Deontology, mediation and scientific integrity

The role of the deontologist advisor is to advise both the governance and bodies of the institution, and the staff of the University who consult him on the respect of ethical obligations and principles applicable to civil servants:

• Principles of dignity, impartiality, integrity, probity, neutrality, secularity
• Combating conflicts of interest
• Hierarchical obedience, discretion and professional secrets
• Principle of the prohibition of multiple activities
• Declarations of interest or financial situation for staff members appointed to a post where the hierarchical level or the nature of the duties justify it
• Obligation for staff members with economic or financial responsibilities whose hierarchical level or nature of duties justify it, to take all measures to ensure that their financial instruments are managed in conditions that exclude any right of inspection on their part.

The deontologist advisor has a role of prevention, training and vigilance for the entire university community. He or she receives requests for information on ethical issues and provides expertise on the application of ethical obligations and principles in the day-to-day performance of staff members’ duties, and on the legal risks incurred in the event of non-compliance. It also collects and investigates allegations relating to breaches of ethics, in particular situations likely to be qualified as conflicts of interest.

La Rochelle Université is committed to implementing an institutional policy on scientific integrity. The main tasks of the scientific integrity officer are as follows :

• to participate in the definition of policies for compliance with the requirements of scientific integrity
• in conjunction with the deontologist advisor, coordinate awareness-raising and training activities and organise measures to prevent and detect breaches of scientific integrity requirements
• investigate questions and admissible reports relating to such breaches that are referred to him or her
• guarantee the confidentiality of the procedure for handling reports
• transmit as soon as possible to the competent body of the institution a report designed to enable it to decide on the action to be taken in respect of each report investigated
• ensure that the data and publications affected by the breach of scientific integrity requirements are reported to the parties concerned
• inform the President of the University of internal systems or practices that do not offer sufficient guarantees in terms of scientific integrity

The scientific integrity referent is the first point of contact for all actors in the University’s research sector who have a question about scientific integrity and for all those who believe they have observed a breach.

The Secularism, Racism, and Antisemitism Coordinator:

• helps shape the institution’s policy on combating racism and antisemitism (by participating in the drafting of internal regulations, organizing initiatives aimed at preventing racist, antisemitic, or discriminatory acts, etc.);
• promotes a culture of respect for the law and a better understanding of the fight against racism and antisemitism among the groups within their scope of activity;
• provides, at the request of the disciplinary committee, an analysis to assist it in investigating incidents of a racist, antisemitic, or discriminatory nature;
• identifies racist, anti-Semitic, or discriminatory acts occurring within its jurisdiction;
• participates, as appropriate, in responding to surveys conducted by the Ministry or the National Observatory on Discrimination and Equality in Higher Education (Ondes);
• participates in the national network of “racism and anti-Semitism” liaisons coordinated by the Ministry.