Dear Colleagues,
As one of the world’s leading research institutions, the University of Michigan plays a pivotal role in saving lives, advancing our understanding of the world, and improving the quality of life for people across our state and nation. This is a place where important, innovative work is done by our community of scholars and researchers.
We have a commitment to groundbreaking research to improve the lives of others. We also have a strong commitment to protect the public and our national security. That’s why the University of Michigan takes seriously its duty and responsibility to comply with all applicable laws and policies. These laws and policies promote safety, protect the public, and ensure national security issues are addressed. We cannot and will not tolerate violations of this responsibility if we truly care about the research enterprise we have built together. For these reasons, compliance with federal regulations and university policies is a requirement, not an option.
Recently, several individuals have been accused of trying to transport materials across international borders in violation of federal laws and U-M policies, and of making false statements to law enforcement. The university takes these situations extremely seriously. That is why the university is:
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Fully cooperating with federal investigations about these matters;
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Actively reviewing all relevant policies;
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Reexamining internal protocols to determine how to improve training and provide additional guidance; and
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Ensuring that failure to comply with all laws, regulations, and policies will have consequences, up to termination.
The work we do here is important. How we do that work is just as important. Each of us has an obligation to ensure that we follow the law and our policies so our work can continue.
I appreciate your commitment to our critical mission and to conducting that work with the integrity and care it demands.
Sincerely,
Skip
Arthur Lupia
Vice President for Research and Innovation (interim)
Gerald R. Ford Distinguished University Professor