Marquette University strives to follow the teacher/scholar model. It is central to the mission of Marquette and central to the concept of cura personalis, or caring for the whole person. In the popular press, one often reads that faculty members must decide whether to spend more of their time on research, or on teaching. In reality, it is impossible to separate these two important functions since both are required to develop future citizens and leaders. A university must combine research, teaching and service from the undergraduate level through the graduate and post-graduate levels. Thus, teaching and research are synergistic and support each other. Undergraduate and graduate students are an integral part of the research and scholarship carried on by faculty. In this way, Marquette researchers not only expand the state of knowledge in their fields but prepare the next generation of scholar leaders. Many Marquette University graduate students and undergraduates present their scholarly work at regional, national, and international meetings and also publish their findings with the faculty member(s) who meet with them daily and serve as their advisers.
Both teaching and scholarship are required of faculty members for promotion and tenure. Many faculty members have external grants which support not only their research, but also the research of students. In addition to the Graduate School, there are other offices that can help students and faculty members in the area of research.
These offices help insure that research carried out at Marquette is ethical and follows state and federal guidelines:
Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP)
Marquette University's central point of coordination for sponsored projects and the legally authorized representative for grants, contracts, and assurances. ORSP represents the sum of Marquette's experience with extramural sponsors and partners over time. ORSP helps faculty and administrators build bridges between Marquette and extramural sponsors and other institutions to advance the University's mission. ORSP fosters excellence in sponsored projects by promoting best practices, policies, and procedures that ensure consistency and efficiency in the University's transactions with sponsors and partners . ORSP hosts workshops and brown-bag sessions to help members of the Marquette community identify suitable sponsors, develop their proposals and project budgets, and manage their grant awards.
Office of Research Compliance (ORC)
Responsible for ensuring that research performed by Marquette University faculty, staff and students is conducted ethically and in compliance with all federal and state regulations. Following the regulations is essential, not only because they are mandated, but also because they ensure that research and scholarship are carried out ethically and have potential benefits. Some important areas overseen by the ORC:
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Research involving human subjects must be approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). This is true for students as well as faculty members. It is essential that approval be obtained before the research is initiated. Submission of research protocols for review after the research has been initiated is a violation of the regulations. Thus, researchers must be diligent in their submittals to the IRB, since failure to obtain timely IRB approval may prevent faculty from publishing their research and may prevent students from having a dissertation or thesis accepted. Failure to obtain approval can also result in the loss of all federal support. The ORC maintains a Federalwide Assurance (FWA) for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research and a registered IRB with the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP).
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Research involving animals must be approved, by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The IACUC ensures that all research involving vertebrate animals is performed ethically and in accordance with all regulating agencies. Currently Marquette University has full accreditation from the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC).
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Research Involving radiation and radioisotopes must be reviewed by the Radiation Safety Committee (RSC). The use of radioisotopes at Marquette University is licensed by the Department of Health and Family Services of the State of Wisconsin.
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# Research involving recombinant DNA or transgenic organisms must be approved and registered by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). The IBC maintains its registration with the Office of Biotechnology Activities (OBA).
