Gordon College

HUMAN SUBJECTS REVIEW

Contents

Introduction

The Gordon College Human Subjects Review Committee (HSRC) is the body of college community members responsible for the protection and welfare of human subjects who participate in research connected to Gordon College either through researcher and/or participant affiliation. The HSRC operates according to policies established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 45, Part 46, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 21, Part 50 and Part 56.

Gordon College understands that the relationship between teaching and research is mutually beneficial. Good teachers are well-versed in the literature and research practices of their disciplines; simultaneously, good research leads to better disciplinary understanding and, when applied, to better teaching. The HSRC is therefore dedicated to helping researchers, both within and from beyond the Gordon College community, maintain the same high standard of excellence required by research institutions.

The committee is composed of seven members: a faculty appointee selected from each of the four College Divisions (Nursing, Business and Social Sciences, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and Humanities), a Faculty Senate Representative, a Student Representative, and the Director of Institutional Research. The committee reports to the Faculty Senate.

2008-2009 Academic Year Committee Membership
Name Division Contact
Pam Terry Business & Soc Science p_terry@gdn.edu
Kelly McMurray Director of Institutional Research kellym1@gdn.edu
Prathiba Joshi Business & Soc Science pjoshi@gdn.edu
Alcena Rogan Humanities arogan@gdn.edu
Greg Hartman Math & Nat Sciences ghartman@gdn.edu
Veronica Taylor Nursing & Health Sciences vtaylor@gdn.edu
Onica Matsika Student Representative om129128@gdn.edu

Human Subjects Review Policy

The Gordon College Human Subjects Review Committee uses the following lists of research characteristics to place studies either within or beyond the HSRC domain. Questions and requests for clarification related to items on this list may be directed to the Committee Chair.

Research that must be reviewed by the Human Subjects Review Committee includes the following:

  • Studies conducted by Gordon College faculty, staff, or administration which involve human subject participants from Gordon College, and/or which are intended for publication outside the college in mass-marketed or discipline-related journals, magazines, books, etc., of print copy or electronic nature, and/or which are intended for presentation in local, state, regional, national, or international conferences, and/or which may have potential consequences on individual safety and security, right to privacy, employment, etc. Examples include collecting sensitive demographic information, such as race, religion, or sexual orientation, or collecting finance-related data, such as income or investment data.
  • Studies conducted by graduate or professional researchers from other institutions which adhere to the above criteria of human subject participation, publication, presentation, and/or demographics collection.

Research that does not need to be reviewed by the Human Subjects Review Committee includes the following:

  • Classroom research conducted by Gordon College faculty or students which does not involve minors, involves no more than minimal risk, involves no deception, does not result in publication or presentation outside the college, and does not include videotaping.
  • Staff research in which participants are over 18, existing student records are used, and student data is anonymous.
  • Institutional research mandated by federal, state, or Gordon College government which may require a survey of minors because of college demographics, but which adheres to all remaining criteria for exemption.

Researchers who are unsure if their proposed study fits within the parameters described above may direct e-mail inquiries to the HSRC Chair. The Chair will notify the applicant in writing, and prescribe a course of action.