Assessment means the initial review to determine if the allegation fits within the definition of Research Misconduct and if it is sufficiently credible and specific so that potential evidence of Research Misconduct may be identified.
Complainant means a person who in good faith makes an allegation of Research Misconduct.
Fabrication means making up data or results and recording or reporting them as factual.
Falsification means manipulating Research or scholarship materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the scholarship or Research is not accurately represented in the record.
Finding of Research Misconduct means a final, institutional decision, made by the Deciding Official (DO) on behalf of the University, in which Research Misconduct was found to have occurred. A Finding of Research Misconduct requires that (1) there be a significant departure from accepted practices in the relevant Research community; (2) the Research Misconduct be committed intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly; and (3) the allegation be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.
Inquiry means preliminary information-gathering and fact-finding carried out by a faculty Inquiry Panel (“Panel”) to determine if each allegation has substance, i.e., that sufficient evidence exists that Research Misconduct may have occurred to warrant an Investigation.
Investigation means a formal process carried out by an Investigation Committee (“Committee”) to (1) develop a factual record and fairly and impartially examine that record in order to make a formal recommendation regarding whether or not Research Misconduct has occurred, (2) if Research Misconduct occurred, determine the responsible person(s) and the scope and seriousness of the Research Misconduct, and (3) make recommendations for other appropriate actions.
Plagiarism means the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit.
Research means any organized program of scientific inquiry that involves a systematic investigation, study, or experiment designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge that is performed at or under the auspices of the University. Research includes non-sponsored research, research fellowship and training programs, and research-related activities in undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral education. For the purpose of this Policy, Research also means any creative or scholarly endeavor, regardless of field or discipline.
Research Misconduct means Fabrication, Falsification, or Plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing scholarly, Research, or creative endeavors, or in reporting Research results or the results of creative endeavors. Research Misconduct does not include honest error or differences in interpretation or judgments in evaluating Research methods or results or differences of opinion.
Research Record means any data, document, computer file, media, hardware, or any other written or non-written account or object that reasonably may be expected to provide evidence or information regarding the proposed, conducted or reported Research or scholarship. The Research Record includes but is not limited to: Research proposals, laboratory notebooks (both physical and electronic), correspondence, photographs, biological materials, slides, equipment use logs, Research protocols, consent forms, progress reports, abstracts, theses, oral presentations, internal reports, journal articles, and any statements, documents and materials provided to a University official by a Respondent, Complainant, or Witness in the course of the Research Misconduct proceeding.
Respondent means the person(s) against whom an allegation of Research Misconduct is directed.
Retaliation means an adverse employee action by a University employee, taken against any Complainant, witness, Panel member, Committee member, or any other participant in a Research Misconduct proceeding in response to either (1) a good faith allegation of Research Misconduct, or (2) good faith cooperation with a Research Misconduct proceeding.
Sponsor means any agency of the U.S. federal government, state government, private foundation, corporation, or other entity external to the University that provides funds to support a Research project, Research program, or other Research, scholarly, or creative activity.