We are currently developing boilerplate information but what are
planning might be better described as capability statements that provide
background information on the institution and component units within
colleges and schools here at Arizona State University.  More important
to us is the facility and research capabilities.  I don't believe we
could ever consider project or program specific proposal information
related to individual capabilities  as appropriate material to
considered as boilerplate.

Debra Murphy, CRA
Manager, Sponsor Relations & Compliance
Office for Research & Sponsored Projects Administration
Arizona State University
480-965-2179
480-965-8013 (fax)
xxxxxx@asu.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG] On
Behalf Of Terry May
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2004 7:13 AM
To: xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Boilerplate Descriptions for Proposal
Preparation

Good Morning:  For insight into NSF's view of the issue of whether or
not
inclusion of "boilerplate" constitutes plagiarism, I refer you to the
September 2002 NSF OIG Seminnual report
(http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?oigseptember2002) - pp 42-43
under
"Verbatim Use of Project Management Text from Others' Proposals."

"........., the question of the appropriate use of common (boilerplate)
text
has come to our attention before.  In three other cases (SA citations)
the
PIs did not have permission for their extensive unattributed use of text
authored by others.  In each of these cases, NSF concluded that the PIs
committed research misconduct. NSF debarred two and imposed
certification
and assurance requirements on the third.  In resolving these cases we
learned that either the institution or the original authors had a
practice
of sharing these sections with other PIs at their own, or other
institutions.  This practice raises issues, such as when, if ever, is it
appropriate for PIs to use these types of materials without citation;
what
role should grantees play in overseeing the management sections of
proposals; and what, if anything, should NSF do to change the
expectations
in the project management section of these types of proposals.
Institutional or departmental policies that articulate acceptable
practices
for using and sharing "boilerplate" text would ensure that authors
understand the authorized uses of boilerplate text they authored and may
therefore reduce the number of allegations."

This reinforces the message that it is always a good idea to cite and
quote
text used verbatim that was written by others.  Terry-
*******************************************************************
Terry A. May, Ph.D.
Director of Research Development
524 S. Kedzie
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI  48824-1032
 xxxxxx@msu.edu
 517/432-7140 Office/voice mail [Main Number 353-1768]
 432-9555 Fax
*******************************************************************

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