Research

While faculty research is usually carried out independently of the chair/director, there may be various points of intersection with the chair’s authority or oversight beyond the regular activities of signing off on research grants and sabbatical leaves, and the provisions of space and/or equipment.

Please see the following examples: 

• Policy 41: Contract Research at University of Waterloo: ‘While [the University] acknowledges the general freedom of its personnel to engage in research of their choosing, the provision of departmental resources for contract research will nevertheless be subject to the final approval of the respective chair (and where necessary the dean) provided that, in the matter of grants, where such approval is denied an appeal may be made to the Senate Graduate & Research Council.’ 
• Policy 66: Use of University Resources and Affiliation: While departmental resources may be deployed in support of a faculty member’s research, it is the chair’s responsibility to oversee the equitable distribution of staff members’ workloads.
• Policy 73: Intellectual Property Rights §12 ‘Dispute Resolution’: ‘This policy recognizes that conflicts may arise due to an inability to reach an agreement with respect to the determination of IP rights. Such conflicts may or may not involve allegations of wrong-doing; members of the University may simply have incompatible perceptions of the meaning or application of this policy. In general, conflicts are best dealt with at an informal level. It is advisable for persons in conflict to seek mediation or other forms of informal dispute resolution. Persons in conflict can find assistance in interpreting this policy from their department chair, dean or the Office of Research.’ 
• Animal research: department chairs are required to sign off. 
• Human research: department chairs are required to sign off. 
• Integrity in Research Administrative Guidelines (including Memorandum of Agreement §14 ‘Integrity in Scholarly Research’): No direct responsibility as chair, beyond passing on allegations to the vice president, research; nevertheless, chairs should be familiar with the guidelines and §14 of the Memorandum of Agreement. 
• Safety Guidelines for Field Work: a field work risk management form may be required; the chair normally signs off on this.

Please see the Provost’s Office for forms and templates.