[GradFacultyStaff] Graduate School Thesis / Proposal Process Update

[Matt Wood]

Dear Graduate Faculty and Administrative Staff:

We’ve had some questions on our new procedure for graduate theses and proposals.

Effective immediately:

  *   The Graduate School Office of Thesis and Dissertation Services (OTDS)  will no longer send proposals or final papers to an external methodologist for review.  OTDS will only review papers for formatting, conformity to the student’s chosen style guide, and agreement with general rules for grammar, syntax, and mechanics.
  *   Students are still required to successfully complete the Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) training<http://www.tamuc.edu/research/compliance/training/Responsible-Conduct-in-Research.aspx> through CITI (2111563).
  *   Students are still required to submit the proposal to OTDS following the proposal defense and they are still required to receive OTDS approval at least one semester prior to the semester in which they intend to graduate.
  *   Students whose research involves human subjects, animals, or pathogens must obtain the appropriate research compliance committee’s (IRB, IACUC, IBC) approval before beginning to collect data.

     *   IRB is the committee that reviews protocols involving human subjects.  Most commonly these involve survey instruments, but a computer vision project involving students as subjects (e.g., on camera) would also require IRB approval.  Dr. Tara Tietjen-Smith is the IRB Chair.
        *     http://www.tamuc.edu/research/compliance/IRB-Protection_of_Human_Subjects/default.aspx

     *   IACUC is the committee that reviews protocols for any activities that involves animals (research, teaching, testing, boarding, etc.).  Ms. Misty Lair is the IACUC Chair
        *     http://www.tamuc.edu/research/compliance/IACUC-Animal-Research/default.aspx

     *   IBC is the committee that reviews protocols for projects involving pathogens, recombinant DNA, select agents or toxins, etc.  Dr. Venu Cheriyath is the IBC Chair
        *   http://www.tamuc.edu/research/compliance/IBC-Biosafety/default.aspx

  *   Again, if the intended research project involves human subjects, animals, or pathogens (etc.), then the student must complete the required training and be given formal approval from the relevant committee(s) before he or she begins collecting data (this is true for everyone, not just students).  Collecting data before receiving formal research compliance committee approval constitutes a research compliance violation, which requires an investigation.  Note:  students may conduct a literature review, etc., at any time.
  *   If the student’s research project does not require approval of one of the three research compliance committees (IRB, IACUC, IBC) (e.g., a chemistry project that does not require IBC approval) then the student can successfully complete the Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) training through CITI (2111563).
  *   Students who submitted a proposal to OTDS last semester but have not received proposal approval are covered under these changes, so students are permitted to begin data collection prior to OTDS proposal approval, as long as the student has:

     *   gained approval from the appropriate research compliance committee (IRB, IACUC, and/or IBC), if required, and
     *   successfully completed the Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) training through CITI (2111563) before data collection begins.
  *   We are working through the remaining proposals that were submitted last semester. Students who submitted their proposal to OTDS by the deadline will receive fall 2017 approval.


If you have any questions regarding these changes, please don’t hesitate to call or email me.

Best regards,
Matt

Matt A. Wood, Ph.D.
Interim Vice Provost for Research and
Dean of Graduate Studies
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Commerce, TX 75429
O: 903.886.5160     M: 903.269.6682


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