Research Relations with Private Enterprise and Publication of Research Findings

Policy

Board of Governors rules apply to University contracts with private firms for individual research projects, as well as to arrangements for research consortia or research partnerships. Research conducted under such arrangements must be consistent with the University’s basic missions, and must preserve integrity, impartiality, and objectivity in research. The University may agree to protect sponsors’ proprietary information only upon a decision by the Chancellor followed by a report to the President. No such agreement may interfere with publication or defense of students’ research thesis or dissertations. Secret or classified research must be avoided except in rare instances and must be approved by the Chancellor and reported to the President.

The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina has enacted Policy 500.1, University Research Relations with Government Agencies and Private Entities, governing research relations with private enterprise and the publication of research findings. That policy addresses:

1. the appropriateness of University research,
2. the treatment of proprietary information involved in University research, and
3. University participation in classified or confidential research projects.

UNC System Policy 500.1 is available online in The Policy Manual of the University of North Carolina. The UNC Charlotte Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research shall ensure that approved research proposals comply with this University Policy. In particular, any agreement that restricts the freedom of faculty and students to publish research findings beyond the limits prescribed in Section VII of the Board of Governors Patent and Copyright Policy (see UNC Charlotte University Policy 301) must be coordinated through the Vice Chancellor for Research and reported to the President of The University prior to its execution, to ensure that the proposed agreement will not interfere with the publication or oral defense of research theses nor with the scholarship of tenure-track faculty.

Related Resources

• UNC Policy Manual
• UNC System Policy 500.1, University Research Relations with Government Agencies and Private Entities

Authority

Chancellor

Policy Revisions