Human Subjects and IRB

This is a thorny issue that could have wide implications for S-L development on 
our campus and maybe on yours.  I hope someone can tell me this is a non-issue.

Have any of you discussed with (or ran into problems with) your university 
Institutional Review Board (IRB) regarding "human subject research" policies 
and service-learning classes?  ...Specifically, our IRB administrator is 
deliberating about the implications of FEDERAL policies (see below) for S-L 
classes that involve student "research " such as:

*  Writing ethnographies and case studies (such as with ENG 102 classes), 
*  Interviewing community leaders or the elderly (in S-L history classes), 
*  Conducting community surveys (as in Stats classes).

Some of our new faculty have expressed concern that their S-L classes would 
have to apply for permission the through IRB.   

I would like to share with our IRB how other S-L programs nationwide have 
resolved (?) the need to apply to the IRB permission for S-L class projects.  
Any information (including suggested approaches) would be very helpful. 

Thank you.
Kara Hartmann

From our Policy and Procedures:
"For research involving human subjects, the University uses as its guide the 
Federal Common Rule (CR) entitled "Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
subjects Code," Federal Register, June 18, 1991. 

As prescribed by the Common Rule, the University has established an 
Institutional Review Board (IRB)--a panel of faculty and others (as prescribed 
by government regulations)--charged with reviewing all research that involves 
human subjects. Its primary responsibilities are to assure that human subjects 
are not to be subjected to inappropriate risks in connection with research and 
that relevant federal regulations are met. "




Kara Hartmann
Service-Learning Coordinator
Boise State University
1910 University Drive, A-114
Boise, ID 83725-1375

(208) 426-2380 office
(208) 426-3785 fax
khartman@boisestate.edu