A02.10.02 Research and Scholarly Activity

Policy Statement

Purpose

Related Policies and Guidelines

Definitions

Procedures and Guidelines

Policy Statement

Douglas College recognizes the value of research and scholarly activity in supporting academic excellence, and will promote and sustain research and scholarly activity that is consistent with the mission and strategic objectives of the College and/or is linked to the academic discipline. of the employee who is so engaged. This policy outlines what forms of research and scholarly activity the College will support, provides guidelines governing research activities and indicates specific resources available for support.

Purpose

Douglas College is primarily a teaching and learning institution in which research and scholarly activity is required to fulfill the College's mandate. The College Academic Plan outlines the strategic initiatives that support research and scholarly activity, with the following intended outcomes:

1. Provide opportunities for student involvement in research and for students to evaluate research claims; promote a vibrant disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and scholarly activity culture that supports high quality programs and services;
2. Promote high quality teaching and learning through a focus on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning;
3. Meet the scholarly requirements for accreditation of programs;
4. Enhance the knowledge and experience of College employees and enhance the reputation of the College;
5. Disseminate research knowledge to students, professional groups and the public;
6. Establish collaborative, mutually beneficial arrangements and/or partnerships with local business, academic, governmental or non-governmental organizations wherever possible, through providing expert consultation and applied research resources.

Related Policies and Guidelines

A02.10.06 Academic Freedom

A02.10.03 Commercialization of Intellectual Property

A02.01.01 Conflict of Interest

A08.01.01 College use of Copyrighted Works

A02.10.05 Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans

A16.01.04 Records Management and Retention Policy

College Animal Care Committee Terms of Reference

Definitions

Scholarly activity:

The application of systematic approaches to the development of knowledge through intellectual inquiry and scholarly communication. It includes research, the dissemination of knowledge through such means as publications and presentations, and the application of new knowledge in professional practice and student learning. Scholarly activity also includes creative activities designed to further artistic endeavour.

Research:

Original, careful, critical, disciplined inquiry directed toward the clarification and/or resolution of problems to establish facts, principles or generalizable knowledge

Procedures and Guidelines

1. Douglas College will support research and scholarly activity that is congruent with the Douglas College policies and guidelines related to research and scholarly activity, enhances the quality and reputation of its educational programs, provides opportunities to partner with the communities served by the College and furthers the educational experiences of students.
   
   
2. Forms of Scholarly Activity

   Scholarly activity can involve a variety of different activities some of which may fall outside the role and function of the College. Douglas College recognizes scholarly activities such as the following:

   1. conducting or participating in research studies;
   2. obtaining additional educational or professional qualifications;
   3. writing, translating, and publishing, especially in peer-refereed journals;
   4. serving on review panels for peer reviewed journals;
   5. serving on masters or doctoral thesis committees or as external examiners on doctoral committees
   6. serving as an external evaluator on program accreditation/recognition with professional associations and regulators at the provincial and/or national level;
   7. developing educational materials with wide application, including textbooks and online learning objects;
   8. developing and presenting papers at scholarly and/or scientific conferences;
   9. preparing scholarly documents to support program accreditation;
   10. developing new educational programs or services;
   11. developing non-traditional or innovative learning experiences for students based on a review of the literature and consultation with experts;
   12. assisting students to engage in research projects and/or develop papers for peer-referenced journals;
   13. organizing and presenting at professional development activities, such as conferences and workshops;
   14. providing expertise as consultants to others, such as local businesses, government agencies, and community groups;
   15. producing original artistic creations for publication or presentation;
   16. synthesizing, interpreting and disseminating new knowledge to others, such as policy makers, decision-makers and the public.

    

3. Forms of Research

   Research can involve a range of activities, from basic resource-intensive research to community-based action research. The College will not support research that is very resource-intensive or does not fall within its mandate. The College will recognize and support research activities that have one or more of the following characteristics:

   1. are related to curricular areas of the College (oriented research);
   2. are related to the discipline of the faculty member;
   3. involve the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning;
   4. are funded by external grants approved by the College;
   5. have an applied focus.

4. Guidelines Specific to Research

   1. All research undertaken will adhere to the highest ethical and procedural standards and be in accordance with the relevant College policies and guidelines for research and other related policies and guidelines (Academic Freedom, College Animal Care Committee Terms of Reference, Commercialization of Intellectual Property, Conflict of Interest, College Use of Copyrighted Works, Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans,  and Scholarship, Records Management and Retention);
   2. All research that has environmental impacts will be identified as such and have the relevant environmental assessments conducted and the proposed research methodology will reflect this assessment;
   3. All research involving the use of animals will be in compliance with the policies and guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care and be approved prior to implementation by the Douglas College Animal Care Committee;
   4. All research involving biohazards, will adhere to the Public Health Agency of Canada Laboratory Biosafety Gudelines, 3^rd Edition;
   5. All research involving radioactive materials will comply with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulations, recommended procedures and safety precautions governing the use of such materials in Canada;
   6. All research activities associated with the College will receive appropriate College approval prior to their commencement, .i.e. no research or other study involving human subjects, animals, biological hazards, radioactive materials or that has environmental impacts may be undertaken unless approval has been given by the Research Ethics Board (human subjects), College Animal Care Committee (animals) or the Vice President - Education (biohazards, radioactive materials or environmental impacts);
   7. Every application for external funds (new or renewal) from an external source and every grant contract must be signed by a delegated College signing officer (Dean/ Vice President/President);
   8. Grant and contract funds are held in trust by the College and are not the property of the individual grant recipient.
   9. The Research Ethics Board (REB) has institutional authority to approve all research involving Human Subjects and the Animal Care Committee (ACC) has authority to approve all research involving animals. Not withstanding this, the College Board (or designate) has the final authority to refuse to permit certain research or testing to proceed based on grounds other than those reviewed by the REB or the ACC, such as lack of resources, incompatibility with College values, etc.

       

5. Scholarly Activity Fund

The College will provide a Scholarly Activity fund for employees to undertake supported forms of research and scholarly activity, using a peer review system to adjudicate and recommend allocation of funds, using specified criteria.

Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference (PDF)

Application Requirements (PDF)