Graduate Student Research
Research is defined by the Uniform Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects as a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalized knowledge. The university’s policy on the use of human participants in research conforms to federal and state laws and regulations designed to assure that the rights of participants are fully protected. In addition, the policy serves to protect researchers from inadvertently causing harm. Thus, in compliance with federal regulations, all research (including research conducted by graduate students) using human subjects must be reviewed and approved by CCSU Human Studies Council (HSC). Proposals must be submitted for review prior to data collection, as there is a strict policy that no research will be reviewed retroactively. Information regarding the HSC and the proposal submission process can be found at www.ccsu.edu/humanstudies. Students may also refer to the Master's Thesis Handbook or the Special Project Handbook or contact the School of Graduate Studies or the Office of Sponsored Programs for more detailed information regarding conducting research using human subjects.
If research involves the use of animals, CCSU policy mandates that approval must be sought from the CCSU Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which is responsible for oversight and evaluation of the animal care and use program at CCSU. Its functions include inspection of facilities; evaluation of programs and animal-activity areas; review of proposals for the use of animals in research, testing or education; and the review of concerns involving the care and use of animals at CCSU. Research application materials may be obtained by contacting the IACUC chair; the application for project approval is also found in the Master's Thesis Handbook.