Loyola University 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 is requiring RCRS training for all matriculating PhD students and master’s students enrolled in thesis-oriented programs. 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 online RCR 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 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
