Tarleton State University policies governing research are in accord with policies established by the Texas A&M University System.

Tarleton

Use of Human Subjects

Texas A&M University System policy specifies that research using human subjects must comply with the ethical principals and standards of the Belmont Report and that all research on human participants must be approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) before the research begins. Even research involving paper-pencil questionnaires or surveys is subject to IRB review. Failure to receive IRB approval can have serious consequences, including withdrawal of all Federal funding from the university.

Use of Vertebrate Animal Subjects

Any research or instructional use of live vertebrate animals by faculty, staff or students require approval by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

Use of Recombinant DNA

On behalf of the University, principal investigators are responsible for fully complying with CITI Guidelines in conducting any recombinant DNA research. “All proposals for recombinant DNA research, unless specifically exempted by the CITI Guidelines must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) prior to initiating work. This requirement includes, but is not limited to, recombinant products, DNA probes, vector systems, and related material received from outside sources.”

Additional University Policies

A&M System

A&M System Policy and Regulations

  • Conflict of Interest Policy: “purpose is to protect the credibility and integrity of System researchers and staff, as well as component universities and agencies themselves, so that public trust and confidence in their sponsored research activities are maintained.”
  • Intellectual Property Management and Commercialization
  • Ethics in Research and Scholarship: “The credibility of academic research and scholarship depends critically on the integrity with which it is designed, conducted, documented, and communicated. As institutions of higher education committed to the advancement of scholarship, the System and each of its components are responsible for promoting academic practices that encourage honesty and scientific integrity, and develop rules and procedures for dealing with allegations or other indications of fraud or serious misconduct.”
  • Administration of Sponsored Agreements – Research and Other: House Bill 1295, effective September 1, 2015, amended requirements under Texas Education Code, sections 51.954 and 51.955, for full and conspicuous disclosure of research sponsors on all oral and written communications intended for public consumption. Any faculty member, employee, or appointee of the TAMU System or its members must comply with this requirement. Under this statute, sponsored research is considered to be any activity conducted under contract with an external individual or entity, where the external entity has provide any level of monetary, material, or in-kind support for the research. Public communications may include but not necessarily limited to oral administrative, legislative, regulatory, or judicial testimony, printed materials including magazine, journals, newsletters, briefs, brochures, or web publications. Conspicuous disclosure implies that the sponsor’s identity must be presented in a manner that a reasonable person would notice or be capable of hearing

A&M System Uniform Guidance

We encourage PI’s with active grants to review each of the links to the guidance documents and the OSRS website below and to share this information with staff responsible for completing purchases using sponsored project funding. Anyone developing proposal budgets should be aware of the following information:

State

Federal