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'Education is key' as Purdue steps up ethics efforts
By Brian Wallheimer
The [Lafayette, Indiana] Journal & Courier

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Purdue University is upgrading its ethics and compliance efforts.

University officials announced Friday that Alysa Christmas Rollock, Purdue's vice president for human relations, will be given added duties in ethics training, compliance standards and procedures, and development and revision of university policies. Her new title starting Monday will be vice president for ethics and compliance.

"This is an effort to update many (university policies)," Rollock said. "We can make sure they are consistent with each other, taking us where we want to be."

Purdue President France Córdova was too busy to comment on the changes, according to a university spokeswoman.

Rollock said many of the university's policies are difficult for faculty and staff to find, and others are outdated. She cited the example of updating Purdue's policies on research conduct as one that would receive some effort to ensure faculty understand it.

"Education is key," Rollock said. "I'll be working closely on that area."

Purdue recently concluded an investigation into research misconduct by nuclear engineering professor Rusi Taleyarkhan, who was found guilty on two counts. Rollock said the change in her duties wasn't necessarily related to that situation.

Though Córdova did not comment for this story, she has said in the past she would be shuffling cabinet-level positions in her first couple of years to fit her style of leadership and the university's new strategic plan.

Rollock said ethics and compliance are important to being a top research university.

"We have many laws and requirements to which we are subjected as a university," Rollock said. "It's part of accountability and doing the best that we can."

Rollock will continue her other duties from human relations, including serving as the university's equal opportunity and Title IX officer, and developing and implementing universitywide equal opportunity, equal access and affirmative action policies.


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stevenkrivit wrote:

Rollock's responsibilities were formerly held by Peter E. Dunn, Purdue's research integrity officer.

On Oct. 14, New Energy Times described the process by which the Purdue investigation committee, which was managed by Dunn, had fabricated the two "guilty" charges against Taleyarkhan.

Within hours after the Oct. 14 article appeared, Dunn initiated another investigation - the sixth - into Taleyarkhan's research.

Despite the repeated attempts to find evidence for fraud or misconduct, and the more than 50 initial allegations, Taleyarkhan has come out clean, aside from the two fabricated allegations from the investigation that concluded this summer.

Some observers are beginning to question the credibility of the accusations against Taleyarkhan and the motives of his accusers.

On Oct. 15, the Purdue Exponent, wrote that New Energy Times Editor Steven B. Krivit "accused Purdue officials of fabricating charges" against Taleyarkhan.

Five days later, New Energy Times reported that, under Dunn's direction, Purdue had recently changed its policy on research misconduct.

Dunn's new policy allows future research misconduct committees to make their own allegations as well as adjudicate them.

However, the new policy does not apply retroactively to the Taleyarkhan investigation that concluded this summer.

As New Energy Times wrote Oct. 20, "Now, both the inquiry and allegation committees can make new allegations as well as charge them. All are the same: accuser, judge and jury."

The Purdue policy on research integrity was updated Oct. 1.

Steven B. Krivit
Editor, New Energy Times
11/2/2008 2:28:07 PM

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