All members of the University of Minnesota are expected to exemplify
the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct. In 1999,
The Board of Regents adopted the policy, “Submitting and
Accepting Sponsored Projects”, and the University of Minnesota
Senate approved the “Education in the Responsible Conduct
of Sponsored Research and Grants Management Policy”. These
policies require that all faculty and principal investigators
complete instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research and
Scholarship (RCR) as a prerequisite for the receipt of sponsored
project funding. In support of the policies, the University has
developed a comprehensive curriculum of information, instructional
materials, workshops, and contacts to help faculty members meet
the challenge of responsible conduct in research and scholarship.
The core RCR curriculum
is currently organized into one in-person and a series of four
online workshops. The in-person workshop was developed and is
led by faculty, and includes presentations and review and small-
and large-group discussions of case studies. The online workshops
were developed by faculty and administrative subject matter experts,
and include presentations and interactive review of material and
case studies. Part 1 covers the following ethical topics: History
and Values Relating to Research and Scholarship; Social Responsibility
& Reporting Misconduct; and Authorship, Plagiarism & Peer
Review. Part 2 covers the following ethical topics: Fiscal Responsibilities;
Intellectual Property; Research Data Management; and Conflict
of Interest.
To be eligible as a principal investigator, the core RCR curriculum, part 1 and part 2, must be
completed. In addition, eligibility includes instruction on the following specific topics if they are
relevant to the research or sponsored project: Environmental Health and Safety; Animal Subjects, and
Protecting Human Subjects. Records of completion of all training are tracked electronically.
Finally, a continuing
education component has been implemented. It includes an annual
online review of updates to agency and university policies and
procedures, and participation in an “active learning”
activity related to responsible research/research ethics at least
once every three years. These requirements are designed to provide
an opportunity for continuing interaction and discussion of issues
related to the responsible conduct of research. The RCR continuing
education requirements are mandatory, and records of completion
are tracked electronically.
