Forms, Policies & Procedures

EthicsPoint Reporting Portal for Research

Secure and Anonymous webportal for reporting misconduct in the following situations:

• Conflict of Interest – Research Concerns related to violations of conflict of interest policies governing researchers.
• Data Privacy – Refers to the technical, contractual, administrative and physical steps taken by the institution to protect against unauthorized access to and disclosure of personally identifiable data of students, faculty and other third parties that we possess. Includes the theft of, and intentional or inadvertent loss of such data.
• Environmental and Safety Matters- Environmental and Safety Matters Failure to meet the requirements of any applicable law, rule or regulation relating to the environment, working conditions or workplace safety, including, without limitation, regulations promulgated by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and similar agencies in other jurisdictions. Includes a failure to inform supervisors regarding failure to meet the requirements.
• Fraud – Research – The intentional misrepresentation or concealment of information in order to deceive, mislead, or acquire something of value. A fraud is an intentional deception perpetrated to secure an unfair gain.
• Human or Animal Research – Inappropriate use of humans or animals involved in research.
• Intellectual Property Infringement, Misappropriation or Disclosure – Any unauthorized or inappropriate use, misappropriation or disclosure of confidential information (in any form) or intellectual property belonging to the institution or any institution’s customer, supplier or business partner, including, without limitation, any intellectual property protected under any U.S. or other laws relating to copyrights, patents or trade secrets. Also includes any unauthorized or inappropriate use of any institution computer system.
• Research Grant Misconduct or Misappropriation of Costs – Unallowable or questionable expenditures or cost transfers to government grants, contracts or other agreements. Any expenditures or cost transfers that may be in violation of OMB Circular A-21.
• Scientific Misconduct – Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or other practices that seriously deviate from those that are commonly accepted within the scientific community for proposing, conducting, or reporting research. Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reprinting them. Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment or processes, or changing or omitting data or results, such that the research is not accurately reported in the research record. Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit.
• Other Research Matters – Other matters of concern not specifically outlined above.

Research Misconduct

1. SCOPE OF PURPOSE
   The Federal Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) defines research misconduct as “fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or other practices that seriously deviate from those that are commonly accepted within the scientific community for proposing, performing, or reporting research results.” It is the policy of the University of Delaware to abide by the OSTP policy in all University research. Any intentional distortion of research data or intentional distortions of information or conclusions derived from research data constitutes misconduct in research and is prohibited by University Policy. …

The complete policy and more can be found on the General Counsel’s web site.