The Policy Review Committee convened via Zoom on Thursday, December 15 at 10:00 am.
Human Subject Research
Carly Emerson, Director of the Office of Human Research Ethics, presented the Policy on Research Involving Human Participants. This new policy formalizes the Institutional Review Board (IRB) role as an independent research authority. The policy clarifies that, while the University may disallow an IRB-approved research project, no University Unit can override an IRB denial.
Accessing University Individual User-Account Data
Next, George Battle III, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Integrity and Risk Management, presented the Policy on Access to Individual Accounts. This draft policy overhauls the outdated Privacy of Electronic Information Policy, specifies which University Offices and Units may directly access employee user-account data, and sets a process for other Offices and Units to request access to specific accounts under necessary circumstances.
The PRC recommended simplifying the document’s language and debated whether the process’ safeguards provide adequate protection from an overflow of information requests. Vice Chancellor Battle expressed an intention to review the document and return the policy to the committee for further discussion.
EHRA Bonuses
Lastly, Vanessa Ragland, Senior Director of EHRA Human Resources, presented the Policy on EHRA Employee Non-Salary and Deferred Compensation. The UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees recently approved updates to the policy that applies Statewide HR provisions to allow University Units to issue sign-on, retention, and performance bonus awards to eligible EHRA employees.