Human Subjects Review Process

Proposal Preparation

Researchers who would like to conduct studies involving the Gordon State College Community, and whose studies do not fit any of the previously described exempt categories, must submit a proposal to the Chair of the Human Subjects Review Committee. The proposal will include two (2) copies of each of the following documents:

  1. A completed Human Subjects Review Application. (Save the hyperlinked MS Word form to your computer, complete, re-save, and print).
  2. Samples of documents to be used in conjunction with data collection, such as:
    1. Interview Questions
    2. Survey or Questionnaire Samples
    3. Worksheets, Tests, Quizzes, etc.
  3. An Informed Consent Form specific to the proposed study.
  4. If the proposed study is being conducted by a researcher from an institution other than Gordon State College, the contact information for that Institution’s Human Subjects Review Board must be provided on a separate sheet. If the researcher is a student, the contact information for the faculty sponsor at their home institution must also be provided on the same sheet.
  5. Any other appropriate primary research documents which clearly illustrate the methodology of the proposed study.
  6. The HSR Committee requires that all researchers be certified to conduct human studies research. In order to certify, they ask that you and any other researcher listed on the application complete the NIH training. National Institute of Health (NIH) Online Training.

The Chair will notify applicants if the proposal is incomplete, and will hold the proposal until either the end of the semester, at which point the incomplete proposal will be filed, or until the applicant submits all missing documents. Once the proposal is complete, it will go to review.

NOTE: All proposals will be kept on file in the Office of the Director of Institutional Research.

NOTE: All approved proposals are subject to periodic review.

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Process for Exemption

The Chair will classify all incoming proposals as Exempt, subject to Expedited Review, or subject to Full Review.

  1. If a proposal is Exempt, the Committee will notify the applicant in writing, and research may begin without further correspondence from the HSRC. The proposal, along with the Committee’s written notation justifying exempt status, will be kept on file. Upon approval of the study, the Committee will send a courtesy letter of notification to individuals who direct or chair the offices or divisions in which the research will occur.
  2. If the proposal is not exempt, it will go to either Expedited or Full Review, based on the Committee’s judgment.

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Process for Expedited Review

For Expedited Review, The Chair will contact the HSRC member most familiar with the content area of the research proposal. If the researcher is a member of the HSRC, or if the Chair is the HSRC member most familiar with the content area, then an alternate member of the Committee will be contacted. This Expedited Review Panel will determine if the proposal should be accepted, accepted with revisions, or recommended for Full Review. The Panel may also solicit input from a third HSRC member.

  1. If the proposal is accepted, the Chair will notify the applicant in writing, and research may begin without further correspondence from the HSRC. The Chair will also send a courtesy letter of notification to individuals who direct or chair the offices or divisions in which the research will occur. The proposal, along with written notation justifying Expedited Review status and approval, will be kept on file.
  2. If the proposal is recommended with revisions, the applicant must submit two (2) copies of the required changes, which must be approved by the Expedited Review Panel. Once accepted, the Chair will notify the applicant in writing, and research may begin without further correspondence from the HSRC. The Chair will also send a courtesy letter of notification to individuals who direct or chair the offices or divisions in which the research will occur. The proposal, along with written notation justifying Expedited Review status, revisions, and approval, will be kept on file.
  3. If the Expedited Review Panel deems it necessary, the proposal will go to Full Review.

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Process for Full Review

For Full Review, the Chair will forward copies of the proposal under review to all members of the Human Subjects Review Committee and call a meeting of the same, allotting for sufficient review time. The Committee will determine if the proposal should be accepted, accepted with revisions, or rejected. Quorum must be reached for any decision to be made.

  1. If the proposal is accepted, the Chair will notify the applicant in writing, and research may begin without further correspondence from the HSRC. The Chair will also send a courtesy letter of notification to individuals who direct or chair the offices or divisions in which the research will occur. The proposal, along with written notation justifying Full Review status and approval, will be kept on file.
  2. If the proposal is recommended with revisions, the applicant must submit two (2) copies of the required changes, which must be approved by the Full Review Panel. Once accepted, the Chair will notify the applicant in writing, and research may begin without further correspondence from the HSRC. The Chair will also send a courtesy letter of notification to individuals who direct or chair the offices or divisions in which the research will occur. The proposal, along with written notation justifying Full Review status, revisions, and approval, will be kept on file.
  3. If the proposal is rejected, the Chair will notify the applicant in writing, informing the applicant of the Committee’s justification for rejection. The proposal, along with written notation justifying rejection, will be kept on file.

NOTE: If a change is required for research in-process, the researcher must provide two (2) copies of written documentation reflecting the necessary changes to the Chair. The changes will then go through the review process, and must be approved before research continues. The approved changes to the study, along with written notation justifying revisions and approval, will be filed with the original proposal.

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