Chapter 1: Introduction
1.7 University Committees Directly Responsible for the Administration of Research Candidates
1.7.1 Research Graduate School Committee
The Research Graduate School Committee (RGSC) is the body responsible for administering the PhD and EdD Regulations and for advising Academic Board on all matters of policy relating to doctoral programs. RGSC has final responsibility for approving admission to PhD and EdD candidature, and for such matters as variations to candidature, questions of supervision, progress, submission and examination of doctoral theses. RGSC also deals with the allocation of scholarships to research candidates. RGSC meets monthly and all faculties are represented in its membership. The Faculty representative is the Associate Dean (Graduate Research).
RGSC is supported by Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS), Research Services, which is located on the ground floor of the Research Services Building on Clayton Campus (Building 3D). The School is responsible for the administrative coordination of doctoral enrolments including determination of Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) status and allocation of Research Training Scheme (RTS) Commonwealth supported places, doctoral admission, candidature and thesis examination; and the administration and payroll of postgraduate research scholarships. Monash Research Graduate School is also responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Monash Research Graduate Centre. Details about the Centre are located at: www.mrgs.monash.edu.au/centre/
1.7.2 Ethics Committees
Any research project conducted at Monash University involving human participants, animals and biohazards must be approved by the appropriate Ethics Committee, either the Standing Committee on Ethics in Research Involving Humans (SCERH), or the Standing Committee on Bio-safety.
The SCERH provides a one-stop ethics review facility to receive ethics consideration for all research involving humans, by a properly constituted panel. The Committee meets fortnightly and requires one original and two copies of the application four weeks before each meeting. The application form, guidelines, meeting dates etc. are located at: http://www.monash.edu.au/research/ethics/human/humanethics/index.html
1.7.3 Subject Approvals
Subjects that include research exercises or projects that involve humans require ethics review and approval. SCERH provides Subject Licenses for research conducted by research candidates under the auspices of an academic in charge of a subject.
Subject coordinators need to:
Outline the types of research normally conducted in the subject.
Provide assurance that the proposed research DOES NOT involve involvement of children or vulnerable adults, use of diagnostic material or therapeutic agents, videotaping, use of illegal substances, studies of illegal activities, highly sensitive topics, intrusive techniques, physiological measures, the use of inducements such as payment, coercive recruitment techniques (such as a lecturer recruiting students), the collection, use, or disclosure of health, personal or sensitive information that identifies, or could potentially identify, individuals without their consent. Ensure that plain language statements including the complaints clause are prepared and distributed for each project.
An application form is located at: http://www.monash.edu.au/research/ethics/human/humanethics/appl-procd-req.html
Further information may be obtained from the Secretaries of the Committees who can be contacted on their respective emails available via the following web site: www.monash.edu.au/research/ethics/human/researchers/contact.html
Standing Committee on Ethics in Research involving Humans
Application forms, contact details and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) information are located at: www.monash.edu.au/research/ethics/human/index.html
Monash University Animal Welfare Committee
Information on animal welfare, FAQs, application and guidelines for postgraduate researchers and their supervisors is located at:www.monash.edu.au/resgrant/animal-ethics/
Bio-safety Committee
Contact details and information on procedures in occupational health and safety and ethics; with special information for research candidates involved in genetic research is located at: www.adm.monash.edu.au/ohse/
If you have any questions please call a Safety Consultant on 9905 1016 or email ohsehelpline@adm.monash.edu.au