Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship

The Director of Research Compliance has established a Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship (RCRS) program on the LUC Lakeside Campuses to foster a culture of ethical conduct, consistent with the LUC Mission Statement:

We promote the use of ethical principles in personal decision-making and professional behavior.

The RCRS program comprises three components. First, the program includes a no-credit course that is required for all faculty and students engaged in research involving NSF and NIH funding, when mandated by the terms of the grant. Other federal agencies may also include RCRS requirements in their award announcements. In addition to providing a basic foundation for every course participant, the program will partner with individual departments throughout the University to sponsor and promote presentations, seminars, and workshops that cater to faculty, staff, and students. Individual faculty who wish to incorporate core components of the RCRS program into their course syllabi are welcome to work with ORS in doing so. Second, ORS will sponsor an “Ethics Series” throughout the academic year. The intent here is to cover ethical issues and standards related directly to specific disciplines. Third, an online website will serve as a resource for faculty, staff, students and other members of Loyola and will feature key components of research integrity and ethics as well as important links to relevant agencies and institutions involved with RCR. Loyola RCRS program includes instruction in core areas recommended by the Office of Research Integrity and scientific societies. These include:

• Research Misconduct
• Conflicts of Interest and Commitment
• Data Management Practices: data ownership, collection, protection and sharing
• Mentor and Trainee responsibilities
• Collaborative Research
• Responsible authorship and publication practices
• Peer review
• The Protection of Human Subjects
• The Welfare of Laboratory Animals

Consistent with its mission and core values, Loyola also offers additional RCRS instruction on research ethics and teaching ethics.

Loyola University of Chicago is committed to ensuring that all its faculty and students have the opportunity to be properly trained in the ethical and responsible conduct of research and scholarly integrity and are held to the highest possible ethical standards. In order to ensure each faculty and student at Loyola has the basic foundation needed to learn and apply the ethical standards of their discipline/profession, he or she is encouraged to complete or register for the no-credit Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship course (UNIV 370) prior to involvement in funded research activity involving the NSF, NIH, or any other federal agency requiring training. Beginning Fall 2011, the Graduate School requires RCRS training for all matriculating PhD students and master’s students who are writing a thesis. Graduate Program Directors in non-thesis master’s programs may recommend RCRS training for their students. In addition, any faculty member who is required by a granting agency to receive Responsible Conduct in Research training will be required to receive this training. Faculty members involved in formal research (including a research project funded or supported by an internal grant) are strongly encouraged to receive RCRS training.

Students in programs taught at the Loyola University Health System who would otherwise be affected by this policy are welcome to take the equivalent course in Bioethics (BMSC 405), taught by the faculty of the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy in place of the UNIV 370 requirement.

Visiting students (defined as students that are not enrolled in a Loyola University Chicago degree or certificate program) and students in programs that do not require them to be "on-campus" at any point (“Online” degree or certificate programs) can satisfy the RCRS training requirement by completing the RCRS CITI Program. Completion of this program should be done prior to the student’s involvement in formal research activity and the RCRS CITI Program completion certificate should be on file with the Loyola University Chicago Office of Research Services. Please forward copies of CITI training records to Andrew Ellis, Director of Research Compliance, at aellis5@luc.edu.

Students are encouraged to complete this course early in their academic program. Students are highly encouraged to attend and participate in the Ethics Series programming held throughout the year.

For purposes of applying this policy, research means a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Activities which meet this definition constitute research for purposes of this policy, whether or not they are conducted or supported under a program which is considered research for other purposes. For example, some demonstration and service programs may include research activities. Typically, thesis and dissertation projects required by an academic program to receive a degree are considered research activities.