Education in the Responsible Conduct of Sponsored Research and Grants Management

• Updated: June 2010
• Primary Contact : Carol Foth

Faculty, staff, and students who serve in various capacities on research and scholarship projects are required to complete training that is appropriate for the role they will serve on the project. Sponsor regulations, University policies, and the supervisors of staff and students will determine the appropriate level of training. The Office of the Vice President for Research has the responsibility to ensure that PIs, investigators, and their staff and students have access to the necessary information and supporting resources to meet expectations about the responsible conduct of research.

Research funding from internal and external sources will not be released for faculty and staff who fail to complete research education requirements. Other policies address requirements related to research and may impose additional consequences for non-compliance.

This policy implements the principal investigator and researcher eligibility requirements contained in Board of Regents Policy: Submitting and Accepting Sponsored Projects and Board of Regent Policy: Code of Conduct, and establishes the expectation for a training program to meet the shared responsibility for the responsible and ethical conduct of research.

This policy also articulates the shared commitment of the University and its faculty, staff, and students to ethical behavior and fulfillment of the fiduciary duties of public funding that are fundamental to the responsibility of serving as principal investigator (PI) or in another role on projects of research and scholarship.

In addition, various government and other agencies set standards and requirements for education and training in the responsible conduct of research. This policy ensures, where applicable, the scope of the University?s program for the responsible conduct of research includes such additional requirements.

• Education Requirements for PI Eligibility
• Requesting a Time Extension for RCR Completion

There are no forms related to this policy.

Principal Investigator (PI)

The individual or individuals primarily responsible for and in charge of a sponsored project.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

Term used in many contexts; in general, the rules, regulations and best practices used to guide research and scholarly activities to produce results that are honest, accurate, efficient and objective. The University also uses this term to define the expectations included in Subd7, Board of Regents Policy: Code of Conduct, and to describe its education program.

Office of Vice President for Research

Responsibilities include:

• Ensure establishment and maintenance of a program to address the introductory and continuing education needs for responsible conduct of research for faculty and investigators involved in externally and internally funded research and scholarship;
• Consult with advisory committees comprised of faculty, administrative, and/or research staff for guidance on the content and delivery of the educational materials and other program requirements;
• Publicize the research education program to all faculty, staff, and students; and
• Maintain information on participation in RCR education activities and develop mechanisms to assess the effectiveness of the education program.

Associate Dean for Research or equivalent for College or Unit

• Ensure faculty, staff, and students complete research education requirements appropriate for their role on the project;
• Publicize the research education program to faculty, staff, and students in college or unit;
• Review and approve requests for time extensions to complete RCR requirement; and
• Provide advice and guidance for research education program, as needed.

Department Heads

• Ensure faculty, staff, and students complete research education requirements appropriate for their role on the project;
• Publicize the research education program to faculty, staff, and students in department;
• Monitor completion of requirements by research staff and students, as needed; and
• Review and approve requests for time extensions to complete RCR requirement.

PIs and Faculty

• Complete the University?s responsible conduct of research requirement (RCR);
• Be aware of appropriate training requirements for staff and students working on project; and
• Ensure staff and students complete research education requirements appropriate for the role they will have on the project.

Research staff and students

• Be aware of research education requirements appropriate for the role they will have on the project; and
• Complete research education requirements appropriate for the role they will have on the project.

There are no appendices related to this policy.

There is no FAQ for this policy.

Related Policies

• Board of Regents policy: Submitting and Accepting Sponsored Projects
• Board of Regents policy: Code of Conduct

Effective:

June 2010