Research Integrity Standing Committee (RISC) – Standard Operating Procedures

ERIK, Office of Research Compliance, Revised 01/16/2026

I. Overview

The creation of a Research Integrity Standing Committee (RISC) is consistent with the specific recommendations from a 2017 external review of the Office of Research Compliance. The RISC is authorized and appointed by the University Research Committee, in consultation with the Senate Executive Committee, to ensure that the University’s policy and procedures for dealing with research misconduct (RM) and research noncompliance are consistent with the federal regulations and emerging best practices. The RISC will consist of a pool of senior faculty to serve as experts for the Inquiry and on Investigation Committees, with expertise and training to participate in RM proceedings.

The scope of the responsibilities of the RISC expanded according to recommendations made by the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) in 2025. Members of RISC will also serve as the investigation committee for research noncompliance investigations under Faculty Rule 3335-5.04.1 and 3335-5.04.4.

II. Membership

  1. The Research Integrity Standing Committee (RISC) members will be populated with senior faculty selected by the Research Integrity Officer (RIO) in consultation with the deans of various colleges and appointed by the Chair of the University Research Committee in consultation with the Senate Executive Committee.
  2. The RISC will be composed of a pool of at least 50 senior University faculty selected from multiple disciplines.
  3. Each RISC member shall serve a staggered 3-year term with training in the university’s research misconduct policy and procedures and in the federal research compliance regulations. The term of membership for RISC members is renewable at the discretion of the appointing authority, in consultation with the RIO.

III. Duties and Responsibilities

  1. RISC members will be selected to serve as an expert during the Inquiry or appointed to an Investigation Committee (IC), as needed, and shall conduct RM proceedings consistent with the federal policies on RM and the University Policy on RM.
  2. For Faculty Rule 3335-5.04.1 and 3335-5.04.4. cases, RISC members will be appointed to an Investigation Committee.
  3. All RISC members are voting members, except as specified below (IV.7, IV.8, and IV.9) for non-voting consultants.

IV. Organization and Process

  1. Experts for the Inquiry or IC members for both RM cases and Faculty Rule 3335-5.04.1 and 3335-5.04.4. research noncompliance cases will be chosen from the RISC pool by the RIO, in consultation with college deans and/or the Deciding Official (DO), based on subject matter expertise.
  2. A given IC will be composed of at least three (3) RISC members.
  3. The expert for the Inquiry and IC members for RM cases will work with the RIO to ensure compliance with university rules and federal regulations.
  4. If the RIO identifies a conflict of interest for any expert for the Inquiry or IC members, the RIO will select a new member from the RISC to replace the conflicted member.
  5. As necessary during an RM Inquiry or Investigation, if additional substantial subject matter expertise is required for the duration of a given RM Inquiry or RM Investigation, internal or external subject matter experts shall be named as temporary appointees to the RISC and will serve as voting members.
  6. When limited experience or expertise is needed for specific, focused questions related to an RM Inquiry or an RM Investigation, internal or external subject matter experts shall be named as temporary appointees to the RISC to serve as non-voting consultants to aid in a given Inquiry or Investigation.
  7. For any RM allegation(s) against staff members, Human Resource (HR) representatives shall be appointed to the RISC to serve as non-voting consultants to aid in the recommendation of appropriate corrective actions or sanctions.
  8. For any RM allegation(s) against students, the Committee on Academic Misconduct (COAM) coordinator shall be appointed to the RISC to serve as a non-voting consultant to aid in the recommendation of appropriate corrective actions or sanctions.
  9. The RISC shall meet for training sessions provided by the Office of Research Compliance, as required, related to the University RM Policy and the federal regulations regarding RM. Additional training on research noncompliance and the 04 process will be provided. When selected to serve for RM proceedings or Faculty Rule 3335-5.04.1 and 3335-5.04.4. research noncompliance cases, RISC members will meet as often as required for a given case.

Article ID: 110
Created: August 28, 2025
Last Updated: February 4, 2026

Online URL: https://ohiostateresearch.knowledgebase.co/article/research-integrity-standing-committee-40;risc-41;-standard-operating-procedures-110.html