The purpose of this procedure is to outline the college’s policy related to the identification and protection of on-campus research sites. College land leased to others will generally not be available as research sites for new projects. Existing projects should be completed or terminated by a date agreed upon with the college. Developed areas of campus and areas identified on the college’s Master Plan for future development may be used for research. However, future development could interfere with long-term projects, and investigators should be aware that permission to conduct research does not guarantee protection of any site from development or disturbance.
Faculty members, staff, and students planning to conduct research on any campus sites will complete the attached Campus Research Site Identification and Protection Form. The form will outline the type of research to be undertaken, delineate the specific site to be incorporated, start and end dates, and school and college approvals. If Behrend Undergraduate Research funds or external sources of funding are used to support the research, this information should be included with the permit application. One copy of the form should be submitted to your school director for approval at least three weeks before the project is scheduled to begin. The director will forward the form for final approval and processing to the Vice-Chancellor and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs.
Researchers must clearly outline the locations of all research areas on a map attached to the permit application. Where appropriate, sites can be delineated by signage, marking tape, or other method to protect equipment or sensitive areas. Investigators should inspect areas routinely to ensure integrity of the site.
The Operations Office will review the approved forms for all campus and physical plant projects, and make the forms available to contractors. Approved forms will be distributed to the Operations Office, Janitorial Services, Chancellor’s Office, and respective School Offices.
The Operations Office and the Chancellor’s Office have the responsibility to contact the investigator at least seven days in advance of any disturbance of a research site, unless the disturbance was caused by an emergency (e.g., water main break, power line failure). In the event of impending development of a site, the Operations Office and the Chancellor’s Office will contact the investigator at least 30 days in advance of any activity to discuss the potential impact of the development on the research.
Revised July 1, 2005
Revised July 15, 2015
Revised December 4, 2024