Controlled Research Support Program (CRSP)
The CRSP is a foundational University of Texas at Austin initiative designed to ensure institutional compliance with federal requirements for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). CRSP establishes a scalable, sustainable framework aligned with NIST 800-171 and CMMC 2.0 standards to safeguard federally funded research and maintain UT Austin’s eligibility for federal awards. Why this initiative so important? Non-compliance with federal requirements puts UT Austin’s federally funded research, institutional reputation, and competitiveness for future awards at risk. CRSP provides centralized oversight, governance, and secure environments to protect sensitive research across campus.
Texas Research
The Controlled Research Support Program website from Texas Research provides practical tips for identifying projects that may involve controlled research, guidance on budgeting for security and compliance needs, and information on project onboarding and available institutional support.
Roadmap
The program moves from rapid remediation and program build through full technical maturity and into long-term sustainment.
Phase 1: Foundation
Q1 FY26 — Completed ✅
Foundation established
- Project charter finalized
- Governance Working Group established
- CMMC Level 1 self-assessment completed
- Program Director onboarded
Phase 2: Build and Scale
Q2-Q4 FY26 — In Progress 🟡
Build governance, staffing, and operational framework
✅ Oversight Committee launched
✅ Steering Committee launched
✅ RACI finalized
- 🟡 NIST 800-171r3 policies and procedures
Phase 3: Implementation & Scale
Q1-Q4 FY27
Operationalize the program and deliver services
- Gap assessment with third-party vendor — Targeting Fall 2026
- Senior staffing completing (PM, SSE, Support Technician, GRC Analysts)
- SLA/MOU and onboarding framework for research projects
- Service catalog deployment and CUI-compliant environments in operation
- UT Austin is actively working toward CMMC Level 2 certification through a phased approach
Implementations
Approved Secure Research Environments
CRSP serves as the single oversight authority for all secure research environments on campus to ensure consistent compliance and reduce institutional risk.
CRSP Secure Research Environment (SRE)
Centrally managed by Enterprise Technology and the primary CUI-compliant environment for campus researchers
Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC)
An established secure environment reporting through CRSP
Texas Institute for Electronics (TIE)
A specialized secure research environment operating under CRSP compliance authority.
Strategic Alignment
CRSP directly supports UT Austin’s Enterprise Technology and CIO strategic pillar focused on research excellence, risk management, and institutional resilience by delivering secure, compliant digital research infrastructure. View Enterprise Technology's Strategic Pillars.
Audience
This initiative serves several of our UT audiences.
Faculty & Research Teams
- Conducting or planning research involving Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
Principal Investigators (PIs)
- Leading federally sponsored or Department of Defense–funded research projects
Research Administration & Compliance
- Supporting contracting, research security, and compliance efforts
IT, Security & Research Computing
- Supporting and operating secure research environments
Working on a federally funded research project involving CUI?
Contact the CRSP team to understand compliance requirements, available infrastructure, and how ET can support your lab.
Executive Sponsors
Cole Camplese
Vice President for Technology & CIO
Technology & Operations
Fernanda Leite
Vice President for Research
Research Sponsorship
Cam Beasley
Chief Information Security Officer
Security & Compliance
The Steering Committee provides executive-level governance and strategic direction for the CRSP, while the Oversight Committee serves as the operational and programmatic body responsible for day-to-day program progress, stakeholder coordination, and advisory input from campus IT and research partners.
Steering Committee
- Co-Chairs: Cole Camplese & Fernanda Leite
- Cam Beasley
- Jeremy Wilson (Program Director, Ex Officio)
- David Moss (Ex Officio)
- Michelle Stickler (Ex Officio)
Oversight Committee
- Co-Chair: Jeremy Wilson (Program Director) and Jennifer Baker (Sr. Director Research Security, OVPR)
- Shannon Strank, Deputy Director, Center for Electromechanics
- Lori Magruder, Director, Center for Space Research • Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
- Emily Hurt, Jessica Vizcarra,
- Bob Gloyd, Emma Ramos, Nathaniel Mendoza
- Steve Franciullo, David Clark, David Moss
- Heather Hanna, John Lovelace