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Academics

Research Policy

Students and faculty undertaking research involving human and animal subjects follow standards that assure confidentiality and ethical treatment.

Review Board for Research on Human Subjects

Submission and Review Guidelines

Normally, the review board should convene its first meeting within the first ten (10) working days of the Fall and Spring semesters. To insure that a proposal is reviewed at the first meeting, proposals must be submitted to the Chair by the first day of classes in the respective semester. “FORM A” (Word) should be used for submission of new proposals. Instructions on how to fill out Form A can be downloaded here (Word). Sample completed forms can be  downloaded here (Word). If the study involves the use of invasive procedures including threat, embarrassment, drugs, shock, or deception,“FORM B” (Word) must also be completed.

One completed copy, including all written materials that will be submitted to the subjects (e.g. questionnaires, consent forms, debriefing forms), should be sent to the review board chair.

In accordance with Federal Guidelines for research with human subjects, you must obtain informed consent (Word) from all of your research subjects. If the subject is a minor (age 17 or under), you must obtain written consent from a parent or guardian. Use the Parental/Guardian Consent Form (Word) for this purpose. Stamped return envelopes may be obtained from the Chair of the Committee.

Normally, proposals will be reviewed within five (5) working days of the date they are submitted to the board. Approval of a project requires a favorable vote of at least five of the eight board members.

The primary investigator will receive written notification of the outcome of the review within two (2) working days of the Board’s decision. However, in some cases the Board may determine that more extensive discussion of a proposal is required, that the PI must provide additional information regarding their proposal or that the proposal must be revised and resubmitted for review. For these reasons, investigators are strongly encouraged to submit their proposals at least three (3) weeks prior to the end of classes in the semester that they intend to start the project.

The deadline for submission by students of projects for review will be four full weeks before the date of the end of classes in the semester in which the research is to be carried out/completed.

Projects that are to be conducted during a period when classes are not normally in session (i.e., during the summer or over the winter break) must be submitted for review during the semester preceding the proposed starting date of the project.

Review of proposals submitted within the last week of classes in any semester will normally be deferred until the following semester.

Renewals

An important duty of the Board is to maintain a record of all active research protocols. Therefore, projects that have been previously approved by the Board must be re-submitted for renewal whenever the research project is repeated. “FORM C: Section I” (Word) should be used for this purpose.

Normally, the Chair will determine if there have been substantive changes that warrant a review by the full membership of the committee. Otherwise, the Chair is authorized to renew a previously approved proposal. The Chair will notify the full membership of the Board whenever a renewal is authorized in this manner.

In instances of longitudinal research, the PI must submit a brief paragraph (“FORM C: Section II”) that summarizes in lay terms the findings of the study and the justifications for renewal.

Useful Websites with Ethics Materials

American Anthropological Association

American Psychological Association

Download Forms

Contact

Professor George Spilich
E-mail: gspilich2@washcoll.edu

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

The board is composed of faculty, staff and students as well as a consulting veterinarian and a representative of the local community. The IACUC us charged with reviewing all proposals to insure that the use of animals by faculty, staff members or students in teaching and research will comply with the following public laws, policies, and guidelines:

U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research and Education” as established by the Interagency Research Animal Committee (IRAC).

Public Health Service “Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” published by the Office for Protection from Research

Risks (OPRR) and enforced through the Health Research Extension Act, Pub. L.99-158, November 20, 1985.

“Animal Welfare Act” of August 24, 1966 (Pub. L. 89-544) as amended December 24, 1970 (Pub. L. 91-579); April 22, 1976 (Pub. L. 94-279); December 17, 1985 (Pub. L. 99-198); November 28, 1990 (pub. L. 101-624); January 23, 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171); May 3, 2007 (Pub. L. 110-22); and June 18, 2008 (Pub. L. 110-246)

“Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals,” NIH Publication No. 85-23 (hereinafter referred to as the Guide).

It is strongly suggested that investigators familiarize themselves with these documents and consult with the IACUC during the process of designing the experiment.

Submission and Review Guidelines

Normally, the IACUC meets once each semester to review protocol proposals for research projects that utilize vertebrate animals as subjects. To insure that a proposal is reviewed at the committee’s meeting, proposals must be submitted within the first three weeks of the semester in which the project is intended to commence. The official “FORM” must be used for submission of new proposals or addenda to an approved protocol. Digital/electronic copies (MSWord or PDF formats) of the completed forms and any appendicies should be submitted via e-mail to the Chair of the IACUC.wc_iacuc@washcoll.edu

Protocols submitted for review after the committee meeting will be circulated to committee members for review within two weeks of submission. However, if the members of the committee deem it is necessary they may defer their final decision until the next scheduled meeting of the full committee.

The primary investigator will receive written notification of the outcome of the review within two (2) working days of the Board’s decision. - However, in some cases the Board may determine that more extensive discussion of a proposal is required, that the PI must provide additional information regarding their proposal or that the proposal must be revised and resubmitted for review. For these reasons, investigators are strongly encouraged to submit their proposals at least three (3) weeks prior to the end of classes in the semester that they intend to start the project.

The deadline for submission by students of projects for review will be four full weeks before the date of the end of classes in the semester in which the research is to be carried out/completed.

Projects that are to be conducted during a period when classes are not normally in session (i.e., during the summer or over the winter break) must be submitted for review during the semester preceding the proposed starting date of the project.

Review of proposals submitted within the last week of classes in any semester will normally be deferred until the following semester.

Before beginning work with laboratory animals, please fill out the Authorization for the Release of Health Information form and return to the Vivarium Manager.

Renewals

An important duty of the Board is to maintain a record of all active research protocols. Therefore, projects that have been previously approved by the Board must be re-submitted for renewal whenever the research project is repeated. The investigator should re-submit the proposal using the offical “FORM” along with a cover letter summarizing the justification for replication.

Normally, the Chair will determine if there have been substantive changes that warrant a review by the full membership of the committee. Otherwise, the Chair is authorized to renew a previously approved proposal. The Chair will notify the full membership of the Board whenever a renewal is authorized in this manner.

Animal Welfare Concerns

Whistleblower Policies and Contacts. Washington College regards the use of animals in research, teaching, and testing to be an integral component of continued progress in health, science and education. The College expects all of its animal facilities and programs to maintain the highest standards of animal care and use, and to be operated in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines. Concerns regarding violations of these laws, regulations and guidleines should be reported to the contacts listed in the document below.

IACUC Documents

MS Word Downloads

Submit Completed Forms for Review

Completed electronic forms and appendicies should be submitted via e-mail to:wc_iacuc@washcoll.edu

Standard Operating Procedures

MS Word or PDF Downloads

In some instance, digital forms may be signed and submited electronically using a digital signature. For guidance on how to create a digital signature for use with PDF documents, download the followiing guide:

Forms that utilize a digital signature are identified with an asterisk “*”

IACUC Resources and Links

Laboratory Animal Welfare Exchange
http://www.lawte.org

AAALAC 
http://www.aaalac.org

American Association for Laboratory Animal Science 
http://www.aalas.org/

IACUC 
http://www.iacuc.org/

Science Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW)
http://www.scaw.com/

Foundation for Biomedical Research
http://www.fbresearch.org/

Lab Animal
http://www.labanimal.com

Institute for Laboratory Animal Research
http://dels.nas.edu/ilar/

Tutorial: PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/tutorial/index.htm0

The Guide for Care and Use of laboratory Animals
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12910

Definition of Pain and Distress and Reporting Requirements for Laboratory Animals: Proceedings of the Workshop Held June 22, 2000 (2000) 
http://www.nap.edu/books/0309072913/html/

Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals (1997) 
http://books.nap.edu/books/0309052998/html/index.html

Methods and Welfare Considerations in Behavioral Research with Animals 
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-funding/grants/animals.pdf

Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/olaw/olaw.htm

Ornithological Council: Guidlines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research
http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/guide/

USDA - Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service - Animal Care 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov

US department of Veterans Affairs - Use of Animals in Research 
http://www.research.va.gov/programs/animal_research/

On-Line IACUC Training; Facilities Inspection 
http://ori.hhs.gov/education/products/IACUC/home.html

 

 

 

 


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