Policy on Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (S94-8)

San José State University encourages faculty involvement in research and training projects, scholarship, and other creative activities. Policy S94-8 covers the following topics:

Sources of research funds at SJSU
Overview of sponsored research
Role of the SJSU Foundation
Faculty eligibility to serve as Principal Investigator
Classified and proprietary research
Release time and overload

Full text of S94-8

Academic Freedom and Professional Responsibility (S99-8)

San José State University has a responsibility to society to defend and to maintain academic and intellectual freedom. To ensure that those engaged in academic pursuits can effectively execute their responsibilities, SJSU faculty must remain free of the forces of special interests and political interference if they are to fulfill society's expectations and their educational responsibilities. Through their responsible professional conduct, the faculty promote and protect academic freedom.

Full text of S99-8

Scientific Misconduct (S99-10)

As stated in S99-8, all members of the San José State University community are expected to perform their scholarly and scientific activities with the highest ethical standards, honesty, and integrity. Instances of misconduct in science, while rare in occurrence, threaten the academic commitment to truth. San José State University will not tolerate misconduct in any aspect of research or scholarly endeavor and will vigorously investigate allegations of misconduct, taking all reasonable steps to protect the rights and interests of individuals whose work or performance is questioned.

Full text of S99-10

Conflict of Interest Policy (S99-11)

An increased risk of conflict of interest may occur when faculty are funded by industry or by a sponsor which supports a related project. The conflict of interest policy regulates potential risk in order to protect funded research from bias.

Investigators must disclose significant financial interests at the time of proposal submission and update this information annually or as new interests are obtained during the life of the award.

The Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research will review disclosures, assess their potential for conflicts of interest, and develop resolution strategies with the investigator to manage, reduce or eliminate such conflicts.

Conflict of Interest form
Full text of S99-11

Intellectual/Creative Property (F98-3)

Patent Policy

Research and other sponsored projects may result in the development of inventions by faculty, students, or staff. These inventions are often developed using University resources and facilities. SJSU's patent policy stipulates that all such inventions belong to the University.

When a discovery is made which may be patentable, a disclosure describing the invention is prepared and forwarded to the Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research or the Foundation. The University reviews the disclosure to determine its patentability and marketability. If the University wishes to proceed, an agreement concerning rights will be reached between the University and the inventor.

If the University determines that the invention is not likely to lead to a marketable product, it is returned to the inventor who then has full ownership of the invention. SJSU's patent policy details the procedures of filing disclosures, pursuing a patent, ownership of a patent, and division of any proceeds.

Copyright Policy

Copyright is the ownership and control of intellectual property in original works of authorship. SJSU's copyright policy provides that all rights in copyright shall remain with the creator unless the material is prepared pursuant to a specific University or CSU assignment, or an externally funded project. Terms of ownership must be negotiated in advance of full execution of any agreement.

Full text of F98-3

Organized Research and Training Units (S00-8)

Separate research and training units may be organized within the University when there is a clear indication that they will aid the research, teaching, and public service of participating faculty and will continue on a reasonably permanent basis.

The creation of such units must be proposed to the Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, via the appropriate college dean. Final recommendation and approval is provided by the Research Committee of the Academic Senate and President. The policy for Organized Research and Training Units outlines proposal procedures and rules of administration.

Full text of S00-8

Human Subjects (F90-4)

Administrative responsibility for the protection of human subjects at SJSU rests with the Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research and the Institutional Review Board Human Subjects. This committee reviews proposed research involving human subjects in order to ensure full protection of their rights. Human subject involvement is constituted by physical participation in an activity, tissue donation, or other provision of information directly, indirectly, or through a third party.

Protocols should be received by the Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research at least 30 days before the funding agency's deadline for submission. If a sponsor funds the project before approval is obtained, work may not commence until approval is received.

Full text of F90-4

Animal Subjects (F97-6)

The University complies with all federal, state, university, and other regulatory requirements related to the acquisition, care, use, and treatment of animals in the performance of instruction and research. The campus veterinarian, in association with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), is responsible for oversight and review of all issues related to animal care, facilities and procedures.

The faculty researcher must submit the animal protocol for review to the Manager of the Animal Care Facility, College of Science, who will have it reviewed and approved by members of IACUC. If a sponsor funds the project before approval is obtained, work may not commence until approval is received.

Full text of F97-6

Classified/Proprietary Research and Publishing Research Findings (F69-12)

The University cannot accept any grant or contract that involves classified research, as stated by Academic Senate Policy S69-12. The University will accept no external support for research that restrains the freedom of the University or the Project Director from disclosing the existence of a grant or contract, the nature of the inquiry, or the identify of the sponsor.

Results of all research approved by the University must be freely publishable. In special circumstances the Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research may negotiate in advance to delay publication and/or presentation for a modest period – not to exceed 180 days.

University personnel may sign confidentiality agreements allowing access to privileged material critical to a sponsored research project. They must be free however to report on the general results of the research project within a reasonable time period.

Full text of F69-12

More Information

For more information please contact the Director, Office of Sponsored Programs, Jerri Carmo, at jcarmo@foundation.sjsu.edu or 408-924-1429.