A new University of Tennessee policy and procedures on responsible conduct in research and scholarly activities takes effect Sept. 15.
Every member of the University community has the responsibility of ensuring that research and scholarly activities are conducted with integrity. Furthermore, all faculty, staff and students have the responsibility of complying with federal regulations that include specific rules for reporting and reviewing any allegations of misconduct in connection with University work. Examples of misconduct include falsification, fabrication and plagiarism.
- Clarifies that all faculty, staff and students—not just principal investigators and first authors—must be mindful of research integrity in all that we do
- Emphasizes the importance of using up-to-date data management and record-keeping practices so that any erroneous allegation of misconduct can be resolved quickly
- Prohibits retaliation against any person who reports or provides information regarding an allegation of possible research misconduct
All employees are encouraged to read the policy and consult their research integrity officer with any concerns or questions about responsibilities under the policy.
Thank you to the members of the UT community who contributed to the development of the policy, including several phases of input from campus research officers and staff, Faculty Senate members and faculty with experience serving on misconduct review committees and working as journal editors.