Policy Manual

Effective July 1, 2023, this policy has been revised. For individual changes, see the redlined version.

1. Access to database information. The Division of Sponsored Programs maintains a database of pending and active sponsored research activities conducted at The University of Iowa. This database includes, for each sponsored research project in the University, the name of the principal investigator, the project title, the amount and source of funding, and the project time period. Requests for public access to information contained in this database are governed by the Iowa Open Records Law (IC 22) and V-17 Records Management.
2. Access to sponsored research–related materials. The University has a commitment to create and disseminate knowledge. The University also has the responsibility to assist its research investigators and sponsors in the protection of their intellectual property. It is, therefore, the policy of the University to permit access by the public to the scholarly materials relating to funded grants and contracts in accordance with federal laws and the Iowa Open Records Law while also recognizing the need to protect intellectual property rights. Should the requestor of the information conclude that any deletions are without foundation, this issue should be addressed to the Office of the General Counsel. In such instances the General Counsel may consult specialists in the specific field of inquiry, within or outside of the University, with the understanding that the specialists will keep confidential whatever is learned from examining the materials.