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Federal Requirements

As a recipient of Federal funds, TCNJ is required to certify compliance with multiple laws and governmental rules, regulations, and standards. Grant personnel are also required to comply with institutional policies and procedures which implement state and federal laws and regulations governing research and scholarly activities.

 

Federal regulations stipulate that institutions applying for federal funds assure the appropriate federal agency that certain conditions and policies are in place at the applicant institution. Federal funding is at risk college-wide if individuals do not comply with these assurances. Questions regarding the assurance process may be addressed to OGSR.

 

The following are TCNJ assurances/certifications, requirements, and policies in response to federal regulations and descriptions of TCNJ status on various federal compliance issues.

 

 

Research Subjects

 

Human Subjects

 

In all cases, grant applicants shall comply with the Guidebook of Policies and Procedures for Research Involving Human Subjects, which provides detailed policies and regulations pertaining to research with human subjects, as well as procedures for obtaining approval to conduct the research.

 

Animal Subjects

 

In all cases, grant applicants shall comply with the TCNJ Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. For more information, visit: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

 

Drug Free Workplace

 

The College maintains a policy on the illegal use of drugs and alcohol by its employees as it pertains to the Drug-Free Workplace Act. All College employees, as a condition of employment, must notify the College within five days if they are convicted of violating any criminal drug statute while on campus. Such notice must be given to the immediate supervisor and to the Office of Human Resources. In addition, if the employee is directly or indirectly engaged in the performance of a federal grant or contract, the College must give notice of the employee’s conviction to the applicable federal agency.

 

Delinquent Federal Debt

 

Some funders require that an applicant certify that it is not delinquent on the repayment of any Federal debt. TCNJ certifies that it is not delinquent.

 

Lobbying

 

This law was signed on October 23, 1989, and imposes prohibitions and requirements for disclosure and certification by applicants on using appropriated funds, other than profits from a Federal contract, for lobbying Congress or any Federal agency in connection with the award of a particular contract, grant, cooperative agreement or loan. TCNJ does not lobby with restricted funds; therefore, a disclosure form SF-LLL is not generally required in applications.

 

Debarment and Suspension

 

Applicants for financial assistance from any federal agency are required to certify, among other things, that neither it nor its principals are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions by any federal agency. TCNJ certifies that it is not a debarred or suspended institution.

 

Research or Scientific Misconduct

 

Both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) require all recipient organizations to comply with agency rules and regulations, establish administrative policies and procedures to meet the requirements, and report annually on possible misconduct in research and scholarly activities. TCNJ’s Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Scientific Misconduct meets this requirement.

 

Safety

 

Bio-Safety

 

Proposals and laboratory teaching activities which employ the use of recombinant DNA (which are not exempt from NIH guidelines), infectious agents, teratogens, mutagens, carcinogens, biohazards, hazardous waste, and radioactive material must be reviewed by the TCNJ Occupational Safety Specialist, Mr. Brian Webb. Contact him at bwebb@tcnj.edu for information.

Radiation Safety

 

Anyone considering the procurement, use and/or disposal of radioactive material and other sources of ionizing radiation, lasers, and other non-ionizing sources of radiation must contact Mr. Brian Webb, Occupational Safety Specialist, at bwebb@tcnj.edu.

 

AUDITS

 

TCNJ undergoes an independent audit, which includes an A-133 audit annually. Inquiries for either should be directed to Finance and Businesses Services’ Audited Financial Statements.

 

Conflict of Interest/Ethics

 

TCNJ recognizes and has addressed the need to establish safeguards to prevent employees, consultants, or members of governing bodies from using their positions for purposes that are, or give the appearance of being, motivated by a desire for financial gain for themselves or others. Significant financial and personal interest is not limited to salaries and payments. It can also include holdings of principal investigators and key research personnel (i.e., those responsible for the conduct and reporting of research results), their spouses, and dependent children.

 

Ethics for Employees

 

The TCNJ Statement on Ethics for Employees of the College of New Jersey sets out standards of behavior for members of the campus community in their various roles. It also sets out a process of adjudicating complaints concerning unethical conduct.

 

Financial Conflict of Interest

 

The College of New Jersey is committed to preserving the public trust and upholding the integrity of the design, conduct, and reporting of its Research. As such, the TCNJ Financial Conflict of Interest Policy promotes objectivity in Research by establishing standards that ensure the design, conduct, and reporting of Research performed under the Public Health Service (PHS), including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored grants or cooperative agreements will be free from bias resulting from financial conflicts of interest. 

 

The FCOI policy applies to The College of New Jersey faculty, staff, and students, and any other College investigators who are responsible for the design, conduct, and reporting of research funded or proposed for funding by PHS or NSF.

 

 

Other

 

Some agencies require that special forms be signed and submitted with an application assuring the College’s compliance with certain regulations. The following checklist reflects TCNJ’s status with regard to the most frequently included assurances.

 

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504

Yes

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Yes

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972

Yes

Age Discrimination Act of 1975

Yes

Misconduct in Science Assurance filed annually

Yes

Delinquent on Federal Debt

No

Debarred or Suspended

No

Drug-Free Workplace

Yes

Lobbying with Federal Funds

No

 


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