IU Kuali Research Systems
Kuali Research Systems support IU researchers through integrated tools for research administration, sponsored projects management, compliance, and financial operations.
Kuali Research Systems
Kuali originated in the early 2000s as a collaborative “community source” initiative developed by a consortium of universities — including Indiana University, the University of Arizona, Michigan State University, Cornell University, and others — to create higher education administrative software as an alternative to traditional Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) vendors. Beginning with the Kuali Financial System (KFS) and later expanding into research administration, curriculum management, and workflow tools, Kuali became one of the most influential examples of universities jointly designing and governing enterprise software tailored specifically to academic institutions. Over time, the organization evolved from a nonprofit consortium into Kuali, Inc., a commercial cloud-based SaaS provider focused exclusively on higher education. Today, Kuali’s future centers on delivering integrated, configurable, and increasingly AI-enabled administrative platforms that help colleges and universities modernize operations, automate workflows, and reduce institutional complexity, while still reflecting the collaborative higher-education values that shaped its origins.
IU utilizes both cloud-based and on-premises Kuali products spanning three generations of the system.
Kuali Research Systems by Generation*
*Kuali Classic Systems will be upgraded to NextGen in the coming years.
Kuali Research Systems: NextGen
The modern, cloud-native, and AI-enabled versions of Kuali’s higher education administrative software. It is designed to replace legacy, fragmented systems with a unified platform that offers improved user experience, integration, and real-time data insights.
Kuali Hub (NextGen) Applications: Quick Start Guide
- This Quick Start Guide is designed to help Indiana University Research users become familiar with Kuali Hub (NextGen). It includes key definitions, navigation tips, and quick reference instructions for submitting and managing documents, and completing workflow actions.
- The Quick Start Guide is accessible here.
Kuali Build
- A cloud-based custom form and workflow solution for IU Research (IUR)-related applications. Each form serves a distinct purpose, with a direct link or corresponding task in One.iu.edu provided for each.
- Access to Kuali Build apps will be managed through direct website links or tasks in One.iu.edu.
Kuali Protocols Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
- KP IACUC coming Fall 2026!
Kuali Research Systems: Classic
The original version of the cloud-based Kuali application. Existing Classic applications will be upgraded to NextGen in the coming years.
Kuali Conflict of Interest (COI)
- Supports the submission of conflict of interest and commitment disclosures for researchers and employees, including annual certification and significant changes in outside activities.
- Access Kuali COI
- For additional information about submitting a disclosure, please visit Completing and Submitting Disclosures or contact coi@iu.edu.
Kuali Protocols Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
- This system (KP IBC) supports the submission, review, and post approval monitoring of research involving biological materials, recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules, transgenic animals, and human gene transfer research. KP IBC facilitates submission of new protocols, major and minor amendments, annual and 5-year renewals, and related reportable events.
- Access KP IBC
- Additional information about the IU IBCs and KP IBC is available at the Research Safety Compliance Office (RSCO) website or by contacting IBC@iu.edu.
Kuali Protocols Institutional Review Board (IRB)
- Supports the submission, review, and post-approval monitoring of research involving human subjects, including new protocols, amendments, renewals, reportable events, and study closure.
- Access KP IRB
- For additional information about submitting a human subjects study for review, visit Submitting a Human Subjects Study for Reviewor contact irb@iu.edu
Kuali Research Systems: On-Premises
The Kuali applications hosted and maintained within IU’s infrastructure instead of Kuali-managed cloud environments.
Kuali Coeus (KC) Grants
- Supports the submission, review, and approval of sponsored research projects.
- Access KC Grants
- For additional information about sponsored projects and research agreements, please visit Navigating Proposal Preparationor contact ora@iu.edu.
Kuali Financial System (KFS)
- Serves as Indiana University’s core financial system, managed by the Office of the University Controller.
FAQs
Most Kuali systems require users to have an IU account and the appropriate access to log in and complete documents. There are a few documents that may be accessible without an IU login, and those will be clearly identified on the relevant website or task in one.iu.edu.
- For KP and Kuali Build, contact orcsps@iu.edu
- For KC, contact ora@iu.edu
- Provide detailed information regarding which system you are trying to access and what error message is populating
You may have defaulted back to the Kuali Build Dashboard. IU uses the Kuali Research dashboard for all Kuali NextGen applications. If you notice the Kuali Build logo in the upper left of the page, click the tiled/waffle icon and select “Research” from the dropdown menu. You will then return to the Kuali Research dashboard and have access to all applications.
Some Units may display an “(INACTIVE)” identifier due to updates in IU’s Organizational Hierarchy, and outdated Unit Names may appear in some documents. This will not affect searches or prevent protocol submissions. Please verify that any amendments use the current active Unit, which may require removing and re-adding applicable Personnel, so the updated Unit displays. New protocol documents will automatically display the accurate Unit.
Need additional assistance?
If you have general questions about the Kuali Research Systems, please contact the Research Compliance Systems team at orcsps@iu.edu.