About SARI@PSU

• SARI@PSU Program Announcement

Advance discussion of core principles and possible scenarios can help inform choices frequently made under pressure, helping to eliminate poor decisions. Penn State recognizes that we have a unique opportunity —and a responsibility—to address these issues in a proactive and deliberate manner.

SARI@PSU

The Scholarship and Research Integrity (SARI) program was launched in fall 2009 to provide graduate students with opportunities to identify, examine, and discuss ethical issues relevant to their disciplines. Several thousand students participated the first year, and ultimately every student receiving a master’s or doctoral degree from Penn State will have participated in this training. 

In 2011, the SARI program expanded to include all research personnel at PSU. The new name, “SARI@PSU”, reflects the broader scope of the program. It is our hope and expectation that participation by faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers will encourage open and intentional dialog about responsible research and scholarship, and that these conversations become an integral part of the academic environment at Penn State.

The SARI@PSU program is composed of two parts: an online training course, and an interactive, discussion-based component. SARI program content is both interdisciplinary and discipline-specific, designed to address common issues in research integrity as well as issues unique to various areas of research and scholarship.

• The online training (Part 1) provides a common language and understanding of the history and principles of the responsible conduct of research

• The discussion-based component (Part 2) provides an opportunity for in-depth exploration of important issues unique to each field of study.

This basic structure can be adapted to create an effective program for scholars at different stages of their careers, from undergraduate researchers, to graduate students and junior faculty, to senior faculty members with years of experience. Participation by faculty and students alike will help foster a rich environment for the discussion and practice of scholarly integrity.

College Involvement

The SARI program for graduate students was designed by and administered through each college at PSU. Colleges developed a plan for how graduate students in their programs would meet the 5 hours of discussion-oriented RCR education, addressing broad as well as discipline-specific issues. Plans were approved and filed with the Office for Research Protections, and implementation of SARI@PSU activities is managed by individual colleges and graduate programs.

Colleges are responsible for record-keeping related to participation in SARI@PSU educational activities. Participation in the CITI online training program should be monitored by having students submit their CITI Completion Reports to their program administrators. Attendance at discussion-based activities should be documented through sign-in sheets or other mechanisms to help with tracking of student participation. Colleges and/or graduate programs should submit a SARI Tracking Form to ORP by June 30 each year, listing the SARI@PSU participants and tracking their progress. Contact ORP for information about accessing the SARI@PSU ANGEL site and downloading customized program tracking forms.

SARI@PSU Resources

The Office of Research Protections and its education staff provide extensive resources to support the SARI@PSU program and its implementation by the colleges. Resources available include:

• Training opportunities for faculty involved in teaching in the SARI@PSU program
  
• Centrally-sponsored workshops to complement college offerings
• Individualized consultation and advice
• Online resources through the SARI Resource Portal, on the ORP website
  • Access to the CITI program
  • Teaching resources, such as slide shows and case studies, for RCR education
  • Video archives of workshops and educational presentations on RCR topics
  • Links to classroom resources and tips
  • Links to external online resources

Questions about the SARI@PSU Program

The SARI team is available to assist colleges in the preparation of SARI plans. Questions may be directed to sari@psu.edu.