Lewis and Clark Community College (L&C) Policy on Human Subjects Research

L&C and federal policies and regulations require that any research activities involving human subjects be conducted in such a manner as to:

• Respect and protect the rights and welfare of the subjects involved;
• Ensure that informed consent is obtained when this is appropriate / required; and
• Ensure that potential benefits from the research outweigh any risks

L&C is fully committed to ensuring the responsible and ethical treatment of any human subjects involved in research, whether conducted by College students or employees directly, or in partnership with others on- or off-campus.  This responsibility is shared by L&C and the individual researcher(s).  It is L&C’s responsibility to ensure that this policy and mandated procedures are in place, fully communicated, and effectively administered.

As a matter of policy, anyone proposing to conduct research of any kind involving human subjects must first obtain the approval of L&C’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), initially through the IRB co-chairs - the Dean of Mathematics, Science and Technology and the Director of Institutional Research and Planning, and if deemed necessary, through a convening of the full IRB. 

Procedures for Submitting Research Approval Requests

Please refer to the Human Subjects Research (HSR) Faculty and Staff Manual for information regarding policies, procedures, frequently asked questions, a glossary of terms, and other information.  All requests must use the appropriate forms (see links below) and must be submitted electronically at least 30 calendar days prior to the date of the intended research.

Forms and Other Links

1. Internal Proposal to Conduct Research on the L&C Campus
2. External Proposal to Conduct Research on the L&C Campus
3. Informed Consent for Surveys
4. Informed Consent for Interviews and Focus Groups
5. Racial - Ethnic Classifications