IRB Policy

Human research, all research activities involving human participants, conducted at Mid-America Christian University (MACU) or by representatives of MACU will obtain approval from the MACU Institutional Review Board.

Institutional Review Board

The MACU Institutional Review Board (IRB) is comprised of five MACU faculty members including a biological scientist, one non-MACU (outside) faculty member, the Chair, a Secretary, and an advisor. The current MACU IRB Chair is Morgan Thompson and Secretary is Julie Shatswell.

The Board Chair will call for IRB meetings when a research proposal is submitted. IRB decisions on research proposals seek unanimity but a simple majority will suffice for IRB decisions for whether to approve or deny research proposals. Notes of IRB meetings are maintained by the IRB Secretary. Persons wishing to conduct research at MACU or with questions concerning the IRB process should visit sites.google.com/macu.edu/macu-irb or email IRB@macu.edu. 

Review of IRB Board Approved Research 

MACU follows the Policy for Protection of Human Research Subjects established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/regulations/45-cfr-46/index.html#46.107).

Research approved by the MACU IRB Board will be reviewed by the University President who has the authority to overrule the IRB Board’s approval.  This authority is outlined in the HHS policy, §46.112 Review by the institution which states: “Research covered by this policy that has been approved by an IRB may be subject to further appropriate review and approval or disapproval by officials of the institution. However, those officials may not approve the research if it has not been approved by an IRB.”

Further, because our University President must comply with Board of Trustee By-laws (2007), his review of IRB Board approved research will take into consideration By-law 3.1, which states: “With respect to interactions with students or those applying to become students, the CEO shall not cause or allow conditions, procedures, or decisions that are unlawful, unsafe, undignified, unnecessarily intrusive, or that fail to provide appropriate confidentiality or privacy.”

Proposed Research Checklist

Submitted proposals will only be considered by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) if the following elements are included:

 1.  Proposal Title Page which includes:

     a. Name of Study

     b. Name and Contact Information of Researcher(s)

     c. Name and Contact Information of Advisor if Researcher(s) is a student

     d. Dates Research will be Conducted

 2.  Purpose and the research problem of the proposed study.  Answer why the research is needed by providing details on what is being done, for whom it is being done, anticipated outcomes, specific of general knowledge production, etc.   

 3.  Methodology

     a. Subjects - provide specific information on desired research participants such as: what is the sampling population, how many samples will be collected, what exclusion criteria will be used, etc.  

     b. Subject Selection - describe the selection methodology (i.e. random, snowball, etc.), and outline how participant recruitment will occur.  Include copies of scripts, informed consent forms, flyers, advertisements, posters, and letters to be used in the Appendix section.

     c. Procedures - provide a detailed description of any methods, procedures, interventions, or manipulations of human subjects.  Include facts about the physical location where the research will take place (if applicable).

     d. Instruments used - describe questionnaires, tests, written instruments, instructions, scripts, etc., that will be used during the study.  Detail how interaction with participants will occur, how long will interaction occur, and how will measurements be gathered. 

4.  Potential risks involved and methods of minimizing risks, inconveniences, or discomforts.  How will participants be protected? 

5. Reasonable assurance that all research and personal information collected will be stored appropriately.  Provide specific details on how all materials related to this research, including but not limited to consent forms, subject list, and participants results will be housed and how will it be kept secure. 

6. Describe anticipated benefits and importance of the knowledge that may reasonably be expected to result.

7.  Appendices as needed - these would include material from 3.b. as well as interview questions, consent forms, letters of permission, and copies of instruments to be used.