A. Required Clearances
- Biological Safety - All required reviews and approvals for biological research or handling of biological materials are obtained from the Director of Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health, 342-1188. Biological materials are any plant, animal or microbiological organism, or any substance derived from these organisms-including recombinant DNA molecules-that are the subject of research or are ancillary reagents or indicators employed for the investigation. For biosafety purpose, chemicals that are biologically active such as carcinogens and mutagens, or toxic are included in the definition.
- Radiation Materials Safety - Research requiring the purchase, possession or production of radioactive materials is subject to the provisions of the UW-Platteville license under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. All investigators are responsible for adhering to the requirements for training, sign posting, and good laboratory practice as specified in the license. Specific details are available from the Radiological Materials Officer, 342-1188.
- Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (IRB) - If the proposed project anticipates the use of human subjects, the PI must prepare a research protocol and abstract and submit it to the chair of the IRB. Contact the OSP for the name of the chair. This requirement extends to all research involving human subjects regardless of the source of support. See Appendix for the IRB committee.
- Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) - The UW System policy regarding the use of animals states that all animals used for teaching, research and other activities on campus or on campus real estate, shall be used and cared for according to the principles stated in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals regardless of the species or source of funds used to conduct teaching, research or other activities. If the proposed project involves the use of animals, the PI should contact the chair of the ACUC regarding compliance with these regulation. See Appendix for the ACUC committee.
- Hazardous Waste - UW-Platteville must adhere to the US Environmental Protection Agency-EPA-regulations, which establish minimum requirements for documentation, storage and shipment of hazardous waste. For questions regarding hazardous waste contact the Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Director, 342-1188 or the chair of the Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials Committee. See Appendix for the committee.
- Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act - The Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act-WEPA-requires each state agency to consider the environmental implications of all its proposals, and before proceeding with any major action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, to prepare a detailed statement concerning the environmental effects of the proposed action. When new technology or policy is proposed or recommended for implementation will significantly affect the environment or restrict future alternatives, the implementing agency must comply with WEPA requirements. Contact the Environmental Impact Committee to assure all required reviews and approval of the research are obtained.
B. University Assurances of Compliance
The US Congress enacted legislation called the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-690, Title V, Subtitle D). This statute requires contractors and grantees of federal agencies to certify that they will provide a drug-free workplace for the performance of work under such federal contracts and grants. The university will make a good faith effort to maintain a drug-free workplace for all sponsored program activity. See Appendix for the Drug-Free Policy.
C. Patents/Inventions/Intellectual Property
Patents are property rights that enable the patent owner to exclude others from making, using or selling technology covered by the issued patent claims. Many things are patentable, including plants, animals, and software if they meet the criteria of being non-obvious to one skilled in the invention art to which they pertain and possess novelty and utility. In the United States, the life of a patent is measured from its filing date and currently extends 20 years from that date. PI's who believe they have a potential patent or invention should contact the Office of Sponsored Programs for further information on patent procedures. It is the responsibility of the PI and the dean or director to assure that agreements entered into with federal agencies or certain private agencies, are followed with respect to reporting and handling inventions and patents. The UW System has affirmed a consistent policy on intellectual property that fosters its mission to discover and disseminate knowledge. Simply stated, the basic policy has been, unless terms and conditions to the contrary are imposed by the project sponsor and accepted by the investigator, all rights to intellectual property resulting from university affiliation remain with the investigator/inventor/creator. The UW System does not claim any interest in employee inventions. UW System policies and procedures governing patents are found at the web site and in the General Administrative Policy Papers 2-Financial Administration of Extramural Support-http://www.uwsa.edu/fadmin/gapp/gapp2.htm and 34-Patent Policies and Reporting Requirements-http://www.uwsa.edu/fadmin/gapp/gapp34.htm.
D. Copyright
UW System institutions are often directly involved in the development of copyrightable instructional materials, because they provide substantial public resources to support their creaton and production. Institutional involvement is likely to expand substantially with the increased use of information technology in the creation of multimedia instructional materials and distance education course offerings.
The UW System does not assert a property interest in materials that result from the author's pursuit of traditional teaching, research, and scholarly activities. The creation of materials such as theses, scholarly articles, journal articles, research bulletins, monographs, and books occurs, in most circumstances, as an integral part of the author's position as a UW System employee. In those cases where substantial institutional resources are provided to support the development of instructional materials, however, the UW System may assert ownership or other property interests that should be addressed through specific agreements with the authors and producers of the materials.
The policies of the funding agency must be followed when copyright material is developed under any extramural project. See Appendix for the copyright policy.
E. Software
It is the policy of the university that software developed by faculty shall be the property of the author unless the material is prepared under limitations of extramural grants or contracts that explicity stipulate otherwise; the material is created by a person given an assignment to do so; or, the material is prepared under a university agreement that specifically states otherwise.
F. Space and Facilities
If the proposed project will require 1) reassignment of space or facilities currently assigned to some other use; 2) additional university space; 3) rental of off-campus space; 4) remodeling, the PI should consult with his/her dean and the Director of Space Management. This must be done regardless of the source of financial support.
G. International Programs
If the proposed project involves the services of university personnel overseas, the PI should submit an informational copy to the Director of International Programs.
