Code change affects scholarly misconduct policy
The University Senate Code changes target faculty and staff members who break ethical rules of conduct
By Jesse Trimble (Contact)
Friday, September 5th, 2008
Students recently received an e-mail from the Office of University Governance informing them of some slight changes made to the University Senate Code.
One of the changes dealt with the scholarly misconduct policy, not to be confused with the academic misconduct policy, which primarily affects students.
Mary Berry, professor of social welfare and president of University Senate, said the policy changes would not affect the classroom setting, but rather would be targeted toward faculty members or staff members employed by the University who broke the ethical rules of conduct.
“There are all kinds of rules you must follow as a researcher,” Berry said. “We also need policies in place and a way to enforce the rules that result in consequences. Rules are not just for students.”
Berry said the policy had to be updated because the National Institute of Health, or the NIH, which funds some research at the University, requested the policy changes. If an employee, such as a faculty member, graduate student working for the University or graduate teaching assistant had an allegation filed against them for scholarly misconduct, the NIH must be made aware.
Although it is very rare for faculty members to abuse the policy, Berry said that the policy was changed because the NIH tightened the rules.
Nancy Kinnersley, professor of electrical engineering and computer science and Faculty Senate president, said the policy was mainly changed to comply with the federal government’s policy.
William Sharp, director of research integrity in the Research and Graduate Studies office, was very involved in developing the policy.
Sharp said the scholarly misconduct policy would also apply to faculty members and graduate students publishing research of their own.
According to the policy, scholarly misconduct includes fabrication, falsification or plagiarism.
“It is a difficult line to walk. A line we must handle fairly and thoroughly,” Sharp said about the policy.
Walking that line is Sharp’s job, and he said he had dealt with scholarly misconduct in the past.
“It’s not something that’s commonly broadcast,” Sharp said. “It’s handled very confidentially.”
When handling a scholarly misconduct case, Sharp said everything stays within the University and is not handled outside, for example in the court system.
Berry said that the main concern she had with the policy was making sure that all the parties involved would have time for due process and to be fair and consider everything in a thoughtful manner.
“It’s such a serious mark on a person’s record. I really want to watch it and see how it plays out,” Berry said.
— Edited by Rachel Burchfield
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