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*  Status as of Octboer 1995:                                        *
*  Approved by the Senate and transmitted to the Administration      *
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MICHIGAN
TECHNOLOGICAL
UNIVERSITY                                    University Senate
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                       PROPOSAL 33-95

                     RESEARCH STATEMENT  


Research is an important contributor to the content and vitality of
university education and to the prosperity of the industries and the
population of the State.  It is, therefore, an indispensable function of
Michigan Technological University to encourage, foster, and conduct
research.

Research at the University

Research at (or in the name of) the University must meet some of the
following criteria  (see Board Policy 18:1):

1.   Encourage scholarship and assist and improve education.
2.   Discover and disclose new knowledge.
3.   Promote the utilization of new discoveries for the public benefit.
4.   Aid, encourage, and support industry particularly within Michigan.
5.   Support the research objectives of State and Federal agencies or
     private sponsors.

The following requirements must also be met:

1.   Individuals involved in the research must execute the appropriate
     Patent, Research, and Other Proprietary Rights Agreement.
2.   The Research and Graduate School Office ensures that research
     proposals from, and contracts with, University units meet sponsors'
     and University requirements and guidelines; such proposals/contracts
     must receive approval from the head of the University unit and from
     the Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School (or in
     his/her absence, the Executive Vice President and Provost, the
     Secretary to the Board of Control, or the President) before release to
     any organization or agency external to the University.
3.   The Advancement office ensures that proposals to foundations meet both
     foundation and University requirements. Such proposals must receive
     approval of the head of the University unit and from the Vice
     President for Advancement before release to any organization external
     to the University. Proposals requiring a University match or seeking
     funding for $10,000 or more must also be approved by the Vice Provost
     for Research and Dean of the Graduate School prior to release from the
     University.
4.   Arrangements for satisfaction of contractual obligations set forth in
     contracts or legal agreements with outside agencies, if any, must be
     completed.
5.   The work must conform with policies relating to the conduct of
     research at Michigan Technological University.  This includes (but is
     not limited to) policies relating to scientific misconduct, conflict
     of interest, laboratory operations, financial obligations, and
     protection of animal and human subjects.



Sponsored Research

State and Federal agencies, private foundations, and industry support a
significant share of research undertaken at the University.  Michigan
Technological University, therefore, will accept such research projects
consistent with the educational objectives and research goals of the
University.

Students may work on industrial or proprietary research provided that such
an arrangement does not violate the freedom of students to publish the
results of their theses on a timely basis.  If there is any possibility
that limitations on a student's freedom to publish may exist, other than a
modest delay for patent filings to protect proprietary rights, the project
should not be used as a thesis topic and whether the project is appropriate
work for academic faculty should be seriously questioned.  A faculty member
may waive the right to publish certain research results, but unpublished
work, regardless of its quality, will not substitute for published research
in assessing an individual's professional development, academic status,
promotion, or tenure.  Each individual faculty member is responsible for
insuring that his/her research is suitable for consideration during
promotion and tenure decisions. Faculty members are therefore cautioned to
carefully review departmental and college promotion and tenure guidelines
before agreeing to any restraints on publication.


Individual Research Effort

The University supports research generated by the intellectual curiosity of
its faculty, staff, and students and recognizes that individual research is
commonly part of one's professional development.  University facilities are
available (outside of scheduled class and laboratory hours) for such
activities and their use for experiments and refinement of such research is
encouraged.  Opportunities for externally funded research differ from field
to field, but it is the faculty or staff member's responsibility to insure
that whenever possible, individual research efforts lead to external
funding.

The department chair or immediate supervisor must approve the use of
laboratory facilities for personal investigations, as well as the use of
equipment, materials, and supplies.  The individual researcher may be
subject to reasonable charges for these materials and supplies.

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Development of Proposal

Sept 1994:  Senate President Bornhorst requests the Research Policy
            Committee to review the research statement from the Faculty
            Handbook.

Apr 1995:  Research Policy Committee proposes revisions to the research
           statement.

Apr 1995:  Senate President Bornhorst designates revisions Senate Proposal
           33-95.

Oct 1995:  Proposal 33-95 is approved by the Senate.

Oct 1995: Proposal 33-95 is transmitted to the Administration.

.