Policies/Assurances/Certifications

Human Subjects
If you will be administering assessment surveys to participants including student researchers, NSF requires every proposal to receive an approval or an exemption through our institutional Human Subjects Review Board (HSRB/IRB) prior to submission. 45 CFR Part 690: Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects.

To learn whether your project can receive expedited review by the HSRB, read the NSF Expedited Review of Social and Behavioral Research Activities Guideline.

If you do not receive a HSRB response before submitting the proposal, enter "Pending" on the Cover Sheet where IRB approval date is requested.

Animal Use - College policy and federal law require a review of projects for humane treatment and judicious and safe use of vertebrate animals. At Hope College, the review is conducted by the Hope College Animal Care and Use Committee (HCACUC).

Conflict of Interest - Federal regulations (42 CFR 50.601) require the College to adopt, monitor, and enforce a Conflict of Interest Policy (COI) covering financial conflicts, which may arise as a result of research funded by the government agencies. A PI's check mark in the COI box on the "External Support Routing Form" indicates she/he's read the policy and is required to disclose any COI to the Sponsored Research office.

Ethical Conduct: CITI
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative - The CITI Program is a subscription service paid by Hope College to provide ethics education and certification to all members of the research community. The National Science Foundation (NSF) now requires every proposal to provide a plan for how we educate our students in the ethical conduct of research. You can read about this new requirement in the Office of Research Integrity newsletter. Hope's coordinator is Martin Hill, Director of the Frost Research Center.

Export Control
In 2010 the U.S. Administration announced the roll-out of the Export Controls Reform - fundamental restructuring and consolidation of all export controls. These regulations involve protecting information and technology being released to international adversaries. All researchers involved with international travel and/or research collaborations indicate they are exempt by answering the question on the travel authorization form. If not exempt you are required to contact your Dean and the Sponsored Research Office.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a slightly different set of human subject categories to which your project will fall under. Hope College's HSRB will determine which category applies in their official letter.

Intellectual Property
Hope College's invention and patent policy

Laborers and Mechanics on Projects
Any grant proposal involving in excess of $2,000 for the construction, alteration, or repair (including painting and decorating) of public buildings or public works must provide information which validates that all laborers and mechanics on projects funded directly by or assisted in whole or in part by and through funding appropriated by the Act are paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on projets of a character similar in the locality as determined by subchapter IV of Chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code (David-Bacon Act).

Office of Research Integrity
Department of Health and Human Services -The Office of Research Integrity (ORI) promotes integrity in biomedical and behavioral research supported by the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) at about 4,000 institutions worldwide. ORI monitors institutional investigations of research misconduct and facilitates the responsible conduct of research (RCR) through educational, preventive, and regulatory activities.

RCR Policy
Training in Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research

Department RCR Policies:
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Engineering
Geological/Environmental Science
Mathematics
Nursing
Physics
Psychology

Research Misconduct Policy

Suspension and Debarment
Federal regulations require this form to be completed if the awarded grant from a federally funded program will be purchasing equipment, other goods or services from a single company in excess of $100,000. The form should be completed by the company prior to the purchase. A copy of the completed form should be mailed to Hope College Business Services, ATTN:  Kevin Kraay,  P.O. BOX 9028, Holland, MI  49422-9028.

Time and Effort Reporting Policy/Form
Per the federal Office of Management and Budget, Hope College is required to document time and effort spent on externally sponsored activities.

Hope faculty and/or staff who are associated with a grant, whether paid or not, should complete this T&E form for the previous calendar year of time spent on the grant. Deadline to submit form is January 30.