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Dear Graduate Faculty and Administrative Staff:<br class="">
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;" class="">We’ve had some questions on our new procedure for graduate theses and proposals.<o:p class=""></o:p></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;" class="">Effective immediately:<o:p class=""></o:p></div>
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<li class=""><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;" class="">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</span><span class="" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Students are still required to successfully complete the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.tamuc.edu/research/compliance/training/Responsible-Conduct-in-Research.aspx" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">Responsible
Conduct in Research (RCR) training</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>through CITI (2111563). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p class=""></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">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.<o:p class=""></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Students whose research involves human subjects, animals<span style="color: red;" class="">,</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>or pathogens must obtain the appropriate research compliance
committee’s (IRB, IACUC, IBC) approval before beginning to collect data. <o:p class=""></o:p></li></ul>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">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.<o:p class=""></o:p>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span class="" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class=""><span style="line-height: normal;" class=""> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.tamuc.edu/research/compliance/IRB-Protection_of_Human_Subjects/default.aspx" class="" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: purple;">http://www.tamuc.edu/research/compliance/IRB-Protection_of_Human_Subjects/default.aspx</a></li></ul>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">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
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span class="" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class=""><span style="line-height: normal;" class=""> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.tamuc.edu/research/compliance/IACUC-Animal-Research/default.aspx" class="" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: purple;">http://www.tamuc.edu/research/compliance/IACUC-Animal-Research/default.aspx</a></li></ul>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">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
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="http://www.tamuc.edu/research/compliance/IBC-Biosafety/default.aspx" class="" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: purple;">http://www.tamuc.edu/research/compliance/IBC-Biosafety/default.aspx</a></li></ul>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">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). <span class="">Collecting</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>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.<o:p class=""></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">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).<o:p class=""></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">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:<o:p class=""></o:p></li></ul>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">gained approval from the appropriate research compliance committee (IRB, IACUC, and/or IBC), if required, and<o:p class=""></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">successfully completed the Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) training through CITI (2111563) before data collection begins.<o:p class=""></o:p></li></ul>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">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. <font color="#ff0000" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></font></li></ul>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;" class="">If you have any questions regarding these changes, please don’t hesitate to call or email me.<o:p class=""></o:p></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;" class="">Best regards,</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;" class="">Matt</div>
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<div><b style="color: rgb(3, 45, 153); orphans: 2; widows: 2;" class="">Matt A. Wood, Ph.D.</b><br class="">
Interim Vice Provost for Research and</div>
<div>Dean of Graduate Studies<br class="">
Texas A&M University-Commerce<br class="">
Commerce, TX 75429<br class="">
O: 903.886.5160 M: 903.269.6682</div>
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