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Research Ethics Board guidelines: Welcome

Introduction to Research Ethics Board (REB)

Camosun believes in maintaining the highest of ethical standards in the research conducted at the college. We take this responsibility very seriously, and have established an ethics approval process based on nationally recognized standards. This process is managed by the Camosun Research Ethics Board (REB). As per Camosun's Research Policy, all Camosun research projects that deal with human participants must obtain ethics approval. The REB consists of college and community members and its mandate is to:

  • advise the college about any ethical issues that may arise from research
  • advise the researcher about ways to minimize risk and apply ethical procedures to their research
  • educate the college community about ethical issues and practices while conducting research
  • provide a certificate of approval (and ongoing ethics monitoring) for all research projects that involve human participants.

This guide includes resources, forms and other information to help you understand and work with the ethics approval process. For more information contact the REB chair: REBChair@camosun.ca, and check out the ethics approval website.

Ethics approval process

Complete the Application Form for Research Ethics Approval. Applications for approval must be submitted at least one week prior to a scheduled meeting of the Research Ethics Board (REB). Application deadlines and REB meeting dates appear in the Camosun Intranet Calendar of Events and in CamNews. The REB may consider doing and expedited review when there is a rush.  

Ethics approval is granted for a one year period. At the end of this time, principal investigators are required to complete and submit the Notification of Project Completion or Application for renewal of previously approved project should an extension of ethics approval be required.

If there is any significant change to your original approved application, you are required to complete an Application for Amendment form.  

Student research

Student research (including regular classroom projects) that in any way involve the gathering of information from human subjects is also subject to review. Department Chairs can approve the ethical conduct of student research if they feel that the research poses minimal risk. If the Department Chair feels the research may pose greater than minimal risk, they must forward the project to the REB for review.

Department Chairs are responsible for the ethical conduct of the courses taught within their department. The college has a responsibility to ensure that our students are aware of ethical issues, and must conduct class research in an ethical manner.

To learn more about minimal risk, please contact the REB.