Charge to the Committee on Research

Presents the general charge and the specific duties of the Committee on Research, a Standing Committee of the Academic Council with responsibility for the formulation of policy related to research at Stanford. Membership, reporting responsibilities, and meetings are discussed.

1. General Charge

The Committee on Research, subject to the Charter and Rules of the Senate, shall formulate policy on research, including policy governing the procedures to be used in the University for reviewing and approving externally sponsored projects, proposals and awards. The Committee shall review the operations of the University's principal officer for Research with respect to the implementation of such policy. The committee shall review implementation of such policy and practices that affect faculty ability to do research and the manner in which research is conducted and reported, as the need arises.

2. Specific Duties

The Committee shall receive the recommendations of the University's principal officer for Research, and shall determine:

1. The standards of acceptability of proposals or awards tendered by PIs or sponsoring agencies, with respect to prevailing policy on research approved by the Senate of the Academic Council
2. The administrative system for deciding the status of individual proposals or awards asserted to be in conflict with prevailing policy on research approved by the Senate of the Academic Council
3. Policies governing the Committee's consideration of questions or complaints raised by research personnel regarding the administration of externally sponsored projects
4. The criteria for judging the appropriateness of the level of University services, and the overhead rate, necessary for support of research

3. Reporting Responsibilities

The Chair of the Committee is charged specifically with the following duties:

1. Keeping the Academic Secretary apprised of the substantive issues under consideration by the Committee, and reporting in writing to the Academic Secretary within seven days of the Committee action, any policy decision or recommendation which may require Senate endorsement.

2. Submitting to the Academic Secretary no later than October 1 of the following academic year, one copy of a written Annual Report of the work of the Committee during the year just completed. The Annual Report should observe the current Guidelines for the Preparation of Reports and Proposals to the Senate of the Academic Council.

4. Membership

The Committee shall consist of twelve voting members including seven members of the Academic Council, one member of the Academic Staff-Research, one postdoctoral scholar, at least two doctoral students, and one additional student. The University's principal officer for Research and a deputy of that officer shall be ex officio members of the committee without vote.

5. Minimum Number of Meetings

The Committee shall meet at least six times during the academic year, one of which meetings shall be an open hearing as provided in the Senate Resolution of April 24, 1969.

6. Staff Support

The University's principal officer for Research shall be responsible for providing staff and secretarial assistance to the Committee.