Project Review Process

All applications submitted to VISION undergo a structured review to assess project eligibility, resource requirements and any compliance considerations. Certain project types, such as those involving sensitive data, commercial applications, or exceptionally large resource requests, may be subject to additional evaluation criteria or supplementary review steps as outlined below. Providing complete and accurate information in your application will help ensure timely review.

Standard Review Process

Every application is evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Project eligibility criteria
  • Technical feasibility and appropriateness of the requested resources
  • Availability of requested compute hours, storage, and specialized hardware

Export Control Requirements

VISION is subject to export control restrictions. As a result, all access requests must be reviewed by Texas A&M University export control officials before approval can be granted.

Depending on individual circumstances, users may be required to:

  • Complete export control training
  • Acknowledge terms outlined in the Technology Control Plan (TCP)
  • Provide proof of citizenship or immigration status

This export control review process may take several weeks to complete. The VISION team will guide you through any required steps and keep you informed throughout the process.

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Projects Requiring Additional Review

Certain project types may require additional approvals or may not be eligible for execution on VISION. Please be prepared to disclose any of the categories below that apply to your project.

Compliance and Security Review

Some projects may require additional review to ensure compliance with institutional policies, funding requirements, and applicable regulations. The VISION supercomputer is not currently cleared for controlled unclassified data (“CUI”) or other restricted data types (e.g. NIH controlled-access data, any other data type subject to NIST 800-171 requirements, etc.). Additional review may be necessary for projects involving:

  • Classified information
  • Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
  • Federal Contract Information (FCI)
  • NIH controlled-access data
  • Export-controlled technologies
  • Foreign national participation restrictions
  • Specialized access controls
  • Technology Control Plans (TCPs)
  • Other regulated research activities

AI and Advanced Computing Workloads

Additional review may be required for projects involving:

  • AI model training
  • Large-scale GPU utilization
  • Fine-tuning or modification of model weights
  • Post-training model optimization
  • Advanced AI research activities
  • Cryptographic research
  • Requests for elevated system privileges or low-level hardware access

These questions help the VISION team determine appropriate review, governance, and resource allocation requirements.

After Review

Following the completion of the review process, applicants will be notified of approvals via email. Approved projects will receive allocation details and instructions for next steps. If additional information is required or modifications to the request are recommended, a member of the VISION team will contact you directly. For questions about the review process, please contact [email protected].