Request to Conduct Research Study

All requests for conducting educational research must be filed with the Department of Institutional Research through the submission to the Research Review Committee of a signed Application for Research Study along with the required supporting documentation.

As part of the Application process, the Research Review Committee will also request the submission of evidence of participation in a human subjects training course, and may require additional training in the area of conducting research involving human subjects. Please be aware specifically of this guidance if you wish to use students as research subjects or data collectors: Guidance for use of students as subjects or data collectors.

The Research Review Committee will convene to assess completed application packets (with all required signatures) and will determine whether the application will be approved or denied based on the level of risk to participants and the best interests of the college. Research may not violate any state or federal law pertaining to the protection of privacy and can present no more than a minimal risk to participants. Minimal risk is defined as the as per the Code of Federal Regulations, 45 CFR 46.102 (i).

The probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater in and of themselves than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests.

The Chair of the Research Review Committee (or designee) will notify the applicant(s) of the approval or rejection of the application. At any time, if further participation in the project is considered to be not in the best interest of the college, the researcher will be notified of the termination immediately.

When there is a change to the protocol or personnel, the research is complete or discontinued or at the end of 12 months (whichever comes first) the researcher is required to submit a Research Study Update form to the Research Review Committee. If the research has not been completed within the allotted twelve months, the applicant may request an extension of time of time for completion.

The researcher(s) submitting the application will be required to agree to supply the Department of Institutional Research with a complete, final version of the research report as well as copies of all publications and presentations for placement in the central research files.