Alleged Research Misconduct Can End College Presidencies. Are Search Committees Looking for It?

Controversies over alleged research misconduct that scuttled the presidencies of two of the most well-known universities in the world in the past year have raised questions about whether such issues should have been caught before the presidents were hired — and whether search committees can do more to find red flags before contracts are signed. Marc Tessier-Lavigne, of Stanford, stepped down in July following months of controversy about alleged data manipulation in his prior scientific research. And Claudine Gay, of Harvard, resigned Tuesday after she was accused of plagiarism in her academic writing.