Consistent with the values expressed in the Bates College mission statement of rigorous scholarship, intellectual discovery, and informed civic action, the College holds its faculty, research staff, and students to the highest standards of professional probity and responsibility in the conduct of research. Bates seeks to prevent any instances of research misconduct.

To this end, Bates provides training in the responsible and ethical conduct of research (RECR training) and takes seriously allegations of research misconduct involving a Bates faculty member or research associate on the staff of the College.

Quick Links

• RECR Training Plan
• RECR Training Checklist
• Bates College Research Misconduct Policy and Procedures (see page 92)

RECR Training

Overview

All investigators are encouraged to review the College’s institutional training plan for Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (pdf). Participation is mandatory for all PIs and senior personnel, students, and postdoctoral research associates on projects funded by the National Science Foundation and for all personnel supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health awards for which RECR training is required (including training awards and others as specified by the solicitation).  PIs on such projects are encouraged to use the resources detailed in this plan to devise their own project-specific plans. PIs on projects with other sources of external support are also encouraged to avail themselves of these resources in training students and others under their supervision.

Training is provided via two mechanisms:  

1. The College maintains a subscription to online training offered by CITI (https://www.citiprogram.org/).  The CITI program directs Bates researchers to RECR, Research Security, IACUC, IRB, and IBC training modules as needed based on the specific needs of the individual’s career stage and project(s).  See instructions for accessing CITI training below.
2. Faculty frequently provide information and mentorship to students working in their labs on topics relating to RECR. Faculty are encouraged to make note, in laboratory records or other well-maintained files, of occasions on which they have instructed individual students or laboratory groups in topics relating to the Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research.

Faculty members conducting research are responsible for tailoring RECR training plans to the specific requirements of their research projects and ensuring that students and key personnel meet all applicable requirements.  

Faculty are responsible for providing documentation of RECR training for each student and others they supervise to ORSP.  Please download and complete the Bates RECR Training Checklist for each trainee, then email the completed and signed checklist to orsp@bates.edu.

CITI RECR Training Access Instructions

1. Go to https://www.citiprogram.org/login, then click on the REGISTER tab if you do not have an account already established. Follow the registration prompts to complete the account setup.

2. Once logged in, click on the “Courses” page.

3. Click on one of the “View Courses” links for the course listing of interest.

4. Click on “Add a Course” which takes you to the course enrollment questions.   

5. In response to the question “Which of the following training would you like to complete?” select the following courses, then click “Next”:

• Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
• US Export Control Regulations
• Research Security

6. Select the appropriate category (Faculty or Student) and “Safe Research Environments” then click Next

7. If you selected “Faculty” on the previous page, you will then be prompted to select your discipline.

8. On the next page, in response to the Research Security prompt, select the first option “Research Security Training (Combined Course) A Condensed and combined single-module course based on the NSF’s Research Security Training.  Then click “Next”.

9. You should now be enrolled in all of the required modules.  Click “Start Now” button on the courses to begin your training.  Please address any questions to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (orsp@bates.edu).

Research Misconduct

In line with the values of Bates College and with all applicable federal regulations governing the conduct of research (including but not limited to 42 CFR Parts 50 and 93), the Bates College Research Misconduct Policy and Procedures (pg. 92-100) details the steps to be followed in response to allegations of research misconduct involving a Bates faculty member or research associate on the staff of the College.

Allegations of students’ misconduct shall be referred to the dean of students for consideration according to established College procedures. In cases where alleged student misconduct is in connection with work on a federal grant, the dean of students shall notify the dean of the faculty of the progress of proceedings so that any required reports to the relevant federal agency can be made in a timely manner.