A message to Faculty Researchers from Provost Ludden
Dear Colleagues:
I am writing to encourage you to attend one of the upcoming Office of Research Administration presentations on Responsible Conduct of Research. All faculty members planning to submit proposals through the Office of Research Administration are strongly urged to attend so that they can be introduced to a new University training requirement for research grant applications.
Beginning on August 26, 2009, no proposal will be processed by the Office of Research Administration unless all principal and co-investigators identified on the proposal have completed an on-line training course in responsible conduct of research.
Presentations introducing this requirement and explaining how to access the on-line training will be made on Thursday, February 19 at 3:00 p.m. in McCord Auditorium, Dallas Hall and again at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 20 in McCord Auditorium, Dallas Hall.
The importance of this topic cannot be overstated. The NIH and NSF Offices of the Inspector General clearly assign primary responsibility to universities for detecting and preventing research misconduct, and for establishing a culture that emphasizes responsible conduct of research. Federal concern and oversight has increased dramatically in recent years, and the Federal Government reserves the right to conduct investigations and take actions as deemed necessary. A determination of research misconduct can result in severe penalties to researchers and can negatively impact their institution. Clearly, increasing research activity at SMU depends on the University maintaining the highest ethical standards in the conduct of research.
In the interests of adopting professional best practices fostering a strong culture of research responsibility, research ethics and research integrity, I ask your participation in this important University initiative.
Sincerely,
Paul W. Ludden
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
