Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Faculty Handbook 
    
2017-2018 Faculty Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Research and Scientific Misconduct Policies


 

In addition to that which is detailed here, please check sources such as The Policy Library, College Handbook Policies, etc.


Research Policy / State University Policy

External Funding for Research/Programs

College policy requires that all grant applications submitted to external funding sources on behalf of faculty/staff must be facilitated through the GDO, which coordinates with other offices as needed. This ensures that proposals are submitted in accordance with institutional and sponsor guidelines. External funds received by SUNY Oneonta on behalf of faculty and staff can be fiscally administered through the New York State system accounting (Division of Finance & Administration/Business Office), the College at Oneonta Foundation (Division of College Advancement), or The Research Foundation for SUNY (GDO/Sponsored Programs), depending on the circumstances of the intent, purpose and requirements of the funding provider. Each of these three agencies are separate entities that serve SUNY Oneonta. The designation for appropriate fund administration depends on a number of factors; the final determination of the appropriate fiscal entity will be made by the administrators of the three entities that are authorized to administer external funds on behalf of the college.

All proposals for external funding must obtain required institutional approvals. Faculty/staff interested in pursuing external funding should contact the GDO as early as possible, and must obtain a preliminary approval from the appropriate Department Chair and Dean to proceed. The purpose of this step is to determine the likely impact that the proposed activities may have upon the faculty members’ own responsibilities, obligations, or duties or upon those of other faculty members or staff, and the impact upon students, the faculty member’s department, administrative unit, and the College. The GDO then works with the applicant to develop the proposal for submission, and to complete the required institutional routing form to secure various institutional approvals at least five working days before the submission deadline.

Responsible Conduct of Research

From both the legal aspects of compliance with sponsor policies to the generation of data that is of high quality and capable of withstanding peer-review, Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) policies serve to guide the institution, investigators and students. SUNY Oneonta is committed to ethical and best practices in research. The RCR policy has been developed to provide necessary training and routine administrative and faculty-led oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research.

Human Subjects in Research

All research involving human subjects (sponsored research, i.e., research conducted by SUNY Oneonta individual investigators and funded by external agencies; organized research, i.e., supported research of a group of investigators in a designated institution or center; and institutional/department research, i.e., research supported by department budget or individual professor[s] in SUNY Oneonta facilities, classroom instruction, and field studies) must have prior review and approval of the SUNY Oneonta Institutional Review Board (IRB) to comply with the federal and state laws for the “Protection of Human Subjects.”

For more information on research using human subjects, consult the SUNY policy on research involving human subjects, the guidelines of SUNY Oneonta Statutes 2440-2446 Article 24A, Public Health Law and Federal Regulations 45 CFR. The SUNY Oneonta IRB has had Single Project Assurances since 1994. Copies of the National Institutes of Health IRB guidelines may be obtained from the office of the College President, from the Chair of the IRB or from Milne Library.

If you are currently conducting research involving human subjects that has not been reviewed and approved by the SUNY Oneonta IRB, such research should be suspended immediately and remain suspended until the legally required review has been completed. In such an event, or if you have questions about this procedure, please contact the Sponsored Programs Office.

The following must be sent to the chair of the College IRB before a meeting with the committee will be arranged.

  1. An Abstract of the proposal and its objectives.*
  2. Detailed outline of the methods and procedures to be used, i.e.,:*
    • The number of subjects to be used, sex, and age;
    • Length of time subjects will be used;
    • Where studies will be conducted.

* One copy must be supplied for each of the nine committee members.

  1. A sample of the Informed Consent Form that will be used (this form must contain a description of the project and its objectives in lay terms and a statement to the effect that the subject is free to withdraw his consent and to discontinue participation in the project or activity at any time).

Subjects participating in biomedical and behavioral research must receive an explanation regarding the availability or non-availability of compensation (compensation is not available from the State University of New York) and medical treatment for human subjects sustaining physical injury. They must also obtain information as to what this compensation consists of, and where information may be obtained.

  1. A statement from the investigator’s department chair indicating the chair’s awareness that this study is being proposed.
  2. The investigator must supply the committee with a final report at the completion of the study.

Animal Care and Use

The State of New York Department of Public Health requires that facilities using warm-blooded animals (mammals and birds) in research, teaching, or demonstration have an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. This committee shall consist of at least three members, a chair, a veterinarian, and a community representative. The duties of this committee shall be to oversee the institution’s animal program, facilities, and procedures. Questions regarding this committee should be directed to the Provost.

Scientific Misconduct

The following policy statement is excerpted from the College Policy on Scientific Misconduct. The complete policy may be found in the office of the Provost and the academic department offices. In compliance with Federal regulations, the College has a Misconduct Policy Officer, appointed by the Provost.

Policy Statement

It is the purpose of these policies to instill and promote the principles of professional integrity, to prevent scientific misconduct, and to discover and censure instances of misconduct when they occur. Accordingly,

  1. The College at Oneonta will maintain high ethical standards in science and other scholarly work, prevent misconduct where possible, and promptly and fairly evaluate and resolve instances of alleged or apparent misconduct.
  2. Every member of the College community has the responsibility of reporting misconduct in scientific work. No person raising serious allegations of misconduct will suffer any penalty; however, frivolous, mischievous or malicious misrepresentation in alleging misconduct will not be tolerated and may result in action against the perpetrator.
  3. The College at Oneonta will take appropriate disciplinary action against any individual found guilty of misconduct. This will include disclosure to funding agencies, collaborating scientists and institutions, journal editors, professional associations, licensing boards, and potential employers who request oral or written references.
  4. These policies apply to scientific research and related scholarly writing conducted by any member of the College faculty or staff. They are not intended to address issues, such as the conduct of students in fulfilling course requirements, which are covered by other policies.
  5. These procedures for the institutional handling of allegations of scientific misconduct normally have four stages:
    • an inquiry to determine whether the allegation or related issues warrant further investigation;
    • when warranted, an investigation to collect and thoroughly examine evidence;
    • a formal finding; and
    • appropriate disposition of the matter.
  6. As a general rule, the College will take no more than 60 days to conduct its inquiry and determine whether an investigation is warranted. If an investigation is to be undertaken, it will begin within 30 days of the conclusion of the inquiry, and the institution shall generally take no more than 120 days to complete the investigation, prepare the report of findings, obtain the comments of the subject(s) of the investigation, and make a decision of the disposition of the case.
  7. The College will annually report to all funding and sponsoring agencies as follows:
    • Assurance that the institution has established an administrative process for reviewing, investigating, and reporting allegations of misconduct in science in connection with sponsored research.
    • Provision of such aggregate information on allegations, inquiries, and investigations as funding and sponsoring agencies may prescribe.