security Training – Effective TBA

Some federal sponsors (i.e. NSF & NIH) have upcoming Research Security Training requirements which must be met by all covered individuals participating on a project before a proposal can be submitted. The training focuses on mitigating risks associated with foreign interference, proper disclosure of research information, international travel & shipping, cyber threats, and much more! The training will help you:

1. Describe why research security is important for the U.S. Research and Development enterprise and what constitutes improper foreign interference and undue foreign influence.
2. Understand the importance of non-discrimination as a guiding principle of U.S. research security policy and the value of and challenges with international collaboration.
3. Know why and how to disclose relationships and the proper use of funds.
4. Identify, manage, and mitigate risk, particularly in the context of foreign talent programs.
5. Understand responsible international travel practices and some export controls (shipping and OFAC sanctioned countries).
6. Be familiar with intellectual property and data protection requirements and best practices, including basic cyber security.

This Research Security Training requirement can be met by completing all four Research Security Training Modules in CITI:

• Introduction to Research Security
• The Importance of Disclosure
• Risk Mitigation and Management
• The Importance of International Collaboration

Additionally users can complete Research Security Training (Combined) or Research Security: A Basic Course to meet the federal requirements. 

We encourage all covered individuals to take this training as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact Research Support Services at [email protected] or Export Control at [email protected]. Thank you!

SDSU’s Research Backbone: Rick Gulizia Clinches Manager of the Year for Leading Research Support Services

Assistant VP’s steady leadership and team-first approach earn top honor in Presidential Staff Excellence Awards

🔍 Whether you’re conducting low-risk online surveys or more involved clinical studies, this guidance will help you determine your obligations and maintain ethical compliance.

Please review this document thoroughly and refer to it when drafting your study consent forms.

SDSU Drone Survey

Attention All Drone Users at SDSU!

Faculty, staff and students who use drones as part of their SDSU duties are encouraged to take the survey to ensure compliance with evolving university policies, and to maintain an accurate record of general drone operations.

The survey covers topics such as:

• Frequency of drone usage
• Purpose of drone operations
• Types of drones utilized
• Pilot certifications and training
• Drone purchasing process

Completion of survey should take approximately 5-8 minutes. 

Take the Drone Survey

 

SDSU iRIS Introductory IRB Webinars

Join us for a series of informative webinars from our HRPP analysts, designed to help you transition into our new application processing platform.

WH OSTP Issues Guidance to Make Federally Funded Research Freely Available Without Delay

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) updated U.S. policy guidance to make the results of taxpayer-supported research immediately available to the American public at no cost. All agencies will fully implement updated policies, including ending the optional 12-month embargo, no later than December 31, 2025. Check out this FAQ if you have any questions.