I. Setting Up Your Award
All awards made to Borough of Manhattan Community College are administered by the Research Foundation which serves as the University’s fiscal agent. Although the RF works closely with CUNY, it is a separate entity with its own Board of Directors, issues its own independently audited financial statements, operates its own payroll system and fringe benefits plan, and purchases a wide variety of goods and services in accordance with its own rules and regulations. The RF provides sponsored programs with flexibility and the capacity to respond quickly to a wide variety of conditions and changing sponsor requirements.
Upon receiving a sponsor award notice or update to an award, the college’s Office of Sponsored Programs will work with you (the Principal Investigator) to set up an account at the CUNY Research Foundation. As the Principal Investigator (PI), all project-related transactions, including submitting requisitions for any equipment, supplies, and services needed for the project are initiated by you. During the life of the grant, you will be working closely with the Research Foundation Project Administrator assigned to your account and our office. We encourage you to become familiar with RF policies and procedures as early as possible. All services are available online.
II. Policies and Procedures
Sponsored projects, by definition, require some degree of institutional oversight, which in turn requires a thorough understanding of University policies and procedures and how they complement, reinforce, and integrate with government regulations and sponsor requirements. Although the CUNY Research is separate from the University, there exists a range of policies/procedures for requesting, accepting, and managing external funds which you will need to become familiar with, most can be found in the online Project Director’s Guide.
III. Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
BMCC and CUNY are committed to the conduct of research and research training activities in a scientifically responsible and ethical manner. In support of this commitment, the BMCC and CUNY subscribe to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Research Integrity (ORI) published guidance on what are considered to be essential elements of an appropriate Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Program. Other Federal granting agencies, as well as many non-federal sponsors, have adopted similar standards.
Provided below is a list of the ORI essential elements and resources to assist investigators in preparing RCR plans for proposals as well as training opportunities for researchers.
Human Research Protection Program (HRPP): CUNY is responsible for the protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects in research projects conducted at CUNY or by CUNY faculty, staff and students and RF CUNY staff. The program provides oversight, administrative support and educational training to ensure that CUNY research complies with federal and State regulations, University policy and the highest ethical standards. The CUNY HRPP comprises of 5 University Integrated Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and 19 on-site HRPP offices. To access HRPP policies, procedures and guidelines click here.
Research Misconduct: CUNY is committed to the responsible and ethical conduct of research. Information on CUNY’s RCR program and related resources are available here.
Conflict of Interest Policy: CUNY establishes standards to ensure that there is no reasonable possibility that any conflicting interests will bias the design, conduct, reporting or review of research projects at the University, regardless of the source of funding or the commercial exploitation of the results of such projects. More information is available here.
