Proposal Submission FAQs

Why do I need to go through the IRB process to do research with people (i.e. "human subjects") before I do my research? 

TCCD holds a Federal-Wide Assurance (FWA) through the Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) to provide a safe environment for research subjects within the District.

All researchers must go through the IRB process to ensure that their proposed work meets ethical standards.

I work at TCCD and I am doing my dissertation. Can I just look in the computer and find the people I want to research and send them an email?

No.

Why not?

This violates FERPA law.

Emails are not part of directory information, so you cannot collect emails to recruit students.

The Directory Policy, which is guided by FERPA law, states:

Under the direction of our legal department, to be in compliance with FERPA provisions, TCC will provide name, current address, academic program code (major), dates of attendance, full-time or part-time enrollment status, degrees and awards received and dates granted, previous educational institution(s) attended, and eligibility and participation in officially recognized activities and sports for students who have not restricted the release of directory information.

It should be noted current address is considered restricted directory information. Addresses are released only if a legitimate educational interest is established.

Email addresses are not considered directory information and will not be released. Phone numbers are not released and are not part of directory information at TCCD.

TCC considers filtering a list by GPA, hours attempted, hours completed, or other academic information a violation of FERPA.

We release addresses to military recruiters, other institutions, or academic third parties (for instance the International Dean’s List Society) because of their educational interest.

We have the option to restrict the release of addresses if an educational interest does not exist.

Dissertations are for the benefit of the researcher, not TCCD.

The TCCD District Use Guidelines read:

All systems and people using TCCD resources, whether on campus or remotely, are using the property of TCCD. TCCD resources are to be used for business purposes in serving the interests of the College, and our students in the course of normal operations.

Dissertations are not TCCD business, and are not considered under the direct need, concern or support of the College's operations or in service to our students and community.

As an employee working on a dissertation, you have no more right or access to students or employees than other outside researchers.

Although it may be argued that the dissertation research will benefit TCCD, the research is initiated by you, not TCCD. 

Accessing student records for your dissertation research is not allowed. You cannot use your work access to identify students by gender or ethnicity, financial aid information, citizenship status, etc.

How can I recruit students or employees for my study?

What can I do?

Although email recruitment is not an option, other avenues are available.

These include:

• Putting up flyers on campus (contact Student Activities for more information),
• Getting a table at an event, or
• Other recruitment methods, such as placing an ad in the school newspaper (the Collegian).

What should I not do?

Do not attempt to enter classrooms or get student emails.

You cannot recruit in a way that interferes with the teaching of the faculty or the learning of the student. Class time is limited and there is a specific amount of information that must be learned in that time.

What is considered undue influence or coercion?

This applies to TCC employees conducting research.

This means that in your position at TCCD, you may be considered an authority figure to your research subjects. Examples could include an instructor or professor who may be an authority figure to their students, or a manager or department head who may be an authority figure to other employees or departments.

If a student or employee views you as an authority figure, they may feel they cannot refuse a (voluntary) request to participate in a research project, survey, or interview. Their agreement is considered undue influence, so there can never be true choice in deciding to participate in a study. For this reason, some colleges and universities do not allow employees to conduct research with their staff or students.

TCCD does allow employees to conduct research for their dissertation research.

The TCCD IRB reviews recruitment and research design to minimize undue influence and coercion.