New Requirements for Individual Development Plans (IDP's) and Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR's)
Two new reporting polices have gone into effect for the NIH, based on NOT-OD-14-113, reports on the use of Individual Development Plans (IDP's) for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers must be included in Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR's), though not the IDP's themselves. This policy reflects the recent push by several federal agencies to emphasize development of young researchers.
The relevant section of the notice reads:
In response to this recommendation, the NIH will not require but strongly encourages institutions to develop and use IDP's for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers supported by NIH awards, regardless of their position title. IDP's provide a structure for the identification and achievement of career goals. Therefore, NIH encourages grantees to develop institutional policies that employ an IDP for every graduate student and postdoctoral researcher supported by NIH awards. Beginning, October 1, 2014, annual progress reports are required to include a description of whether the institution uses IDP's or not and how they are employed to help manage the training and career development of those individuals.To date, the University does not have an institutional policy regarding IDP's.
Second, as announced in NOT-OD-14-092, the RPPR's will be required for all type 5 non-SNAP progress reports that are submitted to the NIH on or after October 17, 2014. This policy supports the NIH's move toward a more streamlined reporting process.
Read more on these requirements from NIH OER here.