Policies and Guidance

Export License Review and Approval Policy

Export Control Administrators are responsible for making export licensure determinations on items being sent or hand-carried abroad, as well as on individuals and entities with which the university works, in consultation with the Office of the Vice Provost for Research (“OVPR”). All proposed... Read more about Export License Review and Approval Policy

Guidance for Completion of NSF Current and Pending Support

Guidance document to help our research community better understand the agency’s regulations (NSF PAPPG) and expectations, and what resources should be reported in the NSF “Current and Pending Support (C&P).”

Guidance for Completion of NIH Other Support

Guidance document to help our research community better understand the agency’s regulations (NIH GPS) and expectations, and what resources should be reported in the NIH “Other Support” (OS).

Guidelines on Authorship and Acknowledgement

Determining authorship is an important component of upholding the integrity of the research and scholarly enterprise and serves as an explicit way of assigning responsibility and giving credit for intellectual work. Only by honestly reflecting the contribution of all members of the research team can there be sustained growth in the discipline and proper credit directed to scholars for their efforts.... Read more about Guidelines on Authorship and Acknowledgement

Faculty Disclosure Resources

In response to federal funding agencies and congressional committees expressing concern regarding certain activities that threaten the integrity of the U.S. research enterprise, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research has collected and collated updated guidance for Harvard Researchers in... Read more about Faculty Disclosure Resources

Responsibilities for Disclosure Requirements Related to Federally-Funded Research

Guidance on requirements for reporting outside interests, support, and activities.

PI Eligibility

For each sponsored award, it is customary to designate as Principal Investigator one person who bears ultimate responsibility for academic decisions as well as for financial, administrative, and compliance matters relating to the project.

Only teaching members of the Faculty and a select number of other academic appointees are accorded Principal Investigator rights and may seek external research support on a continuing basis.

If a Harvard employee whose appointment type is not listed among those on the ...

Freedom of Information Act

Faculty or departments may receive Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests from a federal agency. Upon receipt of a written FOIA request, federal agencies are required to release the requested information unless it falls under one of nine exemptions listed in the Act.

Funded grant proposals and related information are included within the scope of information that can be requested through the FOIA process. These requests are typically labeled very clearly as “FOIA” and are...

Supplementing Stipends

Refer to the documents on this page for an outline of best practices approach for FAS and SEAS regarding questions around supplementing stipends or setting up a secondary appointment for work performed on sponsored awards as well as for a flow chart for determining whether a stipened should be supplemented.... Read more about Supplementing Stipends

FAS and SEAS Policy on Assessments on Current Use Gifts and Sponsored Awards

Responsible Office: FAS Office of Finance/ SEAS Office of Accounting
Effective Date: July 1, 2017
Revision Date: November 16, 2018

Policy Statement and Reason for Policy

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) and the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) provide substantial academic facilities, including laboratories, libraries and information technologies, administrative support, and other resources that enable faculty to engage in innovative research and incomparable scholarly activities. The cost of providing the staffing and infrastructure necessary to support the programmatic activities of our faculty is borne largely by the FAS and SEAS; thus, it is critical that FAS and SEAS receive... Read more about FAS and SEAS Policy on Assessments on Current Use Gifts and Sponsored Awards

Policies Relating to Research and Other Professional Activities Within and Outside the University

With the acceptance of a full-time appointment in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, an individual makes a commitment to the University that is understood to be full-time in the most inclusive sense. Every member is expected to accord the University his or her primary professional loyalty, and to arrange outside obligations, financial interests, and activities so as not to conflict or interfere with this overriding... Read more about Policies Relating to Research and Other Professional Activities Within and Outside the University

Principles Governing Commercial Activities: Statement of Principles

Principles governing commercial activities of Harvard University, with application to partnerships between the University and outside organizations

Statement of Policies and Procedures Governing the Use of Human Subjects in Research at Harvard University

Harvard University is guided by the ethical principles regarding research involving human subjects set forth in the report of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research... Read more about Statement of Policies and Procedures Governing the Use of Human Subjects in Research at Harvard University

FAS Supplemental Salary Payment Policy

Effective July 1, 2015, FAS will change the policy on faculty supplemental salary to simplify the process for faculty and administrators.... Read more about FAS Supplemental Salary Payment Policy

Fellowship Payments and Reimbursements for Students and Non-employee Postdocs/Fellows

This policy is intended to clarify when payments to fellows should be treated as gross income, as qualified payments for tuition or fees for a degree program, or as reimbursements for bona fide University business expenses that the individual incurred on Harvard’s behalf.

FAS Research Administration Services