Rule 3361:10-17-05 | Conduct and ethics: research misconduct.
(A) The university of Cincinnati is committed to the ethical conduct of research. Each person engaged in scholarly research under the auspices of the university, including those charged with the supervision or reporting of research conducted by others, is expected to adhere to the highest professional standards of intellectual honesty and integrity in proposing, performing, and reviewing research, in reporting research results, and in the public exhibition, display, or performance of creative work. Supervisors of researchers shall bear responsibility for ethical conduct of research wherever the supervised researchers engage in research.
(B) This rule applies to all forms of scholarly research conducted by university faculty, staff, students, and volunteers under the auspices of the university of Cincinnati, regardless of funding amount or source.
(C) For the purpose of this rule, research misconduct is defined in applicable state or federal laws, regulations, sponsor policies, or the university policy on reviewing allegations of research misconduct.
(D) Allegations of research misconduct must be reported to the university's research integrity officer without delay. The research integrity officer in consultation with the office of general counsel shall ensure that all allegations that merit investigation are reviewed by a committee of unconflicted experts. The research integrity officer shall work with the dean of the college in which the allegations arise, or their designee, to identify appropriate experts to act as the investigation committee.
(E) Retaliation against an individual for reporting, in good faith, allegations of research misconduct, or for an individual's good faith participation in an investigation thereof, is prohibited. Retaliation is a serious violation that can subject the offender to sanctions independent of the merits of the research misconduct allegations. The university retains the right to sequester any and all records and evidence, regardless of where the evidence is stored, if any university resources were used to generate such records and evidence created within the course and scope of employment with or studies at the university.
(F) Research misconduct that has been established by a preponderance of evidence in accordance with applicable laws, university policies, and this rule may constitute grounds for administrative and disciplinary actions according to the associated rules, policies and procedures applicable to university students, volunteers, faculty, and staff. When students are involved in allegations of research misconduct, the confidentiality provisions applicable to educational records will govern the disclosure of any educational records.
(G) The president shall appoint the research integrity officer who, in consultation with the office of general counsel, shall ensure proper conduct of inquiries into or investigations of allegations of research misconduct in accordance with this rule and all applicable laws and policies. This rule, and any policies and procedures developed in furtherance of this rule, are intended to be consistent with sponsor policies and regulatory law governing research misconduct. The university shall follow and comply with applicable sponsor policies and regulatory law. Any policies developed under this rule must be developed in accordance with this rule, other university rules and policies, in consultation with the office of general counsel, in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, and with approval of the vice president for research and the vice provost for academic affairs. The research integrity officer shall ensure the university's review of allegations of research misconduct is in compliance with relevant laws, regulations, rules, and policies, including any required reporting to regulators and sponsors.
(H) The dean of the college in which allegations occur, or their designee, shall review any investigation committee report and shall make the final determination on any findings of research misconduct. The dean shall inform the executive vice president for academic affairs and provost and the president of any findings of research misconduct under this rule. The dean shall determine whether to pursue any institutional actions as a result of the dean's final determination.
Last updated October 30, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Supplemental Information
Amplifies: 3361
Prior Effective Dates: 6/10/1990, 8/23/1991, 10/28/1998, 10/20/1999, 6/17/2003, 3/21/2005, 2/15/2008