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Located Inside: Research Policy Handbook

Summary:

States Stanford policy not to discriminate against individuals, nor to engage in research agreements which permit discrimination on the basis of citizenship

Related Research Policy Handbook Documents:

2.1    Principles Concerning Research
2.6    Openness in Research

Authority:

Senate of the Academic Council, reaffirmed in 1988 by the Committee on Research

Updated in 1995 by the Vice Provost and Dean of Research

Contact Person:

Assistant Dean of Research

All agreements will conform to a policy of nondiscrimination against individuals on the basis of sex, race, religion, place of birth or ancestry. Furthermore, Stanford shall not enter into any research agreements which permit discrimination on the basis of citizenship against individuals engaged in the proposed research activities on campus.

It is Stanford's intent to reduce or eliminate the discriminatory impact that policies or regulations of other countries may have for University personnel who may need to enter a foreign country in the course of research activity. If a sponsoring country restricts entry of citizens of other nations into its country, the Principal Investigator should try to organize the research project and the University should try to draw up the agreement in such ways as to eliminate or reduce as far as possible the discriminatory effect of those restrictions on participating Stanford personnel.

For all proposed research agreements with foreign sponsors which involve travel by Stanford personnel into the sponsoring country during the course of the research, the proposed sponsor will be asked to indicate citizens of which countries, if any, may be barred entry into the sponsor's country on the basis of their citizenship.

The Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) will review all proposed research agreements which involve a foreign sponsor for purposes of assessing any discriminatory impact. If, in their judgment, the proposed agreement would have a potentially significant discriminatory impact on Stanford personnel because of travel by Stanford employees or students into the sponsoring country as part of the research activity, OSR will refer the proposal to the Vice Provost and Dean of Research. If the Dean agrees with this assessment, he or she will then refer the proposal for review to an advisory panel of three faculty members chosen in consultation with the chairman of the Committee on Research.

The advisory panel shall not recommend acceptance of the proposed agreement unless the Principal Investigator shows that the agreement is in the best interests of the University, taking into consideration:

1. the probability and extent of discrimination;
   
   
2. the reasonableness of the particular discriminatory rules. An example of a reasonable discrimination on the basis of nationality is the excluding of an enemy alien in time of war;
   
   
3. the kind and quantity of benefits the foreign country would derive from the agreement. For example, the agreement may involve the delivery of medical services or efforts to increase food production;
   
   
4. the kind and quantity of benefits to the faculty involved and to the training possibilities for students. For example, the obtaining of support for research that can be done only in a particular location, such as research on earthquakes;
   
   
5. the interests of students in having fullest access to all scholarly activities in the University.
   
   

The advisory panel shall submit its recommendation to the Vice Provost and Dean of Research for action. If the Dean of Research permits acceptance of an agreement in which a probability exists of discrimination on the basis of citizenship, the principal investigator must tell his or her academic department chairman, who in turn has the responsibility of informing relevant students that they may be unable to participate in certain aspects of the investigator's work. The above policy and procedures and their implementation shall be reviewed periodically by the Committee on Research.