Center for Forensic Science Acceptable Conduct Policy - NMU Policies and Requirements

Center for Forensic Science Guidelines
Guidelines are developed by the Director of the Center for Forensic Science, which from this point forward will be referred to as "Center" with input from the Dean of Students Office and the NMU Police Department. Changes to the guidelines are approved by the NMU Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Definitions

Authorized User: An Authorized User is any individual who has been authorized by the Center Director or designee to use the property and structures associated with the Center or any associated interior or exterior technology, equipment, vehicles, tools, or data (including images and videos) stored or collected at any of the facilities or property under Center oversight. Authorized Users must meet role-based criteria in order to be granted authorization by the Director or designee (please refer to the Center for Forensic Science Role-Based User Access Policy).

Director: For the purpose of this policy, "Director" refers to the NMU employee whose position description indicates that he/she is responsible for oversight of operations at all Center facilities. The Center "Director" may appoint a designee to assist with oversight of Center operations. The "Director" or designee has sole discretion over authorization of Users and permissions concerning access and use of the Center facilities and any materials (data, images, samples) derived from human remains donated to the Center through the Body Donation Program. The "Director" must occupy a full-time position with the university, but may have a faculty or staff designation.

Forensic Research Outdoor Station: The Forensic Research Outdoor Station, which from this point forward will be referred to as "FROST," is the outdoor research and educational facility. FROST refers to the FROST property (located at 1960 U.S. 41 S, Marquette, Ml 49855), which is legally owned by Northern Michigan University as assessed by the State of Michigan, the fenced field, fencing and gates, and on-site structures.

Forensic Anthropology Research Laboratory: The Forensic Anthropology Research Laboratory, which from this point forward will be referred to as "FARL," is the indoor research and educational facility. FARL refers to the interior and exterior of the laboratory building (located at 1020 Wright Street, Marquette, Ml 49855), all attached equipment, the associated parking lot, and the property extending from the building to Wright Street.

Scenario Space: The mobile wall unit scenario space is located in Room 504 at the Jacobetti Center when it is stationary, though due to its mobile nature, all or part of it may be temporarily moved to another location for marketing, training, or educational purposes. Use of this space requires prior authorization from the Center Director or designee. 

User: For the purpose of this policy, "User" is any individual who enters, or attempts to enter, uses, or attempts to use the property and structures associated with the Center or any associated interior or exterior technology, equipment, vehicles, tools, or data (including images and videos) stored or collected at any of the facilities or property under Center oversight. All “Authorized Users” fall under “Users,” but not all “Users” are “Authorized Users.”

Access and Security

Only Authorized Users are permitted to access, enter, or use Center facilities or associated technology, equipment, vehicles, tools, or data.

Users are prohibited from entering or using Center facilities without prior authorization from the Director. Authorized Users are prohibited from bringing guests to Center facilities unless guests are also Authorized Users and have received prior authorization from the Director or designee. 

Use of personal mobile phones, cameras, and other visual recording devices is prohibited within FROST and FARL. Users' personal devices must remain in Users' vehicles when at FROST and must remain in locked property lockers when at FARL. Users will have access to a University phone when working at FROST for safety and security purposes.

For their own personal protection and the protection of Center facilities, Authorized Users must not share their keys, swipe card, or computer username or password with any other persons. Users must not use keys, swipe cards, or computer username and passwords associated with another person's identity to access FROST, FARL, the Scenario Space, or associated facilities, technology, equipment, vehicles, tools, or data.

Use of computers or computer networks at FROST or FARL are subject to provisions outlined in NMU's Computer Network Acceptable Use policy. 

Privacy/Confidentiality/Research Integrity

Users shall not capture images (including videos) at FROST or FARL sites on personal cameras, mobile phones, or other personal recording or image capture devices. Users shall not capture images (including videos) on University equipment of themselves, other Users, or research subjects at FROST or FARL without prior authorization from the Director. All images and data collected with Center equipment are considered property of the Center.

Unauthorized duplication, publication, public display, or other release of data, including images, collected or stored in any Center facility or property under the oversight of the Center is prohibited.

Users must respect the confidentiality of our human donors. Users who access Personally Identifying Information (PII) or Personal Health Information (PHI) associated with human donors without prior authorization by the Director or designee will face disciplinary action. Unauthorized duplication, publication, public display, or other release of donor PIl or PHI, including images of the face or any other potentially identifiable information is prohibited. While Center donors are no longer living and are therefore not protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), HIPAA confidentiality provisions are considered best practice and Center users shall adhere to them.

The Director or designee is authorized to utilize video images, computer history, audit logs, and/or any other detection control devices or programs to identify unauthorized Users who access or attempt to access interior or exterior technology, equipment, vehicles, tools, or data (including images and videos) or donor Pll/PHI.

Inflicting intentional harm on human remains, wildlife, or other Users at any Center facilities is prohibited. "Intentional harm" refers to non-research-related infliction of trauma or damage to any of the human donor remains, wildlife that may be present on facility property, or any other Users of Center facilities. Research-related trauma or damage to donor remains requires prior authorization from the Director. Any research involving wildlife at FROST (whether inside or outside of the fenced area) must adhere to NMU's Animal Welfare Assurance policy.

Laws

Center facility Users are responsible for knowing and adhering to the provisions of Michigan Public Health Code Act 368 of 1978 (includes disposition of human remains, anatomical gift law, etc.).

FROST Safety and Emergencies

Both the FROST and FARL sites are removed from other classroom and traditional learning sites. As such, the Director has developed safety procedures for working at both sites. Users must adhere to these safety procedures when accessing or using either site. If there is an emergency injury or incident at either site, dial 911 to call the nearest emergency responder. If there is a non-emergency injury or incident at either site, immediately contact the NMU Police Department, then contact the Center for Forensic Science Director.

Be prepared to tell them the location of the site, which is:

FROST (Forensic Research Outdoor Station)
1960 U.S. 41 S, Marquette, Ml 49855

The FROST property can be accessed by vehicle via a service road located at the back of the Marquette Department of Natural Resources parking lot (the DNR address is 1990 U.S. 41 S, Marquette, MI 49855).

FARL (Forensic Anthropology Research Laboratory)
1020 Wright Street, Marquette Ml 49855

The building is located just west of the Wright Street / Sugarloaf Avenue round·a·bout, on the north side of Wright Street, adjacent to the NMU Ripley Heating Plant.

NMU Police Department
906-227-2151

Director, Center for Forensic Science:
Office: 906-227-6411
Cell Phone: 906-458-5868

Student Code

Student behavior on and off campus is governed under the NMU Student Code as written in the NMU Student Handbook (www.nmu.edu/handbook). All policies and code of conduct regulations listed in the handbook also apply to the use of Center facilities. Users are responsible for reviewing the NMU Student Handbook especially as it relates to communication and use of University resources.

Disciplinary Actions

Violation of this policy or other NMU policies as they apply to Center resources and facilities will result in disciplinary action.

When NMU has reasonable cause to believe there has been inappropriate use of Center facilities, NMU staff is empowered to take immediate remedial action. Both the Center Director and/or the NMU Police Department may temporarily or permanently deny a User or Authorized User access to one or more Center facilities at their discretion.

Punishment for violation of the Center for Forensic Science Acceptable Conduct Policy may include, but is not limited to, temporary or permanent loss of access to one or more of the Center facilities and/or resources and/or data stored at or collected from Center facilities, or further disciplinary action deemed necessary by the Dean of Students Office or where appropriate, the Human Resources Office, Office of the Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs, or law enforcement agencies.

Users who violate this policy and face disciplinary action may be temporarily or permanently banned from use of any or all of the Center for Forensic Science facilities, technology, equipment, vehicles, tools, and data. Following disciplinary proceedings, access may be reinstated at the Center Director’s sole discretion.