Office of Institutional Research & Institutional Review Board

Mission

The Office of Institutional Research & Institutional Review Board (OIRIRB) exists to provide accurate and timely information to support institutional and strategic planning, create policy formation and inspire informed decision making. The OIRIRB is also committed to providing support and expertise for the evaluation and assessment of activities throughout the University.

Function:

Serves as the source for comprehensive, accurate and consistent information in response to requests from external stakeholders;
Collect, analyze, and interprets statistical data to support planning efforts by University administrators and committees;
Educate users on the use of data, analysis, and information to inform independent and collaborative decision making;
Collaborate and evaluate strategic planning efforts, assessment of learning outcomes, program reviews, accreditation, student enrollment, and retention;
Credential and maintain all faculty files as required by SACS-COC;
Oversee CU's Institutional Review Board to ensure the protection of human subjects in research;

Values:

Maintain strict confidence and security of all confidential information in our possession about Campbellsville University or any of its constituent parts;
Commit to conduct research in an objective manner utilizing the highest standards for accuracy in methodology, data quality, and the presentation of findings with professional responsible interpretation;
Adherence to the principles espoused by the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) regarding the use of data and information to improve higher education. (AIR Statement of Ethical Principles)

Reports
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Human Subjects Research Resource Links

REPORTS

Institutional Enrollment & Performance Federal Reports Satisfaction Survey

Institutional Enrollment & Performance
The Office of Institutional Research creates analytical reports that help the University administration make effective decisions. These reports are available by request and some are available on the website (below). It is this office's goal to communicate effective and clearly the successes and opportunities at Campbellsville University.

Institutional Enrollment & Performance

Enrollment Reports:
- Current Term
- Past Term
Retention & Graduation Rates
Programs/Majors
Fact Book
Campus Fire, Safety & Crime Statistics
Equity in Athletics

Federal Reports

IPEDS

Satisfaction Survey

Faculty & Staff Satisfaction Survey
Student Satisfaction Survey

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

The purpose of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is to protect the rights of human subjects in research. This includes making sure that vulnerable populations are protected (i.e., prison populations, minor children, neurological impaired adults, etc.) and that informed consent is maintained for participation in research. The IRB is a University committee composed of faculty members and the Director of the Office of Institutional Research Office. The IRB is responsible for reviewing all research activities involving human subjects. The mission of the IRB is to promote and safeguard research activity that involves human subjects within the academic community and to monitor non-CU researchers seeking to conduct research at any of our campuses or centers.

What is Subject to IRB Review?

All projects that involve human research subjects are subject to review by the IRB prior to the initiation of the study. To determine whether a study is subject to IRB review, the definition of human subject and the definition of research should be examined.

Human Subjects (DHHS): “A living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research: Obtains information or biospecimens through intervention or interaction with the individual, and uses, studies, or analyzes the information or biospecimens; or Obtains uses studies, analyzes, or generates identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens.” [45 CFR 46.102(e)]
Research (DHHS): “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Activities that meet this definition constitute research for purposes of this policy, whether they are conducted or supported under a program that is considered research for other purposes or not. For example, some demonstration and service programs may include research activities”. [45 CFR 46.102(l)]

Only the IRB has the authority to grant exempt status to a study. A determination of exemption requires that the researcher complete training on the use of human subjects in research and submit a limited review application for exemption to the IRB. The federal regulations include specific categories of exemptions, and any research procedures falling outside those categories must be reviewed through expedited or full review procedures.

What is Not Subject to IRB Review?

An example of a project that would not be considered human subject research is a student project that occurs in the classroom if there is no intention of using the results for any purpose other than a class assignment. This type of project is undertaken as a learning experience to help students understand the process of conducting research, and the focus is not on producing meaningful results. In these cases, only the student and instructor have access to the results, and the project's purpose ends when a grade is assigned. However, some class assignments are undertaken as part of a project with a broader purpose that makes them subject to IRB review. For example, if a student intends to later use data collected as part of a class assignment for a thesis project or if a student plans to share the results with an audience outside the classroom he or she should seek IRB approval prior to initiating the data collection process.

Thesis or dissertation projects conducted to meet degree requirements are subject to IRB review and approval any time human subjects are involved.

When a project is undertaken by a student as a learning exercise with the results not shared beyond the classroom, the text below is provided for use in data collection instruments:

This project is being conducted by a student as part of an exercise in learning about the research process. This data is not being collected for research purposes, and the project has not been approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB). The data will be used solely for the course assignment, and results will not be shared outside of the classroom.