& Student Handbook - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs 27
Human Subjects and
Data Collection
This policy applies to all forms of data collection (quantitative and
qualitative) for academic purposes by students, faculty, and/or
administration of the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs,
and from persons external to the university. The objective of the policy is
to ensure that data collection is completed with integrity and technical
competence. This policy covers data collection for class assignments,
research and evaluation studies. This policy is not meant to prevent
access to information or opinions within the scope of critical inquiry and
scholarship.
The review process includes the consideration of the protection of human
subjects and the technical adequacy of the instrumentation. Additional
clearances must be obtained according to the policies of the external
organizations where the data is being collected.
The process of approval is outlined below:
• The individual prepares materials including the project proposal, the
data collection instrument, and the Human Subjects Review Form
and submits the materials to the program director.
• The program director and a member of the Academic Policies and
Procedures Committee (APandPC) review for approval the materials
and determine whether further review by a Human Subjects
Committee is necessary.
• If the program director and the member of the APandPC deem
review by a Human Subjects Committee is necessary, the committee
examines the materials and makes a decision regarding approval.
The Human Subjects Committee is comprised of a dean, the
program director or designee, and a member of the APandPC.
• The program director notifies the individual of the decision. The
process may take up to two weeks.
Electronic Communication
Policy
Saint Mary’s University recognizes that individuals occasionally have a
situation in which they need to be accessible to their employers and/or
families during scheduled class time. In addition, some individuals’
employment or personal responsibilities require that they be accessible
at all times. Cellular telephones and personal paging devices are the
primary method used to ensure this communication linkage.
However, the persistent use of such devices can be disruptive to the
classroom environment. Therefore, individuals who have this kind of
communication need should notify their instructor. They should reduce
and/or eliminate audible signals and respond to nonemergency calls
during classroom breaks and take all calls outside of the classroom.
Students at off-campus locations should follow the policies of the
location which may prohibit use of cell phones.
Staff are encouraged to discuss the use of such devices as part of
faculty orientation. Faculty are encouraged to discuss the use of such
devices as part of the course overview.
Good Name Policy
Members of the university community recognize that freedom means the
acknowledgement of responsibility to the subjects used in classroom
discussions. Students and faculty are responsible for protecting the good
name of any organization under discussion. They should communicate no
information that either implicitly or explicitly impugns the good name of an
organization, person, place, or thing being discussed or studied.
Conflict of Interest
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota seeks to avoid conflicts of interest
in teaching and advising. A conflict of interest occurs when a student or
employee of the university is engaged in both a teaching or advising
relationship and a familial, cohabitational, supervisory, financial,
professional, or personal relationship with another student or employee
of the university. Examples of conflicts of interest include, but are not
limited to, the following:
• Use of class lists to solicit business for purposes other than university
business.
• Duality of relationships within coursework, advisement, and/or
professional organizations.
• Any present or past relationship that causes discomfort for either
party to the relationship.
Any student or employee of the university will immediately notify the
program director or a university administrator if a conflict of interest has
developed in a teaching or advising relationship. The program director or
university administrator will take action as appropriate.
Grievance Procedure
In order to encourage attention to individual concerns, the Schools of
Graduate and Professional Programs has developed this grievance
procedure. The university believes that concerns ought to be handled at
the lowest possible level of organizational structure. Grievants who wish
to address concerns will observe the following procedures:
1. The grievant should discuss the matter with the student, faculty, or
staff member concerned. If the concern relates to sexual harassment
by the student, faculty, or staff member concerned, the grievant may
refer the matter immediately to the program director.
2. If a satisfactory resolution is not achieved, the grievant will discuss
the matter with his or her program director. The program director will
attempt to resolve the issue between the student, faculty, or staff
member.
3. If a satisfactory resolution is not achieved, a dean will attempt to
resolve the issue.
4. If a satisfactory resolution is still not achieved, the dean will forward a
written statement describing the grievance to the vice president.
5. Upon receiving the dean’s statement, the vice president will review
the grievance, make a decision, and impose sanctions, if necessary,
within a reasonable time. Sanctions may include any action up to and
including expulsion, termination, and legal action.
6. If either party is not satisfied with the vice president’s decision that
party must, within 15 days, submit to the vice president a written