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University of Wyoming

Research Guidelines

The following is information regarding conducting research in the Department of Residence Life & Dining Services at the University of Wyoming.


Subject 

These guidelines are for researchers conducting research projects using a population from the UW Residence Life & Dining Services community.  This includes, but is not limited to, the residence halls, Washakie Center, Washakie dining hall and the University Apartments.  Final approval from the department Director is required prior to commencing research.

Contact

Contact the Residence Life & Dining Services administrative offices when you are first planning the project to ensure that we are able to accommodate your plans:  the department’s Assessment Coordinator (Laurie Smith) in the Director’s Office can be reached at 766-3125 or las@uwyo.edu. As appropriate, the RL&DS Assessment Coordinator will put you in touch with the administrator appropriate to the area of the department you intend to research.  For example, if you want to survey the residence hall residents, you will work with our Associate Director for Residence Life to ensure department concerns are appropriately addressed and that the research meets department requirements.  The researcher may be asked to attend a meeting with department representatives to present their research plan and answer questions prior to receiving a department decision on whether or not we will support the project. 

Requirements

  1. The department prefers research projects that generate data that will be helpful to the department without being disruptive to department operations.
  2. Our priority is that the safety and privacy of our residents, staff and other patrons be maintained and that there is minimal disruption to the Residence Life & Dining Services community.
  3. The administrator contact for the area you are researching will make a recommendation to the Director’s Office.  You are responsible for providing the final plan to the Assessment Coordinator, who will provide the information to the Director of Residence Life and Dining Services and also make a recommendation to the Director.  We ask that you provide documentation that you have met University research requirements, including Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval.  If the project is exempt from IRB approval, RL&DS requires written documentation of the exemption. 

    Documentation will be accepted in hard copy or electronically via email.  Copies of the information required by IRB will, in most cases, provide sufficient information for the department to determine whether or not to approve the project. The department reserves the right to request additional information as necessary. 

    For more information about the University of Wyoming Institutional Review Board requirements, please refer to their web page:  http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/research/institutional1.asp.

  4. The final decision to grant or deny the research request lies with the Director.  If approval is granted, it will be in the form of a letter of support to the IRB, contingent on final approval by the IRB.  Final IRB approval should be documented by copying the approval notice to the Assessment Coordinator.  If the IRB does not grant approval, RL&DS will withdraw support.

  5. We require that you share your results with RL&DS.  The information can be useful to us in understanding the RL&DS community and developing programs and services.  Please submit your results to Laurie Smith, Assessment Coordinator, Washakie Center.  Email submission is satisfactory via las@uwyo.edu.