Research Misconduct Policy and Procedures

Policy Statement

I.   INTRODUCTION.

A.   General Policy.

In all of its scientific and research activities, Dartmouth College observes the highest standards of professional conduct. The enterprise of academic and scientific research relies upon the trust and confidence of both the scientific community and the public at large in the integrity of the academic and scientific process. Unethical behavior in research represents a breach of the confidence among faculty and other research scientists that is central to the advancement of knowledge.  It also undermines the confidence that the public and research subjects should have in the reliability of Dartmouth.  For these reasons, Dartmouth considers Research Misconduct, as defined below, a betrayal of fundamental scientific and research principles, and shall deal promptly with all instances of possible Research Misconduct.

B.   Scope and Application.

1. This policy and the associated procedures ("Policy") apply to all research activities conducted under the auspices of Dartmouth, whether or not they are externally funded. This Policy applies to any individual paid by, holding an appointment from, or affiliated with Dartmouth, such as faculty members, post-doctoral fellows, trainees, technicians and other staff members, guest researchers, graduate students and undergraduate students (the latter subject to Section I.B.2 below).  Such persons are subject to this Policy regardless of whether their research is conducted on the main Dartmouth campus in Hanover, N.H., at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., at the Veterans Administration Hospital in White River Junction, VT., or elsewhere.  
2. While this Policy applies to Research Misconduct by students, in cases involving allegations against undergraduates the usual conduct procedures administered by the Dean of the College (set forth in the undergraduate Student Handbook) shall be followed in lieu of this Policy.  To the extent that additional procedures are necessary for undergraduates, either to comply with legal requirements or because of the involvement of undergraduates in cases involving other persons subject to this Policy, the Provost may determine such procedures on an ad hoc basis.
3. In addition to cases involving Research Misconduct, this Policy may, in the discretion of the Provost or responsible Dean, be used to review allegations of possible noncompliance with legal and ethical standards applicable to human subjects and animal research.   
4. Particular circumstances in individual cases may dictate variation from the usual procedures when deemed to be in the best interests of Dartmouth and/or required by relevant federal regulations or agency procedures. Any significant variation from this Policy and associated procedures must be approved in advance by the Provost and General Counsel.
5. Allegations of Research Misconduct occurring more than six years prior to submission of the allegations shall not be reviewed under this Policy unless (a) applicable federal regulations require review of such allegations, or (b) the alleged Research Misconduct was not reasonably discoverable at an earlier time, or (c) the Research Misconduct poses a current threat to the health and safety of employees, patients, or research subjects.

II.   DEFINITIONS.

A.  Complainant means the individual(s) who submits an allegation of Research Misconduct.

B.  Dean means the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Dean of the Geisel School of Medicine, the Dean of the Tuck School of Business, the Dean of the Thayer School of Engineering, the Dean of the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, or the respective Dean's designee 

C.  Good Faith, as applied to a Complainant or witness, means having a belief in the truth of one's allegations or testimony that a reasonable person in the Complainant's or witness's position could have based on the information known to the Complainant or witness at the time.  An allegation or testimony is not in good faith if made with knowing or reckless disregard for information that would negate the allegation or testimony.  Good Faith, as applied to an Inquiry or Investigation committee member, means cooperating with the research misconduct proceeding by carrying out the duties assigned impartially for the purpose of helping an institution meet its responsibilities under this part.  A committee member does not act in good faith if their acts on the committee are dishonest or influenced by personal, professional, or financial conflicts of interest.

D.  HHS means the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the parent agency of the Public Health Service and the National Institutes of Health.

E.  Inquiry means preliminary information-gathering and preliminary fact-finding to determine whether an allegation or apparent instance of Research Misconduct has substance and if an Investigation is warranted.

F.  Investigation means the formal development of a factual record and the examination of that record leading to a finding with respect to Research Misconduct.  

G.  NSF means the National Science Foundation.

H.  Office of Research Integrity or ORI means the office to which the Secretary of Health and Human Services has delegated responsibility for addressing research integrity and misconduct issues related to Public Health Service activities.  

I.  Preponderance of the Evidence means proof by information that, compared with that opposing it, leads to the conclusion that the fact at issue is more probably true than not.  

J.  Provost means the Provost or a designee of the Provost.

K.  Research Misconduct, as defined by the federal government , means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.  It does not include honest error or differences of opinion.  A finding of Research Misconduct requires that the misconduct be committed intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly.  A finding of Research Misconduct also requires that there be a significant departure from accepted practices of the relevant research community.

• Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them. 
• Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the Research Record. 
• Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results or words without giving them appropriate credit.  

L.  Research Record or Record means any data, document, computer file, compact disc, computer diskette, 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 that constitutes the subject of an allegation of Misconduct. A Research Record includes, but is not limited to, grant or contract applications, whether funded or unfunded; grant or contract progress and other reports; laboratory notebooks; notes; correspondence; videos; photographs; X-ray film; slides; biological materials; computer files and printouts; manuscripts and publications; equipment use logs; laboratory procurement records; animal facility records; human and animal subject protocols; consent forms; medical charts; and patient research files. 

M.  Respondent means the person against whom an allegation of Research Misconduct is directed or who is the subject of a Research Misconduct proceeding.  

N.  Retaliation means an adverse action taken against a Complainant, witness, or committee member by an institution or one of its members in response to a Good Faith allegation of Research Misconduct or Good Faith cooperation with a Research Misconduct proceeding.

III.    GENERAL PROCEDURES AND PRINCIPLES.

A.  Responsibility to Report Misconduct.

Individuals subject to this Policy who become aware of a possible incident of Research Misconduct shall immediately report the information in the manner described in Section IV.A.1 below. Allegations of Research Misconduct may be presented to an institutional or HHS official by any means of communication (written or oral statement or other communication).

B.  Protecting the Complainant.

Persons subject to this Policy who receive or learn of an allegation of Research Misconduct shall treat the Complainant who has made a Good Faith allegation with fairness and respect and shall take reasonable steps to protect the position and reputation of the Complainant and other individuals who cooperate with the Inquiry or Investigation against Retaliation.  Any alleged or apparent Retaliation should be reported to the Provost.  In addition, federal regulations require that institutional policies "protect[ ], to the maximum extent possible, the privacy of those who in good faith report apparent misconduct." Accordingly, if a complainant requests anonymity, Dartmouth will make an effort to honor the request during the preliminary assessment or Inquiry to the extent permitted by law. If the matter is referred to an Investigation Committee and the complainant's testimony is required, however, anonymity may no longer be guaranteed. 

C.  Protecting the Respondent.

Persons subject to this Policy who receive or learn of an allegation of Research Misconduct shall treat the Respondent with fairness and respect and shall take reasonable steps to ensure that these procedures are followed.  When a Respondent has been exonerated, Dartmouth shall make substantial, sustained efforts to restore the reputation of the Respondent.  This may be accomplished through communication with members of the scientific community who are aware of the matter, publicizing the final outcome in forums in which the allegation of Research Misconduct was previously publicized, expunging references to the allegations from Respondent's personnel file, or through other steps worked out in coordination with the Respondent.

D.  Confidentiality.

Allegations of Research Misconduct, and proceedings conducted under this Policy, may be damaging to the professional reputations of persons involved.  Accordingly, persons subject to this Policy who make, receive, or learn of an allegation of Research Misconduct shall protect, to the maximum extent possible, the confidentiality of information regarding the Complainant, the Respondent, and other affected individuals. The Provost may establish reasonable conditions to ensure the confidentiality of such information.

E.  Responding to Allegations.

In responding to allegations of Research Misconduct, the Provost and any other Dartmouth official with an assigned responsibility for handling such allegations shall make diligent efforts to ensure that the following functions are performed:

1. Any assessment, Inquiry, or Investigation is conducted in a timely, objective, thorough, and competent manner.

2. Reasonable precautions are taken to avoid bias and real or apparent conflicts of interest on the part of those involved in conducting the Inquiry or Investigation.  Specifically, reasonable steps shall be taken to ensure that the Provost, members of Inquiry Panels and Investigation Committees, and experts have no bias and no personal, professional or financial conflict of interest with the Respondent, Complainant, or the case in question.  In making this determination, consideration shall be given to whether the individuals (or any members of their immediate family) have any of the following involvements with the Respondent or Complainant: financial involvement; coauthor on a publication; collaborator or co-investigator; party to a scientific controversy; supervisory or mentor relationship; other special relationship such as a close personal friendship, kinship, or a physician/patient relationship.  Consideration shall also be given to whether there is any other circumstance that might appear to compromise the individual's objectivity in reviewing the allegations.  The Complainant and the Respondent shall have the right to comment on whether the Provost and members of Inquiry Panels and Investigation Committees meet the above criteria.  If the Complainant or the Respondent makes a prompt, reasonable, objection to the Provost concerning a member of an Inquiry Panel or Investigation Committee, the challenged person shall be replaced with another person who meets the stated criteria. If the Complainant or the Respondent makes a prompt, reasonable objection to the President concerning the Provost, the Provost's responsibilities under this Policy shall be performed by another person who meets the stated criteria.  The decision of the Provost or the President, as the case may be, regarding such a challenge shall be final.  

3. Immediate notification is provided to ORI (in cases involving PHS-funded research) and/or other federal research sponsors supporting the research in question (to the extent required by those sponsors' regulations) if:

1. there is an immediate health hazard involved;
2. there is an immediate need to protect federal funds or equipment;
3. there is an immediate need to protect the interests of the Complainant or Respondent as well as their co-investigators and associates, if any;
4. it is probable that the alleged incident is going to be reported publicly;
5. the allegation involves an issue that could be publicly sensitive, e.g., a clinical trial; or
6. there is a reasonable indication of a possible federal criminal violation.  In this instance, if PHS funding is involved, Dartmouth should inform ORI within 24 hours of obtaining that information.

4. Interim administrative actions are taken, as appropriate, to protect federal funds and the public health, and to ensure that the purposes of the federal financial assistance are carried out.

F.  Cooperation by Persons Subject to Policy.

Persons subject to this Policy, as defined in Section I.B.1, are expected to cooperate with the Provost and other Dartmouth officials in the review of allegations and the conduct of Inquiries and Investigations.  Employees have an obligation to provide evidence to the Provost or other Dartmouth officials on Research Misconduct allegations.  Further, Dartmouth officials shall cooperate with federal research sponsors in their conduct of Inquiries and Investigations, their oversight of Dartmouth Inquiries and Investigations, and any follow up actions.

G.  Access to Attorneys and Advisers.

Respondents may consult with their own legal counsel or non-lawyer personal adviser (who is not a participant or witness in the case) to seek advice, but such counsel or adviser shall not participate in meetings with the Inquiry Panel or Investigation Committee without the prior approval of the chair of the Panel or Committee.

H.  Evidentiary Standards.

In accordance with federal regulations5, the following standards and burdens of proof apply to findings of Research Misconduct under this Policy:

1. Burden of Proof –
   1. Dartmouth has the burden of proof for making a finding of Research Misconduct.  
   2. The Respondent has the burden of proving any affirmative defenses, including honest error or differences of opinion, and of proving any mitigating factors that the Respondent wants the Inquiry Panel or Investigation Committee to consider.  Regardless of whether the Respondent carries its burden of proving honest error or difference of opinion, evidence submitted by the Respondent on that issue shall be considered in determining whether a finding of Research Misconduct has been established.
2. Standard of Proof -- A finding of Research Misconduct must be established by a Preponderance of the Evidence.
3. Absence of Records – The destruction, absence of, or Respondent's failure to provide Research Records adequately documenting the questioned research is evidence of Research Misconduct where it is established by a preponderance of the evidence that the Respondent intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly had research records and destroyed them, had the opportunity to maintain the records but did not do so, or maintained the records and failed to produce them in a timely manner, and that the Respondent's conduct constitutes a significant departure from accepted practices of the relevant research community. 

I.  Recourse to Council on Academic Freedom and Responsibility.

Any participant in a case under this Policy who has a concern about the procedures being followed shall have the right to raise this concern with a tenured member of the Council on Academic Freedom and Responsibility, who shall look into the matter and make such recommendations, if any, as are appropriate to address the participant's concerns.

J.  Allegations Not Made in Good Faith.

If at any time an Inquiry Panel or Investigation Committee determines that an allegation of Research Misconduct was not made in Good Faith, it shall report its determination to the Provost.  If the Provost, independently or on the basis of a report from an Inquiry Panel or Investigation Committee, determines that an allegation of Research Misconduct was not made in Good Faith, he or she shall determine whether any employment or disciplinary action should be recommended against the Complainant. 

K.  Early Termination of Proceedings.

If the matter involves federal research support and Dartmouth plans to terminate an Inquiry or Investigation prior to completion of all the steps required by this policy, the Provost shall notify responsible federal authorities of the planned termination and the reasons therefore.    

L.  Referral of Non-Research Misconduct Issues.

When the review of the allegation identifies non-research misconduct issues, the Provost should refer these matters to the proper Dartmouth or governmental authority for action.    

M.  Requirements for Reporting to Federal Authorities.

Certain federal research sponsors, such as HHS/PHS and NSF, require the reporting of significant actions in research misconduct matters, such as the institution's decision to initiate an Investigation, the institution's determination that it will not be able to complete an Inquiry or Investigation in the time specified under federal regulations, or the closing of a case on the basis that the Respondent has admitted guilt. The Provost, in consultation with the Office of Sponsored Projects and the Office of the General Counsel, shall comply with such reporting requirements.  

N.  Record Retention.

Records of Research Misconduct proceedings (including records of assessments and Inquiries that do not lead to Investigation) shall be retained for seven years after completion of proceedings, or such longer time period as may be required by the responsible federal agency.   

IV.   SUBMISSION OF ALLEGATIONS; PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT.

A.   Submission of Allegations.

    1.  Any individual who in Good Faith suspects that a person subject to this policy is committing or has committed Research Misconduct shall immediately report the information to (1) the Provost or (2) any of the following, who shall immediately report the information to the Provost: the Director of Research Integrity, the Office of Sponsored Projects, the Office of the General Counsel, the individual's department chair, or any faculty member or administrator who supervises the individual, or an HHS official. Allegations of Research Misconduct may be presented by any means of communication (written or oral statement or other communication). The Provost shall notify the Dean of the involved Faculty and, in cases involving externally-sponsored research, the Director of the Office of Sponsored Projects.  The Provost shall initiate the process for assessment of the allegations, as described below.    

    2.  Allegations involving the Provost should be submitted to the President.  In any case involving the Provost, the President or the President's designee shall carry out the responsibilities assigned to the Provost under this Policy.  

    3.  Allegations involving the President should be submitted to the Chair of the Board of Trustees.  In any case involving the President, the Chair of the Board of Trustees shall designate an outside party to carry out the responsibilities assigned to the Provost under this Policy.

    4.  Allegations against a Dean should be submitted to the Provost, and the Provost shall appoint an individual to carry out the responsibilities assigned to the Dean under this Policy. 

B.  Preliminary Assessment of Allegations to Determine if Inquiry is Warranted.

1.   Upon receiving an allegation of Research Misconduct, the Provost and the responsible Dean shall, if feasible, within 15 working days and without notice to any of the parties involved, consult with one another and determine whether an Inquiry is warranted.  If they are unable to agree on whether an Inquiry is warranted, the Provost shall appoint a tenured faculty member to participate in the assessment, and these three individuals shall determine by majority vote whether an Inquiry is warranted.

2.   An Inquiry is warranted if the allegation --

1. 1. 1. Falls within the definition of Research Misconduct under this Policy; and
      2. Is sufficiently credible and specific so that potential evidence of Research Misconduct may be identified.  

3.   If it is determined that an Inquiry is warranted, the Provost shall promptly:

1. 1. 1. appoint a panel of not more than three individuals to conduct the Inquiry and charge the Inquiry Panel (see Section V.B.1 below);
      2. secure the relevant Research Records (see Section V.A below);
      3. notify the Complainant, the Respondent, the General Counsel, and, in cases involving externally-sponsored research, the Director of the Office of Sponsored Projects (see Section V.C below); and
      4. provide the Respondent with a copy of the allegations and this Policy.

4.   There is not always sufficient information to permit Inquiry of an allegation.  For example, an allegation that a researcher's work should be subjected to general examination for possible misconduct is not sufficiently substantial or specific to initiate an Inquiry.  In the case of such a vague allegation, an effort should be made to obtain more information before initiating an Inquiry.  This information may be sought from any reasonable source, including the Complainant if known.  However, if further information is to be requested from the Respondent or other persons involved in the alleged misconduct, the Provost should secure the relevant Research Records before making such a request.

5.   Anonymous allegations of Research Misconduct will be considered only if sufficient evidence, in the judgment of the Provost and Dean, is provided to permit Inquiry of the allegations.

6.   If it is determined that an Inquiry is not warranted, the Provost shall so inform the Complainant in writing.  The Complainant may request reconsideration of this decision by addressing a request for reconsideration to the Provost within 15 working days of the date of the Provost's notice.  If the Complainant does not request reconsideration, or the Provost upon reconsideration reaffirms the initial determination that an Inquiry is not warranted, the Provost shall also inform the Respondent of the allegations and the action thereon. 

V.  INQUIRY.

If it is determined that an Inquiry is warranted, the following procedures shall apply:

A.  Sequestration of Research Records.

1. Immediate Sequestration -- If the relevant Research Records have not been secured at the assessment stage, the Provost shall immediately locate, collect, inventory, and secure them to prevent the loss, alteration, or fraudulent creation of records.  In addition to securing records under the control of the Respondent (see below), the Provost may need to sequester records from other individuals, such as coauthors, collaborators, or Complainants.  
2. Sequestration of Records from Respondent -- The Provost should notify the Respondent that an Inquiry is being initiated simultaneously with, and in any event no earlier than, the sequestration to prevent questions being raised later regarding missing documents or materials and to prevent accusations against the Respondent of tampering with or fabricating data or materials after the notification.  The Provost should obtain the assistance of the Respondent's supervisor and the General Counsel in this process, as necessary.  If the Respondent is not available, sequestration may begin in the Respondent's absence.  
3. Inventory of the Records -- A dated receipt should be signed by the sequestering official and the person from whom Research Records are collected, and a copy of the receipt should be given to the person from whom such records are taken.  If it is not possible to prepare a complete inventory list at the time of collection, one should be prepared as soon as possible, and then a copy should be given to the person from whom the Research Records were collected. As soon as practicable, a copy of each sequestered Record should be provided to the individual from whom the Record is taken, if requested.  
4. Where the Research Records constitute scientific instruments or other materials shared by a number of users, custody may be limited to copies of the data or evidence on such instruments, or copies of the other materials, so long as those copies are substantially equivalent to the originals.
5. Security and Chain of Custody -- The Provost shall keep original Research Records in a secure place.  Upon request, and to the extent feasible, the persons from whom Records are collected may be given access to their own original Records under the direct and continuous supervision of a Dartmouth official.  Questions about maintaining the chain of custody of records should be addressed to the General Counsel.
6. Data Retention Policy -- Persons subject to this Policy are reminded of Dartmouth's Data Retention Policy which requires, among other things, that research data generated while individuals are pursuing research studies as faculty, staff, or students of Dartmouth, and data generated by visiting scholars utilizing the facilities of Dartmouth , are to be retained by the institution for a period of three (3) years after submission of the final report on the research project for which the data were collected, unless a longer period is specified by the sponsor.  See http://www.dartmouth.edu/~osp/policies.html.
7. Additional research records and evidence may be discovered during the course of a research misconduct proceeding or may be needed to conduct the proceeding. The Provost shall undertake all reasonable and practical efforts to take custody of such additional research records and evidence. The procedures to be followed for sequestration during the proceeding are the same procedures that apply during the inquiry (see above V. A.)

B.  Designation of Inquiry Panel; Use of Outside Experts.

1. Within 15 working days, if feasible, of the determination that an Inquiry is warranted, the Provost, in consultation with other Dartmouth officials as appropriate, shall appoint the Inquiry Panel and designate one of its members to serve as chair.  The Inquiry Panel shall consist of no more than three individuals who do not have real or apparent conflicts of interest in the case, are unbiased, and have the necessary expertise to evaluate the evidence and issues related to the allegation, interview the principals and key witnesses, and conduct the Inquiry.  Ordinarily, the members of the Inquiry Panel will be drawn from within Dartmouth.  However, the Provost may designate Panel members from outside Dartmouth if necessary to obtain the relevant expertise and/or avoid conflicts of interest. 
2. The Inquiry Panel shall determine whether additional experts other than those appointed to the Panel need to be consulted during the Inquiry to provide special expertise regarding the analysis of evidence.  If consulted, such experts shall provide a strictly advisory function to the Panel and shall not vote.  At the request of the chair, they may interview witnesses and participate in Panel deliberations.  The experts chosen may be from inside or outside of Dartmouth. 

C.  Notification of Complainant and Respondent.

The Provost shall notify the Complainant and Respondent in writing of the opening of the Inquiry.  The notification to the Complainant and the Respondent should: identify the research project in question and the specific allegations; provide a copy of this Policy; refer to the definition of Research Misconduct; identify any external funding involved; list the names of the members of the Inquiry Panel (if appointed) and experts (if any); explain the opportunity to challenge the appointment of a member of the Inquiry Panel or expert for bias or conflict of interest; describe Dartmouth's policy on protecting the Complainant against retaliation; and describe the need to maintain confidentiality during the Inquiry and any subsequent proceedings.  The notification to the Respondent should, in addition: provide a copy of the allegation(s) and invite the Respondent to respond; explain the Respondent's opportunity to be interviewed, to present evidence to the Panel, and to comment on the draft Inquiry report; and address the Respondent's obligation to cooperate in the Inquiry and any subsequent proceedings.

D.  Purpose of Inquiry; Criteria Warranting Investigation.

1.  The purpose of an Inquiry is to conduct an initial review of the evidence to determine whether to conduct an Investigation.  Therefore, an Inquiry does not require a full review of all the evidence related to the allegations.

2.  An Investigation is warranted if there is:

1. 1. 1. a reasonable basis for concluding that the allegations fall within the definition of Research Misconduct under this Policy; and
      2. preliminary information-gathering and preliminary fact-finding from the Inquiry indicates that the allegations may have substance. 

E.  Inquiry Process.

The Inquiry Panel shall interview the Complainant, the Respondent, and key witnesses and examine relevant Research Records and materials. Supervised access to the data and/or documents should be available to the Respondent and the Complainant, and to other witnesses as appropriate. Witness interviews shall be summarized in writing by the Panel or staff to the Panel, and witnesses given the opportunity to review and correct such summaries of their own statements.

F.  Time for Completion of Inquiry.

The Inquiry must be completed within 60 calendar days of the appointment of the Panel unless circumstances clearly warrant a longer period and the Provost approves an extension.  If the Inquiry takes longer than 60 days to complete, the Inquiry Report must include documentation of the reasons for exceeding the 60 day period.

G.  Inquiry Report.

1.  The Inquiry Panel must prepare a written report that includes the following elements:

1. The name and position of the Respondent;
2. A description of the allegations of Research Misconduct;
3. A description of any external support for the research giving rise to the allegation, as well as any current support or pending applications with non-PHS agencies, including, for example, grant and contract numbers and references to grant applications;
4. References for any publications involving the research in question;
5. Any comments on the report by the Respondent, the Complainant, or a witness;
6. A recommendation to the Provost as to whether an Investigation is warranted, and a statement of the basis for this recommendation.  

2.  The Respondent shall be provided with a draft of the Inquiry Panel report and shall have 10 days to provide written comments on it.  The Inquiry Panel may also make relevant portions of the report available to the Complainant and/or witnesses (but not give them a copy), for comment.  In preparing its final report, the Panel shall consider and attach any comments made by the Respondent (and by the Complainant and/or witnesses, if applicable) on the draft Inquiry Panel report.

H.  Provost's Decision on Inquiry Panel's Recommendation.

The chair of the Inquiry Panel shall transmit the final Inquiry Report to the Provost, who shall decide whether the findings from the Inquiry warrant conducting an Investigation, under the standards set forth above. The Inquiry is completed when the Provost makes this determination.   

I.  Notice of Results of Inquiry; Report to Federal Authorities.

The Provost shall notify the Respondent, the Complainant, and appropriate Dartmouth officials in writing of the decision whether to proceed to an Investigation.  The notice to the Respondent must include a copy of the Inquiry Report.  To the extent required by federal regulation, the Provost shall provide notice to federal authorities concerning the Inquiry and the decision whether an Investigation is warranted.  For example, for PHS-funded research, regulations require that institutions provide ORI with the written finding of the Provost and a copy of the Inquiry Report. (Code of Federal Regulations, Vol. 42, Sec. 93.309) Any report to federal authorities will include a copy of the institutional policies and procedures under which the proceeding was conducted.

J.  Restoration of Respondent's Reputation Where Investigation Is Not Warranted.

In cases where it is determined that Investigation is not warranted, the Respondent may meet with the Provost to determine whether it is necessary for Dartmouth to take any steps to restore the Respondent's reputation.  See Section III.C.

VI.  INVESTIGATION.

A.  Designation of Investigation Committee; Use of Outside Experts.

1. If the Provost determines that an Investigation is warranted, they shall, within 15 working days after such determination, if feasible, cause an Investigation Committee to be appointed to explore the allegations in detail, to examine the evidence in depth, and to determine specifically whether Research Misconduct has been committed.   For cases in which the respondent is a student, a person holding an academic appointment, or a staff member in a Faculty or other academic unit, the Provost shall make appointments to the Investigation Committee in consultation with the responsible Dean.  In other cases, the Provost shall make appointments to the Investigation Committee in consultation with the responsible Vice President or responsible senior administrator. The Investigation Committee shall consist of at least three individuals who do not have real or apparent conflicts of interest in the case, are unbiased, and have the necessary expertise to evaluate the evidence and issues related to the allegation, interview the principals and key witnesses, and conduct the Investigation.  These individuals may be scientists, administrators, subject matter experts, lawyers, or other qualified persons, and they may be from inside or outside Dartmouth.  One of the members shall be appointed to serve as chair.  
2. If there is an allegation involving individuals from different categories of employees and/or students, the Provost shall confer with the appropriate Deans or other responsible officers listed above and determine a single, coordinated process for conducting the Investigation.
3. The Investigation Committee shall determine whether experts other than those appointed to the committee need to be consulted during the Investigation to provide special expertise regarding the analysis of evidence.  If consulted, such experts shall provide a strictly advisory function to the committee and shall not vote.  At the request of the chair, they may interview witnesses and participate in committee deliberations.  The experts chosen may be from inside or outside of Dartmouth. 

B.  Investigation Process.

In conducting its Investigation, the Investigation Committee shall:

1. Use diligent efforts to ensure that the Investigation is thorough and sufficiently documented and includes examination of all Research Records and evidence relevant to reaching a decision on the merits of the allegations;
2. Interview each Respondent, Complainant, and any other available person who has been reasonably identified as having information regarding any relevant aspects of the Investigation, including witnesses identified by the Respondent, and maintain detailed records.    The Committee shall record or transcribe each interview, provide the recording or transcript to the interviewee for correction, and include the recording or transcript in the record of the Investigation; and
3. Pursue diligently all significant issues and leads discovered, including any evidence of additional instances of possible Research Misconduct, and continue the Investigation to completion.

C.  Time Limit for Completing Investigation.

The Investigation Committee shall use its best efforts to complete the Investigation within 120 days.  If the Committee is unable to complete the Investigation within 120 days, the Provost may approve an extension of time.  An extension may require approval of the responsible federal agency.  For example, in cases involving PHS-funded research, it is necessary to obtain ORI approval to extend the Investigation beyond 120 days.  (See Code of Federal Regulations, Vol. 42, Sec. 93.311)

D.  Investigation Report.

1. The Investigation Report shall contain the same type of information as the Inquiry Report regarding the nature of the specific allegations, sources of external support, and Research Records and evidence reviewed.  In addition, the Investigation Report shall provide, for each separate allegation of Research Misconduct identified during the Investigation, a description of the specific allegation and a finding as to whether Research Misconduct did or did not occur, and if so: 

1. 1. identify the person(s) responsible for the misconduct;
   2. identify whether the Research Misconduct was falsification, fabrication, or plagiarism, and whether it was intentional, knowing, or reckless;
   3. summarize the facts and the analysis which supports the conclusion and consider the merits of any reasonable explanation by the Respondent;
   4. identify the specific external support involved, if any;
   5. identify whether any publications need corrections or retraction; and
   6. list any current support or known applications or proposals for support that the Respondent has pending with any federal agencies, regardless of their relationship to the misconduct.           

2. The Respondent shall be provided with a draft of the Investigation Committee report and concurrently a copy of, or supervised access to, the evidence on which the report is based.  The Respondent shall have 30 days (which time shall be part of the total time for the Investigation) to provide written comments on it.  The Investigation Committee may also make relevant portions of the report available to the Complainant and/or witnesses (but not give them a copy), for comment.  The Committee shall, in preparing its final report, consider and attach any comments made by the Respondent (and by the Complainant and/or witnesses, if applicable) on the draft Investigation Report.   

3. The chair of the Investigation Committee shall forward copies of the final Investigation Report to the Provost and the Respondent.  Following submission of the Investigation Report to the Provost and the Respondent, no additional evidence may be introduced into the record as a matter of course. 

E.  Appeal; Review by Provost.

1. Within 14 days of receipt of the Investigation Committee report, the Respondent may appeal in writing to the Provost solely on the following grounds:

1. that there has been a material failure to follow the procedures prescribed in this Policy and that the Respondent called the error to the attention of the Investigation Committee or had reasonable grounds for not doing so.  The appeal must specify the nature of the procedural error and why the Respondent believes it is likely to have affected the outcome of the Investigation; or
2. that the Respondent has new and material evidence that was not reasonably available to the Respondent during the Investigation.  The appeal must specify the nature of the new evidence, why it was not reasonably available during the Investigation, and why the Respondent believes it is likely to have affected the outcome of the Investigation.

2. If the Provost, independently or upon appeal by the Respondent, finds that (a) there was procedural error or the Respondent has new evidence that was not reasonably available during the Investigation, and (b) there is a substantial possibility that the error or new evidence may have affected the outcome of the Investigation, the Provost may refer the matter back to the Investigation Committee or to a new Investigation Committee appointed to reopen the case.  

3. In addition to the review procedure under Section E.2, the Provost has full discretion to return the report to the Investigation Committee for further fact-finding or analysis or may appoint a new Investigation Committee to reevaluate the record and submit supplemental findings. 

F.  Notification of Outside Parties.

When the report has been accepted, the Provost shall forward copies to the responsible federal agencies and may, as appropriate, notify other external sponsors, law enforcement agencies, professional societies, professional licensing boards, journals, collaborators of the Respondent, or other parties with a legitimate need to know the outcome of the proceeding. 

Specifically, to the extent required by federal regulation, the Provost shall provide notice to federal authorities whether the findings of the Investigation were accepted, whether Research Misconduct was found have occurred, and if so, who was found responsible and if there are any completed or pending administrative actions.  For example, for PHS-funded research, regulations require that institutions provide ORI with the written finding of the Provost and a copy of the Inquiry Report. (Code of Federal Regulations, Vol. 42, Sec. 93.309)

VII.  COLLEGE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION AS A RESULT OF INVESTIGATION.

A. If it is determined that Research Misconduct occurred, the Provost, in consultation with the Dean and other responsible Dartmouth officials, shall recommend the appropriate actions to be taken according to applicable Dartmouth disciplinary procedures for faculty, staff, and students.  The recommended actions may include:

1. withdrawal or correction of all pending or published abstracts and papers emanating from the research where Research Misconduct was found;
2. removal of the Respondent from the particular project, letter of reprimand, special monitoring of future work, probation, suspension, salary reduction, or initiation of steps leading to possible rank reduction or termination of employment;
3. restitution of funds as appropriate.

B.  If it is determined that no Research Misconduct occurred, the Respondent shall meet with the Provost to discuss how the Respondent's record shall be cleared and what reasonable efforts will be taken to restore the Respondent's reputation.  See Section III.C. 

VIII. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.

A. Termination of Employment or Resignation Prior to Completion of Inquiry or Investigation.

If the Respondent, without admitting to misconduct, elects to resign from Dartmouth after an allegation of Research Misconduct has been received, proceedings under this Policy shall continue.  If the Respondent refuses to participate in the process after resignation, the Inquiry Panel and/or Investigation Committee shall use its best efforts to reach a conclusion concerning the allegations, noting in its report the Respondent's failure to cooperate and its effect on the review of the matter.

IX. EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICY, AMENDMENTS AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

This Policy may be revoked or amended by Dartmouth, in whole or in part, from time to time, via the Provost, who is authorized to make revocations or amendments on behalf of Dartmouth, in consultation with the Council on Sponsored Activities. Any such revocation or amendment shall become effective upon adoption by the Provost, or as of such other time as such person shall specify and will be reflected in the current version of the Policy posted. Questions or disputes regarding the application, interpretation or implementation of this Policy shall be resolved by the Provost; the decision of such person on the matter shall be binding on Dartmouth and all individuals subject to this Policy. 

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* Reflecting U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service Policies on Research Misconduct – Final Rule, Code of Federal Regulations, Vol. 42, Part 93 (Federal Register, Vol. 70, p. 28370 (May 17, 2005)).

1Defined terms are capitalized throughout this document.

2This Policy applies to all of the faculties and departments of Dartmouth College, including but not limited to the Faculties of Arts and Sciences and Medicine, the Tuck School of Business, and the Thayer School of Engineering.

3In December, 2000, the federal Office of Science and Technology Policy ("OSTP") promulgated a revised definition of research misconduct for adoption by each of the federal agencies that conduct and support research.  Educational institutions are required to apply this definition with respect to federally-supported research.  See Federal Register, Vol. 65, p. 76260 (Dec. 6, 2000).

4Code of Federal Regulations, Volume 42, Sec. 50.103(d)(2).

5See U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service Policies on Research Misconduct – Final Rule, Code of Federal Regulations, Vol. 42, Part 93 (Federal Register, Vol. 70, p. 28370 (May 17, 2005)).