Santa Clara University

(Faculty Handbook, Section 3.9.8)

Secret research is defined as any research whose methods or results cannot be published without the prior approval of a sponsor. In order to ensure that research conducted at Santa Clara University is consistent with the principle of free and open inquiry, the University shall not accept grants or contracts for the purpose of secret research.

The University also shall not award degrees for theses or dissertations based on secret research. Exceptions can be made only if the imposition of secrecy was unforeseeable until the work was so far advanced that it could not be modified without substantial inequity to the student.

In no case will the University give a sponsor the right to prevent publication or require modification of data or conclusions. The University may agree, however, to provide advance copies of publications to sponsors for their comment. Upon demonstration of compelling reasons, it may also agree to defer publication for a period of up to six (6) months from the date copies are provided. Any extension of this period must be approved in writing by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Sponsors of research projects occasionally may give the University access to proprietary or classified information. The University will accept such information only under the following conditions:

• The information must be important for the conduct of the research project.
• It must be clearly identified in writing as proprietary or classified.
• Use of the information must not preclude publication of meaningful research results.
• Use of the information must not preclude meaningful participation in the project by any member of the research group.

While the University will make all reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of proprietary or classified information, it cannot accept financial liability for inadvertent disclosure of such information.