• The University of Texas at San Antonio
  • myUTSA
    • ASAP
    • Blackboard
    • Staff Webmail
    • Libraries
  • Info For
    • Students
    • Faculty
    • Staff
    • Parents
    • Visitors
  • Maps
    • Main
    • Downtown
    • Hemisfair Park
  • Directory
  • Calendar
  • About UTSA
  • facilitating growth, enabling productivity, pursuing excellence
  • Home
  • About UTSA Research
  • For Researchers
  • For Partners
  • For Students
  • Research News
  • Contact Us

Research Misconduct

Research misconduct is defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism that is committed intentionally, knowingly, or with reckless disregard for the integrity of the research and be proven by a preponderance of evidence to have occurred. Research misconduct can occur in research records, reports, grant submissions, publications, and other scholarly works.

Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion, including, but not limited to, differences in interpretations or judgments of data and differences in personal, political, moral, ethical, or professional opinions.

More Specifically,

  • Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them.
  • Falsification is manipulating research or scholarly materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research or scholarship is not accurately represented in the research or scholarly record.
  • Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit. Plagiarism does not include disputes between co-authors or collaborators regarding who should properly receive credit unless one of the co-authors or collaborators is a UTSA student.

All persons who are engaged in or support research or scholarship at UTSA have an affirmative duty to ensure the integrity of such research or scholarship and act in Good Faith in all matters associated with it. They are encouraged to report allegations of research or scholarly misconduct and instances of retaliation against those who, in good faith, report allegations or cooperate with or participate in such investigative processes or related proceedings.

Reporting Research Misconduct and Retaliation

Reports of alleged misconduct may be made on an informal (oral) basis. Reasonable efforts will be made to review and resolve informal reports of alleged misconduct; however, such reports will not be processed through the procedures set out in this policy unless they are subsequently submitted in writing or confirmed separately through available evidence.

Reports of alleged misconduct may also be made on a formal (written) basis. Formal Allegations should be submitted in sufficient detail to permit a preliminary inquiry into whether an investigation is warranted.

If you have concerns regarding potential research misconduct:

  • Contact the Research Integrity Officer (RIO), Dr. Michelle Stevenson, at (210) 458-4531, or
  • Contact the UTSA Fraud and Abuse Hotline (https://www.reportlineweb.com/UTSA), or
  • Contact the UTSA Anonymous Report Hotline at (877) 270-5051
Resources

Click here to review the HOP 10.02 policy – Misconduct in Research or in Other Scholarly Activities.

Click here to review the Appendix to HOP 10.02 policy. The Appendix consists of a detailed table that is subdivided into each of the potential phases or stages in a Misconduct Proceeding and that briefly describes the key actions, deadlines, decisions and some of the roles, rights and responsibilities of key players in each such stage or phase.

Contact Staff

Michelle (Mickey) Stevenson, Ph.D., CCEP
Associate Vice President for Research Integrity
Research Integrity Officer
(210) 458-4531
Location: GSR 2.130BB
Michelle.Stevenson@utsa.edu
Research Portal
Funding Opportunities
Funding Process
Research Service Center Directory
Proposal Development
Proposal Development Services
Proposal Development Resources
Relation to Research Service Centers
Request for Assistance
Contact
Limited Submissions
Opportunities
Application Form Login
Contact Info
Seed Grants
Early Career Faculty
Targeted Scholarly Awards
Research Service Center Directory
CAYUSE Proposal Submission
Training & Development Opportunities
Workshops & Professional Development Opportunities
Research Integrity Classes
Forms, Policies & Guidelines
Forms
Policies
Guidelines
Procedures
Institutional Guidelines & Policies
Financial Management Tools for Sponsored Projects
Sponsored Projects Payroll Confirmation Reporting
Payroll Confirmation Application
COI Disclosure
Human Subject Research (IRB)
Institutional Animal Care and Use Program (IACUC)
Postdoctoral Support
Commercialization & Tech Transfer
Disclose a Technology
News & Success Stories
Find a Technology
Intellectual Property Process
Royalty Sharing
Maintaining Research Notebooks
Entrepreneurship & Training
Incubation
Funding POCs and Start-Ups
UTSA COVID-19 Technology Licensing Guidelines
Contracts & Industry Agreements
The Contract Process
Standard Contracts & Agreements Overview and Templates
Contract Continuum
Contracts Training Presentations
International Collaborations
Research Integrity Guidelines
Conflict of Interest in Research & Intellectual Property (COI)
COI Training
Training Login
Guest Account Registration for Non-UTSA Staff
Committee
COI FAQs
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
RCR Definitions
RCR Regulations and Guidelines
Data Ownership
UTSA Policy on Data Ownership & Retention
Guidance for Faculty Separating
Research Misconduct
Laboratory Safety Division and Compliance
Laboratory Safety Services and Tools
Training Requirements and Resources
Biosafety
Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
Chemical Safety
Chemical Safety Committee
Radiation and Laser Safety
Radiation and Laser Safety Committee
Laboratory Safety Advisory Committee
Safety Excellence Program
Near Misses
Laboratory Animal Resources Center (LARC)
Training
Resources for Research Staff and Students
Requesting Facilities and Visitor Access
AAALAC Accreditation
References and Links
Report Concerns
UTSA Links
Export Control
Export Control Definitions
Export Control Countries of Concern
Export Control Objectionable Clauses
Training & Development
Visiting Scholars & Visiting Researchers
Research Resources
  • data sheet quick link icon Institutional Data Sheet
Office of the Vice President for Research, Economic Development and Knowledge Enterprise
  • Home
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • facebook icon
  • twitter icon
  • youtube icon
to top icon
UTSA
  • Sitemap
  • Campus Maps
  • Jobs
  • Campus Alerts
  • Policies
  • Open Records
  • Report Fraud
  • Required Links
  • Identity
  • UT System
  • Contact Us

© The University of Texas at San Antonio | One UTSA Circle, San Antonio TX 78249 | Information: 210-458-4011 | UTSA Police: 210-458-4242