College Research Ethics Committee
Terms of Reference
Function
Each college normally has one College Research Ethics Committee (CREC). In exceptional cases a
college may need more than one CREC to serve the best interests of their researchers and students.
Their purpose is to ensure that research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and
professional frameworks, obligations and standards. Specifically their role is to implement the
University of Derby Research Ethics Policy and associated guidelines and procedures. This relates to
research activities undertaken by all staff, and students pursuing undergraduate (UG), postgraduate
taught (PGT), postgraduate research (PGR) awards or by a visiting researcher.
CRECs will report to their College Research Committee (who will receive minutes of their meetings),
who in turn report to the University Research Committee.
Detailed guidance on process and procedures for CRECs are developed and maintained by URC.
These are held on a central intranet site.
Each CREC has a number of specific tasks and responsibilities:
Decision making powers
1. Review individual applications from PGR students, staff and visiting researchers and
consider whether they can be approved. A CREC can either:• Approve an application without condition
• Approve subject to conditions or revisions that can be approved by Chair’s Action.
• Reject pending resubmission after significant revisions.
• Reject approval outright.
• Hold an application whilst further advice is sought from CRC.
2. Delegation of decision making powers by Chair’s Action
Some requests for ethical approval cannot be considered at full Committee. Under such
circumstances, requests for ethical approval should be dealt with by Chair’s Action. The
Chair and two other academics (at least one of whom should be a CREC member) must
review the application.
Reporting
3. Ensure that the policy as it relates to undergraduate independent and other research
studies is adhered to by following the sampling procedure outlined in the guidance on
process and procedures.
Research Innovation and Academic Enterprise
4. Ensure that the policy as it relates to taught post-graduate students’ research studies is
adhered to by following the sampling procedure outlined in the guidance on process and
procedures.
5. Receive reports from principal investigators and research supervisors to assure that all data
is reported and stored or destroyed in line with the approvals granted.
6. Report to CRC on a regular basis (and at least twice each year) applications reviewed,
outcomes and any issues arising with regard to advice and guidance on ethical, legal and
professional obligations and standards.
Research environment
7. Maintain up to date knowledge of the ethical policy and practice as it relates to the CREC
areas of interest.
8. Liaise with relevant professional bodies to ensure that standards and practice conform to
relevant professional bodies needs and expectations
9. Identify and report staff development needs to CRC.
10. Participate in process reviews or other developments that strengthen research integrity and
the application of robust ethical review.
11. Maintain management information systems that ensure that policies relating to research
ethics and integrity, and relevant health and safety and risk management are both
monitored and implemented.
Administrative arrangements
The meeting schedule for each CREC will be determined primarily by the needs of its discipline
areas in terms of timing of teaching and assessment deadlines, the requirements of professional
bodies and the needs of PGR and externally funded research projects.
Chairs of CRECs should therefore liaise appropriately to ensure appropriate timings. As a minimum
requirement all CRECs should meet at least three times a year. Dates for meetings for each
academic year should be set by July 31st of the preceding academic year.
The Statement of Confidentiality must be read by the Chair at the beginning of each meeting.
CRECs will be required to respond to applications within 6 weeks with a target period of 4 weeks
All decisions are those of the REC and are not the responsibility of individual members.
CRECs will be administered by the university’s Business and Support Services teams.
Research Innovation and Academic Enterprise
Composition
The composition of a committee must be such as to ensure the necessary range of expertise and
breadth of experience necessary to provide competent and rigorous review of the ethics of the
research and Independent Investigation proposals submitted to it. In appointing members efforts
should be taken to ensure diversity good balance with regard to equality and diversity
considerations.
Members serve the committee for up to 4 years in the first instance. They may be re-appointed but
the membership should be designed to widen experience and input especially from early career
researchers and other research active staff.
The Chair and members are appointed by the owning college and approved through the CRC. There
should be no fewer than six members of a REC. At least 50% of the members need to be present for
a committee meeting to be quorate.
Chair
University Professor or University Reader, or a research active Senior Lecturer /
Researcher.
Four
Academics
To include:
Representatives of each discipline submitting requests for ethical approval
An independent studies coordinator
A member of an appropriate Institute, Research Centre or Cluster
CRC rep
A member of the college research committee
QEC rep
A member of the relevant quality enhancement committee
External
A member of a REC from a different college
Co-option
Co-options to achieve effective balance and coverage
Please note that the members of CRC and QEC can be counted within the four academic members.
Right of attendance
Dean of College
Director of Research Innovation and Impact
Senior member of Research, Innovation and Academic Enterprise team.
Research Innovation and Academic Enterprise