TABLE OF CONTENTS
COCEINSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD
Article I.COCE INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD
Article II.MISSION, PURPOSE, and RESPONSIBILITIES
Section 2.01MISSION
Section 2.02PURPOSE
Section 2.03RESPONSIBILITIES
Article III.COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Section 3.01COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION
Section 3.02COMPOSITION, ELECTION, AND TERM
(a)Voting Members
(b)Non-Voting Members
Section 3.03RESIGNATIONS
Article IV.OFFICERS
Section 4.01OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
(a)The Chair
(b)The Vice Chair
(c)Project Analyst
Section 4.02TERM OF OFFICE
Section 4.03NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 4.04RESIGNATIONS
Section 4.05REMOVAL
Section 4.06VACANCIES
Article V.MEETINGS
Section 5.01MEETING SCHEDULE
Section 5.02QUORUM
Section 5.03MANNER OF ACTING
Section 5.04PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Article VI.AMENDMENT OF THE BY-LAWS
Article I.COCE INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD
The name of this committee is the College of Online and Continuing EducationInstitutional Review Board; hereinafter referred to as “COCE IRB.”
Article II.MISSION, PURPOSE, and RESPONSIBILITIES
Section 2.01MISSION
The COCE IRB shall protect the rights and welfare of human subjects recruited to participate in research activities conducted on or by College of Online and Continuing Education (COCE) stakeholders.
Section 2.02PURPOSE
The COCE IRB shall have the primary responsibility to review and monitor all human subject research in compliance with SNHU’s Federal Wide Assurance (FWA 0001056); all local, state, and federal laws; SNHU policies and procedures; and the highest standards of ethical conduct and practice. The COCE IRB followsSNHU’s Institutional Research Review Board Policies and Procedures Manual.
Section 2.03RESPONSIBILITIES
The COCE IRBmembers are charged to:
- Review all proposals involving human subject research conducted at SNHU and/or in collaboration with other institutions. This includes all human subject research conducted under the direction of any employee or agent in connection with his or her institutional responsibilities or use ofSNHU’s name or academic or nonacademic titles.
- Approve, require modifications to, or disapprove the aspects of research activities that involve human subjects
- Notify applicants of decisions made by the board concerning their proposed research
- Conduct periodic reviews of ongoing research projects that involve human subjects and maintain records of review proceedings, decisions, and activities, in accordance with federal and SNHU guidelines, for at least three (3) years following completion of the projects
- Develop policies, procedures, and instruments needed to align SNHU policies with the scope and purpose of the COCE IRB and disseminate those policies, procedures, and instruments to the COCE community
Article III.COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Section 3.01COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION
The COCE IRB shall consist of the officers, voting members, and non-voting members. The officers, their duties, terms, and the election process are described in Article IV.
Section 3.02COMPOSITION, ELECTION, AND TERM
Federal regulations dictate that IRB membership will include:
•At least five (5) members that come from varied demographic backgrounds and professions
•At least one (1) member whose primary concerns are in nonscientific areas
•At least one (1) member whose primary concerns are in a scientific area
•At least one (1) member who is not otherwise affiliated with the institution
(a)Voting Members
- Chair, an academic staff member with considerable experience with IRBs and/or research compliance,appointed by COCE CAO,
- Vice Chair, an academic staff member with considerable experience with IRBs and/or research compliance, appointed by COCE CAO,
- One (1) Associate Dean, recommended by the Chair,
- One (1) graduate faculty/adjunct representative, recommended by the Chair,
- One (1) undergraduate faculty/adjunct representative, recommended by the Chair,
- One (1) student representative, recommended by the Chair,
- One (1) outside community member (a person who is not otherwise affiliated with SNHU), recommended by the Chair.
(b)Non-Voting Members
- Legal/Regulatory/Compliance representative,
- Project Analyst, selected by the Chair.
Section 3.03RESIGNATIONS
Any committee member may resign at any time from his/her position; such resignation is to be made in writing to the Chair or orally at one of the regular meetings. Resignation shall take effect from the time the same is received by the Chair, unless some time is specified in the resignation, and then from that date. Any vacated position shall be filled by appointment by the Chair.
Article IV.OFFICERS
Section 4.01OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
The Officers of the COCE IRB shall be a Chair, a Vice Chair, and Project Analyst.
(a)The Chair
The Chair shall be a voting member of the COCE IRB. It is the responsibility of the Chair to:
preside at all meetings,
set the meeting agendas,
invite researchers to meetings as appropriate,
ensure that each element of review is covered in meetings, and
serve as a liaison between researchers and the IRB.
(b)The ViceChair
The ViceChair shall be a voting member of the COCE IRB. In the absence of the Chair, the ViceChair shall perform the duties of the Chair and, when so acting, shall have all the powers of the Chair.
(c)Project Analyst
The Project Analyst shall be a non-voting member of the COCE IRB. It is the responsibility of the Project Analyst to:
act as the custodian of the COCE IRB records,
keep minutes of the COCE IRB meeting,
distribute minutes to the members of the committee prior to the next meeting,
post approved minutes to the COCE IRB folder, and
keep the official membership roll.
Section 4.02TERM OF OFFICE
The COCE IRB Chair and ViceChair serve for a three (3) year term. Other committee members serve for a one (1) year term.
Section 4.03NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
The election of officers shall be held at any meeting with quorum if a vacancy occurs.
Section 4.04RESIGNATIONS
Any officer may resign at any time from their position; such resignation to be made in writing to the COCE IRB and COCE CAO. Resignations shall take effect from the time the same is received by the COCE IRB and COCE CAO unless some time is specified in the resignation, and then from that date.
Section 4.05REMOVAL
Any officer may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the voting membership at any meeting with a quorum.
Section 4.06VACANCIES
The COCE IRB shall elect a member to fill any vacated position. The newly elected officer shall serve the remainder of the original term or until his/her successor has been duly elected.
Article V.MEETINGS
Section 5.01MEETING SCHEDULE
The COCE IRB shall meet bimonthly at minimum,including throughout the summer.
Section 5.02QUORUM
A majority of the voting members of the COCE IRB present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meetings.
Section 5.03MANNER OF ACTING
The act of a majority of the voting members of the COCE IRB present at a meeting with a quorum shall be the act of the COCE IRB, unless these By-Laws require the act of a greater number.
At the Chair’s discretion, the COCE IRB may vote on a proposal via e-mail. In such cases, there shall be sufficient time for members to discuss the proposal, and a majority of all voting members shall be the act of the COCE IRB.
Section 5.04PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the COCE IRB in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these By-Laws.
Article VI.AMENDMENT OF THE BY-LAWS
These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present at any meeting of the COCE IRB with a quorum. The amendment(s) shall be presented to the COCE IRB, in writing or via e-mail, two weeks in advance of the meeting. Both the COCE CAO and the Vice President of Academic Programs must approve proposals for such changes. No changes to these By-Laws can extend to or alter provisions with the Master Agreement and in all cases where the Master Agreement and the By-Laws are at odds the provisions of the Master Agreement carry.
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