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Initial Publication Date: December 14, 2011

Protecting Human Subjects in Student Inquiry Projects

Project goals

The purpose of this project is to develop streamlined, institutionally- and inter-institutionally-appropriate, and federally-compliant policies and procedures for ensuring that subjects in student projects are protected. Participants will work together to:

  • Clarify the definitions and procedures involved in determining whether a student project requires review by an institution's Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior to project initiation;
  • Develop recommendations for professional development for supervisors of student projects, including options for on-line training;
  • Prepare brief educational materials for undergraduates that help explain the relevance of federal standards for human subjects protection even for projects that do not require IRB review;
  • Develop recommendations for ensuring the protection of human subjects in student projects that do not require IRB review.