7.C Norms, Policies, and Regulations Guiding Scholarship and Research

7.C.1 Introduction

Honesty, candor, openness, and integrity are guiding principles that faculty members are expected to adhere to in all of their academic activities, including research and scholarship. Faculty members are also the primary source of guidance for responsible research practices among students and employees. The "Policy Statement on the Integrity of Scholarship and Procedures for Investigating Allegations of Misconduct in the Pursuit of Scholarship and Research" sets forth for all members of the University community a code of conduct that has a specific reference to research activity. The text of the policy is available from the Office of the Vice President for Research or on the Web at <www.research.umich.edu/policies/um/integrity.html>.

The OVPR sponsors the online Program for the Education and Evaluation in Responsible Research Scholarship (PEERRS), a web-based instruction and certification program for members of the University community engaged in or associated with research <www.research.umich.edu/training/peerrs.html>. (SPG 303.01)

In addition, OVPR’s website lists additional educational opportunities in the responsible conduct of research at <www.research.umich.edu> under Training.

The potential for conflicts of interest or commitment can arise in a number of different situations; for a general discussion of the topic and a list of applicable University policies, see Section 9.G, "Conflicts of Interest and Conflicts of Commitment."

In the context of sponsored research, conflicts of interest most frequently occur when there are overlapping financial interests. Faculty members are responsible for disclosing significant financial interests or management positions that may arise from relationships with sponsors or other outside entities; this may include disclosure of financial and management interests of the faculty member's immediate family. See "Policy and Procedures for Dealing with Financial and Outside Management Conflicts of Interest in Sponsored Projects and Technology Transfer." The Proposal Approval Form (PAF), discussed in Section 7.E.3, requires certain certifications and disclosures, including disclosures regarding any significant financial interest or absence thereof. The policy and disclosure form are available on the Research website.

A review procedure that involves a faculty committee is in place to review significant financial interests related to sponsored projects. If appropriate, the committee will devise and oversee mechanisms to manage any serious conflicts. In addition, advice is available from unit administrative offices or from the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel.

The University encourages faculty involvement in outside activities, including consulting, if this contributes to the intellectual enrichment of faculty members and their students and serves the University as a whole. It is important that these relationships, with regard to time spent and fees earned, stay in balance with other faculty obligations of teaching, research and scholarship, and service to the University and society, and that they not present a conflict of interest. All full-time faculty members must obtain approval from the appropriate University authority, usually the dean or director of the academic unit, when contemplating outside employment during the academic year. (Bylaw 5.12; SPG 201.65-0) See also Section 9.E, "Working Outside the University," and Section 9.K, "Use of University Equipment and Property."

Cost accounting practices must be consistent for all University activities. Adherence to University cost accounting procedures has significant implications for the preparation and approval of budget materials in all proposals to federal sponsors. Faculty should consult with the appropriate unit administrator or a DRDA project representative if they have questions regarding the application of these cost accounting standards to specific project budgets or federal sponsoring agencies.

Direct costs (such as salaries, equipment, supplies, and travel) can be identified and attributed to a specific project. Indirect costs (such as costs associated with use of buildings and equipment, library and computing expenses, and sponsored project administration) are common to projects, programs, or activities of the institution and cannot be easily attributed to specific projects.

The determination of direct and indirect costs on federal projects is guided by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as described in OMB Circular No. A-21: Cost Principles for Educational Institutions. A summary of Circular A-21 and the complete document are available on the UM Research website <www.research.umich.edu/policies/federal/a-21.html>. See also SPG 303.02. Non-federal funding sources may have different policies. Unit administrators or DRDA project representatives have information about policies of specific funding agencies.

Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary activity is one of the great strengths of our University. The Office of the Vice President for Research, in collaboration with the deans and other faculty, is especially committed to nurturing activity by faculty who work at and across disciplinary boundaries. The Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies also promotes and facilitates interdisciplinary activities and joins people from across the institution in ways that allow them to experience and take advantage of the University as a scholarly community, for example through presentations, discussions, and debate. While departments, as they should, encourage graduate students to focus their scholarly efforts, the Graduate School seeks to remind them that they are part of a much larger intellectual endeavor.

Openness in research agreements is such an important value that the Regents adopted a policy in 1987 to guide the University's consideration of any secrecy stipulations by a sponsor of research or scholarship. It is an absolute requirement of the Regental Policy that the University will accept no research agreement that restricts its freedom to disclose the agreement's existence, scope, and purpose. The policy statement is available through SPG 303.01 and the UM Research website under "Policies and Research Responsibility/UM Policies."

Federal law regulates the procurement of federal contracts with a value of more than $100,000. Since the law applies to federal contracts as opposed to federal grants, most faculty proposals for external research sponsorship are not affected. For additional information, consult the DRDA project representative.

The University enforces high standards for the appropriate use of human or animal subjects in research. No such use may begin without approval of the appropriate University oversight committee. On the Ann Arbor Campus, committees charged with this responsibility include the Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects <www.irb.research.umich.edu>, 764-1185 for referral), the Biological Research Review Committee (764-1185 for referral), and the University Committee on Use and Care of Animals <www.ucuca.umich.edu>; 763-8028).

Faculty members are responsible for ensuring that their own research with human subjects and that of the students they supervise are reviewed by the relevant committee and that the research is conducted in conformance with approved plans. Respect for participation through appropriate consent and privacy provisions, minimization of risk, a favorable risk/benefit balance, equitable selection of subjects, and protection of vulnerable populations are the major criteria considered by oversight committees.

Researchers who use animals in their studies are required to maintain regular contact with the Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM). This unit is responsible for the supervision and coordination of the animal care program and for assuring compliance with federal regulations. It is also an educational resource. For details about ULAM services and animal care, see the website at <www.ulam.umich.edu>, or call 764-0277.

7.C.10 Compliance in Health Care

The compliance program at UMHS reflects its commitment to maintain the highest ethical standards and to comply with all applicable laws, policies, rules and regulations. Detailed information about UMHS's compliance program is available at <www.med.umich.edu/u/compliance>. See also Section 9.M.

7.C.11 Other Policies

Guidance on federal security, routine/commercial testing, nondiscrimination, nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements, and other policies are posted at the UM Research website under "Policies and Research Responsibility."