Perhaps the answer to this question depends on the type and makeup of your institution's IRB.  In our case (PUI), as an administrator and representative of the Provost I am a voting member of our IRB (the other IRB members actually asked for this, it wasn't imposed by the administration).  Part of my role is to bring policy issues raised by the IRB back to the Provost.  The Provost has been particularly helpful in referring the IRB to someone at another institution for advice regarding a problem we were having last year (trouble reconciling different viewpoints from psychology and sociology).

I am an economist and the head of research for our institution.  I work in the Provost's office and am a full-time administrator and the College's AOR.  I'm also the compliance officer.  Because of the unique job-breadth provided by being at a PUI, I get to be in charge of course evaluations and commencement as well.

This IRB structure creates an avenue for discussions about policy issues.  Note that I am never the Chair of the IRB, it is always a faculty member who is Chair.  We do have federal-wide approval of our IRB and regularly submit proposals to NIH, with one active NIH grant at the moment.

Landy

-------------------------------------
Landy C. Johnson, MPA, Ph.D.
Director of Grant Development and
Coordinator of Undergraduate Research
Athletic Team Mentor, Men's Lacrosse
Assumption College
500 Salisbury St.
Worcester, MA  01609-1296
508-767-7666
xxxxxx@assumption.edu
www.assumption.edu

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