Step Four: Submit to the REC
All proposals must be submitted to the REC through email. Please send all required materials to rec@spalding.edu. You may choose to combine your materials or save them separately. However, consent documents and recruitment scripts must be saved as their own, separate files. Additionally, these must be sent over as word documents. You will receive confirmation that your proposal has been received and was sent over for processing.
We cannot rush a proposal because it was not submitted with ample time for review. Expedited proposals can take a minimum of two weeks to review. Full board proposals are reviewed by the committee once per month (see below for meeting dates). Materials must be submitted at least one week prior to the upcoming meeting date. Proposals not received at least one week prior to the meeting date will not be reviewed until the following meeting.
If you are required to make changes, this can add extra time. Please plan accordingly.
Full Board Review Meeting Dates
January 7th, 2022
February 4th, 2022
March 4th, 2022
April 1st, 2022
May 6th, 2022
June 9th, 2022
July 7th, 2022
August 4th, 2022
As mentioned above, if your proposal requires full board review, you must submit all materials at least one week prior to the meeting date.
Step Five: Notification of Project Status
The REC requires an annual review of research. You are responsible for updating the committee regarding the status of your project one year after approval date. If you have completed your project, please email the REC to notify them. You must use the template on the right side of the page. Similarly, if you require an extension, you must notify the committee using the template on the right side of the page.
Your extension request must be sent over at least 30 days prior to your expiration date. If you do not request an extension before your expiration date, you are subject to renewal status and may require a new review by the REC. If your project expires before the extension request is sent over or the new review has been completed/full approval granted, you are not permitted to continue data collection during that time.
Additional Information
If you have additional questions, please reach out to rec@spalding.edu.
As of April 30th, 2019, online survey research will only be approved if conducted through the University QuestionPro account. The Spalding University QuestionPro account can be located here: https://questionpro.com/edu
Anyone attempting to publish or present research, a case study, etc. is required to submit to the REC for approval if they have not already done so. If you have questions about if you need REC approval for your own purposes, please email rec@spalding.edu
Please follow this link to be directed to the OHRP website with informational materials and resources: https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/education-and-outreach/about-research-participation/printable-educational-materials/index.html
Addendums Deadline: If you need to submit an addendum to your project, this must be done at least 30 days prior to project expiration date. Addendums requests that are not submitted at least 30 days prior to your expiration date will not be approved.
Snowball Sampling
Snowball recruitment consists of the researcher obtaining names and contact information from one participant for another one. For research involving sensitive topics, this may not be the best method. Using such a method could result in the researcher obtaining information about an individual that is sensitive and private without their permission. An alternate method might be asking other subjects to pass along flyers, emails, information sheets, etc. that contain contact information for the researcher to prevent a breach in confidentiality or an invasion of privacy.
If using snowball sampling, you must indicate how you will ensure that a subject’s privacy is protected during your recruitment. The steps taken to minimize the risk of violating an individual’s privacy should be articulated in the recruitment section of the protocol.
Participants cannot receive incentives or compensation for referrals. If this is relevant to your project, you must provide the REC with an advertisement script or flyer that can be distributed electronically to other people who might be interested or qualified to participate in the study. You must let potential participants know that they may be asked to provide names of other potential recruits along with the knowledge that they have a right to decline to provide this information.
If a participant consents, you must obtain the subject’s written permission to reveal their identity for subsequent contacts on the consent form via an initialed check list item. That is, if the subject agrees to provide names of other possible contacts, they could initial a check box on the consent form that they agree to allow their identity to be revealed to subsequent contacts. Not initialing the box would be interpreted as meaning the subject is unwilling to permit their name to be used when making the additional contacts, even if they supplied the names and contact information.
Research Ethics Committee Office:
REC Committee Members
Lisa Potts Natural Sciences, Chair - 2021-2024
Regina Martin Business - 2019-2022
Norah Chapman Psychology - 2022-2025
Kristen Harris Education - 2019-2022
Jyoti Heiple ASOT - 2021-2024
Leslie Cairo Social Work - 2021-2024
Goutam Singh Natural Sciences - 2021-2024
Cindee Quake-Rapp Community Member - 2020-2023
Nicole Hagan Graduate Assistant - 2018
