Policy and Procedures

Policy Declaration

It is the policy of the University that no research conducted under the jurisdiction of the University exposes persons who participate as participants or respondents to unreasonable risks to their health, general well-being, or privacy. Further, it is the policy of the University that no research conducted under its jurisdiction should be contrary to the mission of the institution.

Specifically, the University is concerned that in all research, development, and related activities involving the use of human participants:

• The rights and welfare of the individuals involved are adequately protected.
• The participation of participants is based on freely given informed consent; and the individual is free to withdraw consent and discontinue participation at any time without loss of benefits or other negative consequences.
• The risks to the participant are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits to the participant and the importance of the knowledge to be gained as to warrant a decision to allow the participant to accept these risks.

Therefore all research activities involving the use of human participants are submitted for prior review by the University Institutional Review Board to (1) ensure that the above conditions are met, and (2) encourage and promote a high level of campus awareness and communication regarding University research projects.

Primary responsibility for assuring that the rights and welfare of the individuals involved are protected continues to rest with the principal investigators conducting research involving the use of human participants. This responsibility is shared by others engaged in the conduct of the research. Faculty or staff who assign or supervise research conducted by students have an obligation to consider carefully whether those students are qualified to safeguard adequately the rights and welfare of participants.

Procedures

All members of the St. Ambrose University (faculty, staff, students) who wish to do research involving human participants are to complete an explanation of their intended research (using either the Research Proposal Form) and submit it for review to the Institutional Review Board. The Board will then determine whether or not the research meets university policy guidelines. It is the researcher's responsibility to submit this information to the committee prior to conducting research, including pilot studies. Faculty who intend to conduct research in their classrooms with their students should submit these forms prior to beginning that research. Projects are approved for a one (1) year period. Researchers are required to submit a status report either upon completion of a project, or within one year of approval, whichever comes first. Ongoing projects require annual submission of a status report.

The Board usually meets twice a month during the Fall and Spring semesters, plus one meeting during the Summer. Proposals for review should be submitted electronically to the IRB Chair at least two weeks prior to the meeting date. See the Meeting Dates page for more details.