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Institutional Review Committee for Human Subjects | Committee Procedures |PDF
I. Name
The name of this committee shall be the Institutional Review Committee (IRC) for Human Subjects of Tennessee Technological University.
II. Purpose
The primary purpose of the committee is to serve as the Institutional Review Committee for the protection of human subjects in research, special projects, and related activities of the University. Other duties include:
A. Serve as the institutional review board for the University according to requirements for the protection of human subjects as set forth by the federal regulations created by Congress (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45 Part 46).
B. Establish and implement policies and procedures for protection of human subjects in funded and non-funded research.
C. Establish and -recommend guidelines for classroom activities involving human subjects. These guidelines are for implementation by academic departments within the University.
D. Establish and recommend policies relating to ethics and misconduct in research and related activities dealing with human subjects.
E. Review and act on matters referred by the Administrative Council, Academic Council, President of the University, Office of Research, Faculty Research Committee, administrators, and faculty.
III. Membership
The committee shall consist of the following members appointed by the University President in accordance with the approved procedures for appointment:
A. A minimum of five (5) persons as members with varying backgrounds to promote complete and accurate review of research and related activities.
B. A membership that includes (1) at least one member with purely scientific interests and one member with mainly ethical interests, (2) both male and female members, and (3) as many department, college/school representatives with interests in human subjects as is appropriate to ensure disciplinary diversity.
C. All members appointed to the committee shall be able to ascertain acceptability of proposed research and related activities in terms of institutional commitment and regulations regarding research, applicable law, and standards of professional conduct and practice.
D. All members shall be sufficiently qualified through experience and expertise, as well as through diversity (including consideration of race, gender, and cultural backgrounds), to possess a level of sensitivity to issues and attitudes that will promote respect for its counsel and advice in safeguarding the rights and welfare of all human subjects.
E. Members shall serve on the committee for a period of three years with appointments becoming effective at the beginning of each fall semester. Appointments are made so that terms of the members are staggered with no more than three members' terms expiring at the same time. All appointments are subject to renewal at the discretion of the President.
IV. Officers
A. Chairperson
The Chairperson shall be elected annually from and by the membership at the first meeting of the academic year. The Chairperson shall:
1. Preside at all meetings or designate a member to serve in his or her absence.
2. Prepare and distribute a tentative agenda to committee members at least two working days prior to the meeting.
3. Provide for the recording of minutes.
4. Call special meetings and appoint ad hoc subcommittees when necessary.
5. Inform the administration and faculty of actions taken by the committee.
6. Assume responsibility for the preparation and distribution of the annual report (in collaboration with the Executive Officer) to the Administrative Council and the President of the University.
7. Assume responsibility for the execution of committee policies through the Executive Officer.
B. Executive Officer
The President will appoint a staff member, who will normally be the Assistant Vice President for Research, to serve as the Executive Officer. The Executive Officer shall:
1. Serve as a consultant to the committee and provide assistance in the conduct of committee business.
2. Attend all meetings without voting privileges.
3. Provide administrative support and assistance to the Chairperson in the conduct and coordination of activities of the committee.
4. Receive and prepare research proposals for review by the committee.
V. Meetings and Attendance
A. Meetings
1 There will be a minimum of two meetings of the committee each semester. Special committee meetings and subcommittee meetings may be called by the Chairperson as necessary for
the performance of responsibilities. Meetings of the committee will be held in September, November, February, and April. The exact day shall be determined each semester by the membership.
2. Changes in the date and time of regular meetings shall be made known to the membership as soon as the change is necessitated.
3 Research proposals shall be distributed and/or made available by the Executive Officer to members for review prior to scheduled meetings.
4. The agenda for the meeting shall be adopted at the beginning of each meeting.
5 Sixty percent (60%) of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
B. Attendance
1. If a member must be absent from a meeting, notice should be given to the Chairperson or the Executive Officer and the name of the person who will attend for the member provided.
2. A "representative" for the absent member must be approved by the Chairperson since special expertise is required for committee membership. The representative for the absent member shall have voting privileges.
3 Absence from fifty percent (50%) of regular meetings by a member without due cause will result in a request by the committee to the President of the University for replacement of that member.
VI. Amendment of Procedures
These procedures shall be amended at any regular meeting of the committee by a majority vote of the membership present provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing to the members at least one week prior to the meeting where the voting will take place.
VII. Effective Date of Implementation
These procedures shall become effective upon review by the Administrative Council and approval by the President of the University.
VIII. Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the most current edition of Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the committee in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the procedures contained in this document.
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