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.

Adopted by Senate: October 25, 1995
Approved by President: January 3, 1996