Bluffton University

Faculty and staff

Institutional Research Board

If you or your students want to collect and analyze surveys of information provided by people, wish to carry out classic psychology experiments, are planning systematic testing of teaching or coaching procedures and techniques, or whatever else might involve human subjects, then the Institutional Review Board (IRB) can help you be sure your efforts are ethically appropriate.

Bluffton University’s IRB helps researchers develop projects that meet ethical standards for research involving human subjects. Researchers are required to obtain approval by the IRB of all such projects before they are initiated. The board is mandated to conduct reviews of all research projects involving human subjects, per the dean of academic affairs.

More information, including definitions, procedures and approval forms are available on my.bluffton.edu and listed in the resource link for both faculty/staff and students.

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Faculty Scholarships

Three Bluffton University endowed faculty scholarship grants each provide one six-credit-hour release over a two-year period. These grants are made possible by generous gifts by the Trollinger, Karl V. Schultz and Naomi E. Lehman families.

faculty scholarship grant applications:

• Endowed faculty scholarship grants are available to any tenured or tenure-track faculty member with a minimum of three years teaching experience at Bluffton University.
• Applicants are required to submit a two to three page proposal which includes:
  • Description of the scholarly or creative work proposed.
  • Relationship of this proposal to previous and on-going scholarly pursuits.
  • The specific methods by which the scholarly or creative objectives will be achieved.
  • The theoretical and/or practical significance of the scholarly or creative work.
  • Possible venues through which the scholarly or creative work will be made available to the larger public.
  • The anticipated time schedule for completing this work, including the anticipated semester(s) in which the release time will be used.
• In addition to the application, please attach a one to two page curriculum vitae, with attention to past scholarly achievements that would indicate the likelihood of success in the endowed faculty scholarship grant program.
• Applications are due to the Faculty Development Committee by Nov. 30, with decisions announced by Dec. 14, for grants to begin the following academic year.
• Applications will be assessed by the Faculty Development Committee on the basis of their objectives, methodology, significance, mission fit, likelihood of success and adherence to the aforementioned guidelines.
• The highest-rated application will be sent to the vice president and dean of academic affairs and the president for their consideration and approval.

Karl Schultz Faculty Scholarship Grant encourages and supports creativity in scholarship, including and especially projects that explore across disciplines and impact the lives of real people and communities.

Recent recipients