R5 – Student Rights in the Conduct of Research

Originator: Director, Research and Planning
Approver: President’s Council
Effective: May 10, 2005
Replaces: New

Purpose

RRC Polytech students may be involved in research activities at or under the auspices of the College under the supervision of a faculty member or staff, or an individual designated as a research principal investigator for a research project. While the faculty or staff person or principal investigator is responsible for supervision of students, it is also the student’s responsibility to follow all of the research policies established at the College. This policy outlines the rights of students involved in research with principal investigators or faculty or staff.

Policy

1. The research principal investigator or supervisor is responsible for the supervision of students conducting research, including supervision of data collection, analysis and interpretation, and storage of information.
2. The research principal investigator or supervisor is responsible for ensuring all RRC Polytech research and other policies are followed in the conduct of research.
3. It is the responsibility of the principal investigator to implement measures that will ensure the health and safety of student researchers. The principal investigator shall inform students of measures to be implemented such as the proper use of equipment and materials and adherence to RRC Polytech, Provincial and Federal Occupational Health and Safety policies. Alleged breaches of health and safety requirements will be investigated under the College’s Integrity in Research and Scholarship policy.
4. Hiring of students to work on College research projects will be conducted in accordance with the appropriate Human Resources Policies and Procedures.
5. Students engaged in College research projects shall follow appropriate College policies.
6. Whether or not a student is assigned a salary or other payment by the principal investigator (for example, from an operating grant or similar fund controlled by the principal investigator), a clear written agreement shall be made as to the duties expected of the student, and the extent to which the work will contribute to the student’s academic program.
7. In cases where there is an agreement that the student may use the results of their research on the project toward an academic program, the work completed in the research must be clearly identified as that of the contribution of the student, and the criteria for shared authorship explained to the research team in advance.
8. When a student begins working with a principal investigator or research group that is funded in whole or in part by contracts, consulting agreements, or grants from outside agencies, a clear agreement should be made at the outset as to the accessibility of research findings for publication. Research work contributing to the student’s academic program shall not be subject to publication restrictions by an external sponsor.

Related Policies

H1 – Research involving Human Subjects
H2 – Integrity in Research and Scholarship
H3 – Animal Care and Research
A9 – Intellectual Property and Copyright