The institutional review board is appointed pursuant to those stipulations and guidelines contained in pertinent federal regulations. (45CFR46)
Charge
- Ensure compliance by the university with all applicable federal and state laws and guidelines as well as university policy and procedures concerning research with human participants.
- Review, with the authority to approve, require modifications in, or disapprove all research activities involving human participants conducted by university faculty, staff, or students.
- Review, with the authority to approve, require modifications in, or disapprove all research conducted involving university faculty, staff, or students by outside parties.
- Carry this authority out without the influence of any outside party. This ensures decisions are made without conflicts of interest.
Membership
The Institutional Review Board is appointed pursuant to those stipulations and guidelines contained in pertinent federal regulations (45CFR46). A good faith effort should be made in the selection of membership to reflect diversity of race, gender, and cultural background.
- The research compliance officer serves as the IRB administrator, a non-voting member.
- The following twelve voting members serving five-year staggered terms.
- (1) One faculty member from each of the academic colleges and one faculty member from the Honors College, of whom at least three regularly conduct or supervise research involving human participants.
- (2) Two at-large faculty members who regularly conduct or supervise research involving human participants.
To fill a vacancy in any of the faculty positions, the research compliance officer will solicit nominations from the dean of the appropriate academic college. The dean will submit the names of two nominees to the research compliance officer. The research compliance officer will forward the two nominees to the provost for final selection and appointment.
- (3) Two non-scientific members shall be appointed by the provost with recommendations made by the director of sponsored programs and the research compliance coordinator. According to 45CFR46.107(b), “Each IRB shall include at least one member whose primary concerns are in scientific areas and at least one member whose primary concerns are in nonscientific areas.”
- (4) Two members not affiliated with the institution shall be appointed by the provost from recommendations made by the director of sponsored programs and the research compliance coordinator. According to 45CFR46.107(c), “Each IRB shall include at least one member who is not otherwise affiliated with the institution and who is not part of the immediate family of a person who is affiliated with the institution.”
- Four alternate faculty members shall be appointed by the provost to serve in an as needed capacity
- The dean of the graduate school and the director of sponsored programs will serve as ex officio, non-voting members of the IRB.
- According to 45CFR46.107(e), “An IRB may, in its discretion, invite individuals with competence in special areas to assist in the review of issues which require expertise beyond or in addition to that available on the IRB. These individuals may not vote with the IRB.”
Chairperson:
The provost shall appoint the chair based upon recommendations made by the director of sponsored programs and the research compliance officer. If the chair is appointed from the committee, creating a vacancy, the position will be filled so as to maintain college representation as stated above in “Membership.”
The chair will vote in only two circumstances: 1) to break a tie vote, or 2) when required to establish a quorum.
Pamela Ashcraft, PhD
Co-Chair
Permanent
David Taylor, PhD
Co-Chair
Permanent
Jacquie Rainey, DrPH
CHBS/Health Sciences
CHBS
2026
Michelle Buchanan, PhD
COE/Teaching & Learning
COE
2026
Adam Hensley
Physical Plant
Non-scientist
2026
JiHoon Jhang, PhD
COB/Marketing & Management
COB
2028
Matthew Moore, PhD
CAHSS/Sociology & Criminology
CAHSS
2028
Tilli Watson, RN, CCRN-K
Non-affiliated | Conway Regional Health System
Community Member
2028
Cindy Lea, JD
Department of Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Other academic division
2029
Chris Bentley, Capt.
UCAPD
Non-scientist
2030
Nesrin Sahin, PhD
COSE/Mathematics
COSE
2030
Sunjung Kim, PhD
CHBS/CSD
At-large
2030
Christa Keubel, PhD
CAHSS/Music
CAHSS
2030
Carmen Merrick, PhD
Non-affiliated | Hendrix College
Community Member
2030
Vacant
CHBS/Nursing
Nursing | Conway Regional Liaison
TBD
Vacant
Research Compliance
Administrator, Ex-officio
Permanent, Non-voting
Kimberly Ashley-Pauley, MS
Office of Research & Sponsored Programs
Director, Ex-officio
Permanent, Non-voting
Michael Mills, EdD
Graduate School
Dean & RIO, Ex-officio
Permanent, Non-voting
Alternates
Jeff Padberg, PhD
COSE/Biology
Alternate, COSE
2026
Julie Meaux, PhD
CHBS/Nursing
Alternate, CHBS
2028
Susan Rich, PhD
CAHSS/Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology
Alternate, Scientist & Offender Protocols
2031
Michael Godfrey, LCSW
At-large
Alternate/Offender Protocols Only
Permanent
Meetings
Convened meetings of the IRB will usually occur each month during the fall and spring semesters. A majority of the voting members constitutes a quorum, provided however, that one non-scientific member is in attendance for voting to take place.
Reports to
Provost
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