Statement Regarding Decision Of Standing Committe On Research Misconduct

By Pauline Hale, CU-Boulder Spokesperson
Sept. 9 , 2005

CU-Boulder Interim Provost Susan Avery has been notified of the decision by the Standing Committee on Research Misconduct regarding allegations related to Professor Ward Churchill. Following a review by its inquiry subcommittee, the Standing Committee has decided that seven of the nine allegations considered warrant full investigation.

The seven allegations of research misconduct referred for further investigation include alleged instances of plagiarism, misuse of others' work, falsification and fabrication of authority. These allegations remain unchanged from the time of referral by the Interim Chancellor.

The remaining two allegations - regarding misrepresentation of ethnicity and copyright infringement - were not regarded as appropriate for further investigation under the definition of research misconduct.

Three other allegations brought in recent weeks by the family of Professor Churchill's deceased wife, Leah Kelly, were not considered by the committee because they did not fall within the definition of research misconduct.

The next step will be for the Standing Committee to appoint an investigative committee to conduct the full investigation. The investigative committee will be comprised of three to five members.

The inquiry subcommittee spent four months investigating research misconduct charges against the professor. Committee members studied documents, consulted with scholars and met with Professor Churchill. The committee understood the critical importance of addressing allegations of research misconduct, which ranks among the most serious charges that can be brought against a faculty member. We wish to thank all the members of the subcommittee for their dedicated and thorough work on this difficult task. Also, we extend our thanks to the Standing Committee for its ongoing contributions to ensuring the integrity of our research activities.

Due to strict confidentiality requirements of the process, we are not able to comment further on specific details of the work by the subcommittee or Standing Committee.

FACT SHEET
Research Misconduct Investigative Process

• Once the Standing Committee on Research Misconduct decides that a full investigation is warranted, the next step is for the Standing Committee to initiate the investigation, including forming an investigative committee. This committee should be appointed within the next 30 days.
• The investigative committee is an ad hoc committee of three to five members, including a chair.
• Members of the investigative committee are appointed by the Standing Committee, in consultation with the Provost, complainant and respondent.
• Members of the investigative committee may be selected from inside or outside the university, but may not include members of the Standing Committee on Research Misconduct.
• In selecting investigative committee members, attention must be paid to avoiding conflicts of interest and to including appropriate research expertise to evaluate the allegations under review.
• The investigation is to be completed within 120 calendar days from the date of initiation.
• The investigative committee may reach one of three conclusions:
  • Finding of misconduct
  • Finding of no culpable conduct, but serious research error
  • Finding of no misconduct and no serious research error
• Results of the full investigation will be provided to the Standing Committee on Research Misconduct, which will consider the findings in making its recommendations to campus administration.
• If research misconduct is found, the Provost's Office will determine and take appropriate action, within university rules and procedures for faculty.
• Depending on the seriousness of misconduct found, potential sanctions could range from warning to dismissal. Other examples of disciplinary action include reprimand, reduction in pay or suspension.
• If any form of discipline is imposed, the respondent may choose to pursue a hearing before the system-wide Committee on Privilege and Tenure.

Additional information about the campus's research misconduct investigative process is available on-line at: www.colorado.edu/Academics/research_misconduct_rules.html

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