Procedure for SCC Responsible Conduct of Research | SCC

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Procedure for SCC Responsible Conduct of Research

Division: Institutional Effectiveness
SCC Procedure Number: SPR2.0.2-1
OPR: Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness
Issued: 10/23/2020
Revised: 6/28/2021
Approved SCC President/CEO: 6/28/2021
Reference KCTCS Policy: Employee Responsibilities Policy 2.0.2; KCTCS Human Research Protection Program 1.8.2.3.2; Core Values and Ethical Standards 5.1.20-P 

Procedure:

In 2007, Congress passed the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act (COMPETES) , which required that each institution that applies for financial assistance from certain federal agencies for science and engineering research or education describe in its grant proposal a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers participating in the proposed research project.

For every applicable research grant it holds from a federal agency requiring Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training and oversight, Somerset Community College must show that it has provided all relevant personnel with adequate training on the RCR.

Process:

  1. The Principal Investigator (PI) is responsible for ensuring completion of the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) education requirements by all undergraduate students who are supported by applicable projects, including sub-awards, submitted and subsequently awarded.
  2. The Director of Grants will provide information on attaining Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training.
  3. The Principal Investigator (PI) should include the cost of all expected Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training in the project’s budget when preparing a proposal application.
  4. When the Principal Investigator (PI) receives a grant from a federal agency requiring Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training and oversight, the Principal Investigator (PI) will require supported students to complete Responsible Conduct of Research training in the discipline pertinent to the research to be undertaken before starting research on the supported project.
  5. The Principal Investigator (PI)  will supply the Grants Director with documentation of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) certification of students who have passed the course for record keeping purposes.
  6. Failure to comply with this policy within specified timeframes shall constitute grounds for disciplinary action. Disciplinary action is based upon a reasonable investigation of the noncompliance and is consistent with the severity of the violation. A range of examples includes, but is not limited to, additional training/monitoring for minor violations up to limits being placed on the use of awarded funds for the project supporting these personnel, and/or loss of privilege to apply for new grant funding until the required training has been brought into compliance.

Reviewed: 4/15/2022, 5/22/2023: Format changes, 4/25/2024