Terms of reference

Committee objectives

The aim of the Academic Ethics and Integrity Committee is to oversee and promote the highest standards of integrity in all aspects of teaching and research.

Committee remit

The Committee will be responsible for advising Senate on the development, implementation and review of strategic procedures and guidelines relating to academic ethics. The Committee is responsible for the strategic development of the University's research integrity agenda, in compliance with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity.

The role of the Committee will be proactive in relation to emerging issues of national or international significance.

Functions and duties of the Committee

Functions include:

• upholding the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research and research-related learning and teaching and to review progress regularly
• ensuring that research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards
• supporting an academic environment that is underpinned by a culture of integrity and based on good governance, best practice, and conducive to the development of researchers

Duties include:

• to advise Senate on the development of policies and guidelines relating to teaching and research ethics
• to advise Senate on the development, publication and review of criteria to be applied to research sponsorship
• to promote and monitor good practice relating to ethical considerations and maintaining academic integrity within the institution
• to monitor academic ethical practice within the University, providing advice to sub-Committees on ethical issues and receiving sub-Committee minutes and annual reports where appropriate
• to formulate institutional responses to national and international developments relating to teaching and research ethics
• to consider any matters referred to the Committee by Council, Senate, the Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee, Boards of Studies, Departments/the School of Management and individual members of staff

Reporting lines and responsibilities of the Committee

The Academic Ethics and Integrity Committee reports to Senate. It also works closely with Council’s University Ethics Committee which is responsible for institutional ethics and with the Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee. Minutes are submitted to these Committees for noting.

Procedural Rules

In the absence of any specific rules, the procedure is as set out in the Standing Orders of Senate.

Membership

Chair is Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), ex officio
See Senate Standing Order 2.1 for membership.

In attendance

SU Education Manager, and other officers as required.

Co-option

See Senate Standing Orders 2.4 - 2.7. The committee may co-opt additional members to provide areas of specific expertise not offered by the Faculty/School membership.

Alternates

See Senate Standing Orders 3.4 - 3.5.

Quorum

There shall be a quorum at meetings of one-third of the membership of the Committee. See Senate Standing Order 3.1.

Rules for voting

See Senate Standing Order 10.

Minutes

Minutes are submitted to Senate.

Subcommittees

The University Ethics Committee has three subcommittees:

• SSREC (Social Science Research Ethics Committee)
  
• REACH (Research Ethics Approval Committee for Health)
  
• Psychology Ethics Committee
  

The Chairs of the three subcommittees are ex officio members of the committee which receives minutes and reports of business conducted by the subcommittees.

Resources

Research Ethics and Integrity
Code of Ethics
Psychology Ethics Committee
Research Ethics Approval Committee for Health (Reach)
Social Science Research Ethics Committee (SSREC)
Department Research Ethics officers

Queries on the University's ethics processes can be sent to university-ethics@bath.ac.uk

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