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• Brown University Policy for Responding to Allegations of Research Misconduct (Offsite)
• Employee Responsibilities and Rights (Offsite)

Policies on Investigations

It is the policy of Brown University to investigate specific allegations of employee misconduct or allegations of fraud involving University accounts or operations, and to hold employees responsible for breaches of ethical behavior or illegal acts committee against the University or on University property. The University will conduct these investigations in a manner that protects the civil rights of those who may be the subject of allegations.

Employees who in good faith report suspected criminal activity or the disregard of regulations or policy applicable to University activities are protected against retaliation by the University for making such a report.

The information above and below are excerpts from the Employee Responsibilities and Rights handbook. See links to the left for the full text of the handbook and for information concerning investigations of allegations of research misconduct.

All employees have an obligation to report to the University Auditor, or other appropriate administrative officer, any suspected theft, fraud, embezzlement, destruction of property, or another irregularity causing a loss, and to cooperate in its investigation.

Employees’ responsibilities in an investigation involve cooperating fully, responding to auditors or investigators truthfully, and supplying requested information and documents without fabrication, destruction, or alteration.

It is also important that the Office of the General Counsel have early knowledge of the initiation of investigations by governmental entities to determine appropriate levels of involvement, participation, and access to University personnel, information or files, or to draft responses to written questions.

If it should appear that an incident of scientific misconduct may have occurred in the Brown community with regard to any instances of alleged misconduct, fraud, or unethical behavior arising out of the performance of scholarly research, the matter should be reported immediately to the Vice President for Research who will be responsible for implementing the University’s procedure for following up on allegations of misconduct.