Research & Compliance at GovState
Responsible conduct of research (RCR) is defined as "the practice of scientific investigation with integrity." It involves the awareness and application of established professional norms and ethical principles in the performance of all activities related to scientific research.
Effective January 4, 2010, the National Science Foundation (NSF) began requiring that, at the time of proposal submission to NSF, a proposing institution’s Authorized Organizational Representative certify that the institution has a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who will be supported by NSF to conduct research. For more NSF resources on the RCR requirement, please visit the NSF Website.
To address the NSF requirement, all undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty researchers involved in the conduct of research of NSF-funded grants are required to complete RCR training before beginning work on the NSF-funded grant. Individuals must register for and complete the RCR online training provided through the CITI Program. The training is optional for students researching other research-related projects. The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research will verify that any researchers included in NSF projects have completed the training.
CITI Program training is available to all Governors State University faculty, staff, and students. When you register for the program, be sure to affiliate with GovState. Once an account is created, choose “RCR Basic Course” for Question 4. Leave the remaining questions blank and click the Submit button.
Hazardous Chemicals and Biological Agents & Toxins Prohibited at Governors State University
Research and teaching involving the following hazards are currently prohibited at Governors State University. At this time, the University does not have the necessary facilities, permits, and oversight procedures to ensure adequate protection for workers and the community, as well as regulatory compliance, when using these chemicals or agents and toxins.
Review NIH and HHS regulations for the safety of biological research.
At Governors State University, all Principal Investigators must complete training and a disclosure form prior to proposal submission and update regularly to remain in compliance.
The faculty and staff at GSU are pursuing an increasing number of sponsored research activities. The university plans to increase externally sponsored funding through contracts, grants and extramural funding. As sponsored research activities grow in sophistication and complexity, it becomes necessary to comply with federal regulations regarding significant financial conflicts of interest in research and educational activities.
A significant financial conflict of interest - FCOI - means a significant financial interest that could directly and significantly affect the design, conduct or reporting of research or educational activities. Faculty and staff of the university have the obligation to scrupulously maintain the objectivity of their research and educational activities by avoiding any financial conflicts of interest. GSU developed Policy 68 to protect the integrity of externally sponsored research and educational activities and to comply with federal regulations.
The purpose of this policy is to promote objectivity in externally funded research and educational activities by establishing standards that provide a reasonable expectation that the design, conduct and reporting of research and educational activities funded under external grants or cooperative agreements will be free from bias resulting from the investigator (including the investigator's spouse and dependent children) having significant financial conflicts of interest.
Governors State University is committed to addressing harassment and fostering a safe and healthy work environment. Policies and expectations for proper conduct apply to all staff, faculty, and students whether on-campus or working, doing research, or engaging in scholarly activities or studies at off-site locations.
NSF Requirement on Safe and Inclusive Work Environments
It is the National Science Foundation's (NSF) policy to foster safe and harassment-free environments wherever science is conducted. NSF requires all proposals submitted or due on or after January 30, 2023, involving off-site research or training to have a plan ensuring a safe and inclusive work environment.
The plan must describe how the following types of behavior will be addressed:
- Abuse of any person, including, but not limited to, harassment, stalking, bullying, or hazing of any kind, whether the behavior is carried out verbally, physically, electronically, or in written form
- Conduct that is unwelcome, offensive, indecent, obscene, or disorderly.
- Identify steps the proposing principal investigator(s)/project team will take to nurture an inclusive off-campus/off-site work environment
- Consider how communications within the team and to the organization will be handled, minimizing singular points within the communications pathway (e.g., a single person overseeing access to a single satellite phone)
- Address how any special circumstances such as the involvement of multiple organizations or the presence of third parties in the working environment should be taken into account
- Account for the process or method for making incident reports as well as how any reports received will be resolved.
OSPR Plan Template
To assist investigators in meeting the NSF requirement, OSPR has developed a template for a plan to ensure that PIs promote a safe and inclusive work environment for off-campus/off-site research. Project teams intending to submit a proposal to NSF that includes off-campus/off-site research must prepare the plan using the OSPR template.
At Governors State University, all Principal Investigators must complete training and a disclosure form prior to proposal submission and update regularly to remain in compliance.
The faculty and staff at GSU are pursuing an increasing number of sponsored research activities. The university plans to increase externally sponsored funding through contracts, grants and extramural funding. As sponsored research activities grow in sophistication and complexity, it becomes necessary to comply with federal regulations regarding significant financial conflicts of interest in research and educational activities.
A significant financial conflict of interest - FCOI - means a significant financial interest that could directly and significantly affect the design, conduct or reporting of research or educational activities. Faculty and staff of the university have the obligation to scrupulously maintain the objectivity of their research and educational activities by avoiding any financial conflicts of interest. GSU developed Policy 68 to protect the integrity of externally sponsored research and educational activities and to comply with federal regulations.
The purpose of this policy is to promote objectivity in externally funded research and educational activities by establishing standards that provide a reasonable expectation that the design, conduct and reporting of research and educational activities funded under external grants or cooperative agreements will be free from bias resulting from the investigator (including the investigator's spouse and dependent children) having significant financial conflicts of interest.
Financial Conflict of Interest for Externally Sponsored Research and Educational Activities
At Governors State University, all Principal Investigators must complete training and a disclosure form prior to proposal submission and update regularly to remain in compliance.
The faculty and staff at GSU are pursuing an increasing number of sponsored research activities. The university plans to increase externally sponsored funding through contracts, grants and extramural funding. As sponsored research activities grow in sophistication and complexity, it becomes necessary to comply with federal regulations regarding significant financial conflicts of interest in research and educational activities.
A significant financial conflict of interest - FCOI - means a significant financial interest that could directly and significantly affect the design, conduct or reporting of research or educational activities. Faculty and staff of the university have the obligation to scrupulously maintain the objectivity of their research and educational activities by avoiding any financial conflicts of interest. GSU developed Policy 68 to protect the integrity of externally sponsored research and educational activities and to comply with federal regulations.
The purpose of this policy is to promote objectivity in externally funded research and educational activities by establishing standards that provide a reasonable expectation that the design, conduct and reporting of research and educational activities funded under external grants or cooperative agreements will be free from bias resulting from the investigator (including the investigator's spouse and dependent children) having significant financial conflicts of interest.
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