Governor's State University
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Research and Scholarship (Policy 55)

Approved By:

President Joyce Ester

Issued:

Revised:

3/14/2007

Last Reviewed:

Related Policies:

Policy For Protection of Human Research Subjects, Research Involving the Use of Animals, Responding to Allegations of Research Misconduct

Policy Owner / Contact Person:

Provost's Office, Academic Deans

Additional References:

Policy Categories:

Academic Policies

  1. Purpose 
    1. The purpose of this policy is to describe governing principles and responsibilities regarding research and scholarship conducted at Governors State University (GovState). 
  2. Definitions [Not Applicable] 
  3. The Policy 
    1. Scope 
      1. This policy applies to academic research and scholarship conducted at GovState. 
    2. General Principles  
      1. The primary mission of GovState is teaching. Research and scholarship are essential to the success of the teaching mission. Scholarship is defined in broad terms to include not only the scholarship of discovery of knowledge but also the scholarship of integration of knowledge, the scholarship of application of knowledge, the scholarship on pedagogy, and creative activity as scholarship. 
      2. Researchers assure quality and integrity in their scholarship primarily by self-regulation, adherence to individual ethical codes and professional standards, and by reference to the traditions and collegiality that characterize academic institutions. University staff members in leadership or supervisory positions have a special obligation to foster academic integrity in their relationships and in their work. 
      3. Open scholarly exchange and academic freedom must be observed. It shall be the prime concern of all persons who implement the Research policy to protect academic freedom and tenure. Academic Freedom affords no license for academic misconduct as described below. 
      4. The University will enter into only those grants, contracts, and agreements that support the freedom to disclose the proposed research results, the identity of any sponsors of the research, and the purpose and scope of the research, unless approved by the University President. The University will not accept research grants, contracts, or agreements for research that compromise the University’s pursuit of its educational mission or that violate the public interest.
    3. All university community members are expected to observe high standards of academic integrity and ethical behavior in research and publication. Any practice or conduct by a member of the university community that seriously deviates from those ethical standards for proposing, conducting, and publishing research that are commonly accepted within the professional community constitutes academic misconduct in violation of university policy. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to: 
      1. Fabrication or falsification of data, including intentionally misleading, selective or deliberately false reporting of results, credentials, or other academically related information; 
      2. Unacknowledged appropriation of the work of others, including plagiarism, the abuse of confidentiality concerning unpublished materials, or misappropriation of physical materials; 
      3. Evasion of, or intentional failure after notice by the university or federal, state or another appropriate agency to comply with research regulations or requirements, including but not limited to those applying to human subjects, laboratory animals, new drugs, radioactive materials, genetically altered organisms, and to safety; and 
      4. Other conduct that seriously deviates from accepted ethical standards in scholarship. Differences of interpretation or judgment or honest error do not constitute academic misconduct.
    4. Research conducted under the auspices of the university may be supported in whole or in part through funds provided by outside entities in the form of research gifts, research grants, or research contracts. A faculty member may conduct preliminary negotiations with prospective supporters of research with prior knowledge of the dean or unit head but neither has the authority to bind the university to enter into the contract.
    5. Proposals for funded research projects at the university require the approval of the University President or his/her designee. The principal investigator has primary responsibility for the management of all expenditures under his or her sponsored project. The college shares the responsibility to ensure that the management of all expenditures is consistent with University policies and procedures and/or sponsor’s restrictions. The responsibilities for compliance with these policies rest with the principal investigator(s), the division/department chair, the dean of the academic college, and the directors of the relevant institute(s) and center(s), the Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research, and the Provost, in the regular channels for review and authorization of grants, contracts, and agreements. 
    6. The Institutional Review Board, and any other body determined by university policy to have oversight for research, must review and approve all research proposals involving the use of human subjects. 
    7. Faculty Research Participation and Assignment of Duties 
      1. The University encourages all its faculty members to participate in research projects, to disseminate the results of research, and to apply new knowledge and creative skills in the classroom and in the community. 
      2. The University President (or designee) will foster faculty research opportunities by providing timely and resourceful information on grant opportunities to all faculty. 
      3. The University, in consultation with the department/division faculties, develops Division Criteria for the evaluation of teaching and primary duties, research and creative activities, and service. These criteria provide the basis for decisions for retention, tenure, and professional advancement awards.
      4. The dean or unit head, upon approval of the Provost, will grant a faculty member reassigned time from teaching for research activities when he/she receives a grant, contract, and/or other agreement with appropriate funding. This reassigned time is separate from any reassigned time stipulated in the collective bargaining agreement. 
      5. The University may provide the colleges with funds to support faculty members who present research findings at national and/or international conferences and meetings, contingent upon the availability of funding.
  4. Acknowledgements [Not Applicable]