The COINS Transformation Project team has formed a Key User Group (KUG) to assist the team in identifying areas where additional user guidance or training about the new version of COINS would be helpful. You will be evaluating instructions, help text, and training materials for the new version of COINS. Your feedback will help ensure COINS instructions and training materials are easy to understand and use.
What's Involved?
- Optional Kickoff Zoom Call: Learn more about the system and the feedback we need.
- Test at Your Convenience: Follow and evaluate instructions, training materials, and system help text. No complex system features to test!
- Testing Timeframe: May/June testing has concluded but you can still sign up for the July testing.
- Total Time Commitment: Anticipate spending about 1 hour testing and providing feedback.
- Feedback Form: Share your insights to help us improve the experience.
- Optional Zoom Discussion: Talk directly to the Project Team.
Sign Up:
Email Lisa Urban at ldu2@psu.edu
- Provide a single system to fulfill multiple University disclosure requirements for policies AC80, RP06, and AD83.
- Increase compliance with federal sponsors and corresponding University policies.
- Utilize the current provider of software solutions used by the University’s research compliance programs for COI, IRB, IACUC, and Biosafety.
We Heard You! Transformed COINS is Coming Fall 2024
As many in the research community have requested, starting in Fall 2024, you will have one system for Researcher and University Official COINS disclosures and AC80 Conflict of Commitment disclosures.
Same Disclosure Requirements but in a Single Disclosure Form
You will log in to one system and access one Disclosure form that contains all the relevant questions applicable to your role at the University per policies RP06, AC80, and/or AD83. There will no longer be a separate AC80 Conflict of Commitment disclosure process via PDF.
Integrated Prior Approval
The Prior Approval Process will be integrated into COINS, eliminating the need for separate PDF submissions.
No More Redundant Data Entry
You will no longer have to enter information about your research projects into COINS. Integrations with SIMS IAF and CATS IRB will pull in the information about your research projects and protocols into the new version of COINS.
Is There Anything I Need to Do Right Now?
If you disclosed significant financial interests in 2024, you may request a PDF of the information you disclosed via this form. Due to the new data model, information from current COINS disclosures will not transfer to the new system. Having a PDF of your disclosure will ensure you have the information at your fingertips when you complete your first disclosure in the new version of COINS.
If you did not disclose significant financial interests in 2024, there is no action required by you at this time.
Will There Be Help Available?
Yes! From self-paced, just-in-time resources to informational webinars and 1-1 assistance, we will support you every step of the way. You will find help and resources in the Resources section of this webpage (as they become available).
Anticipate Further Communication
Stay tuned as we reach out this summer with more details about the upcoming changes. We look forward to making the disclosure process more seamless for you.
COINS development is governed by multiple collaborative teams at various levels within the University, each serving a different but related purpose. The teams implementing the work have been charged with transforming processes and systems in the transition. The roles and members of each team are:
COINS Executive Sponsors and Stakeholders
To guide the strategic direction of system development and remove high-level blockers.
Members Include:
- Candy Yekel, Associate Vice President of Research and Director of the Office for Research Protections
- Clint Schmidt, Senior Director, Research Security and Conflict of Interest
- Debra Thurley, Associate Vice President for Research, Office for Research Protections
- Kathy Bieschke, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
- Michael Stedelin, Director, Office of Research Information Systems
COINS Advisory Committee
To serve as subject matter experts to the development teams, act as decision makers and to champion the systems with researchers, faculty, and University officials.
Members include:
- Clint Schmidt, Assistant Vice President of Research
- Sue Seman, Conflict of Interest (COI) Coordinator
- Marisa Klein, Conflict of Interest Manager, College of Medicine
- Lisa Urban, Research Compliance Educator
- Melanie Parenteau, IT Project Manager
- Ming Ni, Developer/Technical Analyst
- Ryan Stroup, Developer/Technical Analyst
- Susan Bowser, Product Owner / Business Analyst
- Leah Carraway-Justice, Change Management Consultant
Key User Group
The primary focus of the key user group is to offer constructive feedback on essential elements such as question phrasing, help text, and training materials, ensuring that these components contribute to the understanding of required system tasks. The Key User Group includes teaching and research faculty, university officials, and department heads from various departments and colleges across the University.
ORIS Development Team
To implement, configure and document quality software and process solutions used by researchers, faculty, and University officials in an efficient and timely manner.
Development Team includes:
- Laura Sabolchick, Assistant Director, and Lead Business Analyst
- Ming Ni, Developer/Technical Analyst
- Ryan Stroup, Developer/Technical Analyst
- Susan Bowser, Product Owner / Business Analyst
- The Conflict of Interest Program is developing role-specific resources to assist with disclosing outside activities and interests. Teaching Faculty, Tenure-Line & Research Faculty, University Officials, Postdocs & Research Staff, and Department Heads will soon have access to tailored role-based guidance on disclosure requirements and step-by-step instructions for using the new version of COINS.