¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä

In order to safeguard academic freedom, ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder has developed policies and procedures pertaining to the acceptance of outside support that imposes any type of restriction on publication or information dissemination (e.g. publication delays, prohibitions, other restrictions on disclosure, etc.).

Balancing University & Sponsor Interests

University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university serving Colorado, the nation, and the world through leadership in high-quality education, public service, and groundbreaking research. The ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder research enterprise considers all collaborations (both domestic and international) and academic freedom as the foundation of innovative basic and applied research. The university remains open to the exchange of ideas, to collaborations across the world, and to attracting and retaining a vibrant community of scholars.

A central mission of the University of Colorado is to develop new knowledge and disseminate it openly and freely. This open process is fundamental to academic freedom, a core and defining principle of the university. The ability of researchers and scholars to conduct their research, scholarship, and creative works is often dependent on financial and infrastructure support from outside entities, which include (but are not limited to) federal, state, and private sector sponsors.

While sponsored research is often critical in fulfilling the university’s mission to create and openly share new knowledge, there are circumstances when conditions of sponsorship potentially impose restrictions on academic freedom. In an increasingly complex research funding environment, at times it may be difficult to strike a balance between the interests of sponsor and university.

Faculty Committee for Restricted, Proprietary and Classified Research (FCRPCR)

The Academic Affairs Policy on Openness in Research provides definitions and general practices under which restricted research can be accepted and establishes the Faculty Committee for Restricted, Proprietary, and Classified Research (FCRPCR).Ìý

• FCRPCR oversees University of Colorado Boulder’s process to conduct restricted research and serves as independent review for any unique cases for which further guidance is required.
• FCRPCR may also provide oversight and guidance, wherever necessary, for emerging restricted research projects which the Request must be altered or expanded to adequately protect faculty and staff.
• FCRPCR has established the process of faculty members requesting approval from their Chair/Appointed Academic Unit Designated Representative to perform restricted research.ÌýThese changed have been approved by the Chancellor.

Updated December 2023

Restricted or Proprietary Research Request Form

The acceptance of research sponsorship that imposes publication restrictions must be managed by the Research and Innovation Office (RIO) and may not be handled independently.

On the ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder campus, all requests for restricted research must incorporate a completed and signed Request to Perform Restricted and/or Proprietary Research. In addition, faculty and staff should not sign their own NDAs but rather work with their OCG representative to ensure these agreements are appropriately reviewed and considered prior to commencing discussions with external parties. More information regarding NDAs may be found here.

Request to Perform Restricted and/or Proprietary Research