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Human Subject Policy

Expedited review is to be used solely for those cases in which the funding agency or other authorized entity requires formal Human Subjects review and approval for a project that does not in fact involve participation of students, faculty or staff as the subjects of research.

Seattle Community College District Policy

Number: 530
Title: Use Of Human Subjects

It shall be the policy of the Seattle Community College District VI Board of Trustees to recognize the responsibility for protecting the rights, well–being and personal privacy of individuals, assuring a favorable climate for the conduct of academically oriented inquiry, and protecting the interests of the institution. This policy addresses classroom, laboratory and clinical activities such as those in the health professions and biological sciences where learning by students requires the use of human subjects as part of demonstrations or experiments.

This policy is not intended to cover the ordinary and expected risks to which students are exposed as they engage in the usual activities and class participation of the college or institute. It does, however, cover students' participation as human subjects in such activities as training procedures, demonstrations, and experiments where students are exposed as participants to situations which may be injurious or dangerous to them and to which they are not ordinarily exposed or accustomed in their normal daily lives as students or non-students.

  • Adopted: September 5, 1989
  • Amended: June 14, 1993
  • Reviewed by Board of Trustees: April 9, 2009

Seattle Community College District Procedure

Number: 530.10.60
Title: Use Of Human Subjects

530.10 - Any demonstration or experiment involving a human subject which puts that subject at risk must receive the prior approval of a three–person committee named by the president / vice chancellor or executive director and including the vice president or director of instruction and at least one person with expertise in the subject area. All activities which use human subjects will be conducted only by instructors who assume responsibility for the conduct of the demonstration or experiment that has been approved.

530.20 - "At risk" means exposing the subject to the possibility of physical, psychological, and / or social injury as a consequence of an activity to which he or she would not be exposed in the course of daily life. This would not include activities related solely to the gathering of data, material, or information, unless such activities include the administration of personality tests or questionnaires of a sensitive and/or personal nature.

530.30 - Informed Consent. Informed consent means the knowing consent of any individual or of a legally authorized representative. The basic element of information necessary to such consent includes:

  1. A timely notification of the procedures to be followed including a description of the attendant risks and discomforts;
  2. A description of the benefits to be expected or the knowledge to be gained;
  3. A disclosure of appropriate alternative procedures;
  4. An offer to answer any inquiries the participant has concerning the activity;
  5. An instruction that the subject is free to withdraw at any time unless such procedure is required of the student to master a critical competence;
  6. An assurance that the subject's identity will remain confidential where legally required.

530.40 - Information about the procedures of programs which use human subjects will be given to the students who enroll at the beginning of the program, either as part of the syllabus or in other written form.

530.50 - An alternative learning activity may be assigned at the discretion of the instructor unless the required demonstration or experiment is necessary for the student to master a critical competency.

530.60 - Students who choose neither to participate as a human subject nor to accept an alternative activity will be informed that they may not be able to complete some courses / programs successfully.

  • Adopted: September 5, 1989
  • Format Change: June 14, 1993