Learning and Applied Research

Research Ethics Board

The Research Ethics Board (REB) meets monthly, except in August, to discuss applications for ethical approval relating to research at Okanagan College. 

Meeting schedule 2023-24

September
Application Date: Friday, Aug. 25, 2023
Meeting Date: Friday, Sep. 8, 2023

October
Application Date: Friday, Sep. 22, 2023
Meeting Date: Friday, Oct. 6, 2023

November
Application Date: Friday, Oct. 20, 2023
Meeting Date: Friday, Nov. 3, 2023

December
Application Date: Friday, Nov. 17, 2023
Meeting Date: Friday, Dec. 1, 2023

January
Application Date: Friday, Dec. 29, 2023
Meeting Date: Friday, Jan. 12, 2024

February
Application Date: Friday, Jan. 26, 2024
Meeting Date: Friday, Feb. 9, 2024

March
Application Date: Friday, Feb. 23, 2024
Meeting Date: Friday, Mar. 8, 2024

April
Application Date: Friday, Mar. 22, 2024
Meeting Date: Friday, Apr. 5, 2024

May
Application Date: Friday, Apr. 19, 2024
Meeting Date: Friday, May 3, 2024

June
Application Date: Friday, May 24, 2024
Meeting Date: Friday, Jun. 7, 2024

July
Application Date: Friday, Jun. 21, 2024
Meeting Date: Friday, Jul. 5, 2024

Research policies/TOR

Resources and forms

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If your research involves humans then it requires REB approval
  • May involve asking subjects to participate in questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, testing, observation, video and audio taping
  • Subjects may be OC faculty, staff, students or administration or the public
  • Research involving human biological materials, as well as human embryos, fetuses fetal tissues, stem cells etc.
  • Class projects requiring students to conduct research involving human subjects
  • Anyone not affiliated with OC who wants to conduct research at OC must submit an application for review on OC forms
  • Requires a letter of permission from the OC department or administrative unit responsible for the space or resources to be used
  • If research is done elsewhere and is associated with OC then REB approval is required
  • If faculty are working at OC but taking time to do graduate studies then OC requires documentation of REB approval. Additionally, a cover letter stating that the faculty member is conducting the research on their own time and separate from OC is required.
  • Information gathering activities that:
    • Produces data that may be used for publication
    • May be used to increase current knowledge
    • Is done with participants unaware
    • Involve “at risk” participants
    • Is conducted such that individuals may be identified

All forms are found on the REB policies and forms web page for Okanagan College. Please complete the form titled, Research Ethics Board, Application for Ethical Review via the link below.

Complete your application!

Submissions should be sent to:

Research Ethics Board
Attn: Colette Martin
Okanagan College
Office B120

1000 KLO Road
Kelowna, BC  V1Y 4X8

E-mail:    reb@okanagan.bc.ca
Phone:    250-762-5445 ext. 4736

The committee reviews the application and comes back with a verdict of:

  • approved without amendments
  • conditional approval with clarifications
  • not approved. If approved a REB certificate will be created for the project. They are valid for one year but a renewal is possible.

If approved, a REB certificate will be created for the project. They are valid for one year but a renewal is possible, if requested. If the project is conditionally approved, then changes must be made to the application. The Chair of the committee will contact you with those changes recommended by the committee. The corrections are submitted to the chair and assistant, who distributes it to the committee to check. If acceptable, a certificate of ethical acceptability is sent to you from the committee assistant. A project that is rejected can be rewritten and resubmitted or it is possible for the applicant to appeal the REB committee’s decision.

News and updates

The Research Ethics Board (REB) is currently looking for new members to join the committee. The REB Terms of Reference state that the committee…

Membership 

Youry Khmelevsky is currently REB Chair.

Dr. Youry Khmelevsky

Chair - Computer Science
Office: E Building 321
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4741
Computer Science - Youry Khmelevsky

I have been a Professor in the Computer Science department at Okanagan College since 2005. I was a Chair of the Department since June 2015 for 3 years, and then from 2020. I have a Ph.D. in Computer Science and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Microelectronics with distinctions (GPA 99%). I also completed a post-doctoral study in the United States at Harvard University in 1997. I was a visiting scientist at the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in August 2010 for 12 months and at LIP6, Sorbonne University, Paris, France, in August 2018 for 12 months. My research team was awarded 2 of the best conference research paper awards in 2014 and 2023. 

Youry Khmelevsky's Google Scholar profile

Publications by Youry Khmelevsky

Credentials:
PhD, Computer Science, KPI

Amy Cohen

Anthropology
Office: Main Building C321
Campus: Vernon
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 6302
Cohen, Amy

I am an anthropologist, researcher, activist, mother, lifelong learner, and teacher. I graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master of Arts in Socio-Political Anthropology in 2009. Since moving back to the Okanagan, I have been active in the migrant justice movement, both as a researcher and community activist. I am currently part of an interdisciplinary team of researchers on an ethnoarchaeological project in Saltillo, Mexico. This project will consider the social and cultural experiences of war and conflict on a people’s identity and historical memory from the time of the Mexican-American war to the present day. I have authored and co-authored a number of publications on migrant agricultural issues and have carried out ethnographic research on migrant agricultural workers' resistance, reproductive justice, and their networks of support. I have been teaching at Okanagan College's Vernon and Salmon Arm campuses since 2013.
 

Credentials:
MA, Anthropology, University of Toronto

Google Scholar Profile

Dr. Michelle Arnold

Psychology
Office: B Building 216G
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 6449
Michelle Arnold headshot

After completing a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Southampton (UK) and a fixed-term position at St Andrews University (Scotland), I worked for several years at Flinders University (Adelaide, Australia). I joined Okanagan College in 2020, and I currently teach courses on introductory psychology, research methods and design, perception, human information processing, qualitative methods and design, and program evaluation. My research interests include the reconstructive nature of memory (e.g., subjective experience of remembering, false/recovered memory), the strategic regulation of accuracy (e.g., knowing when to act on a piece of information or when to keep quiet), and judgment and decision making across a variety of situations. One of my most recent lines of research has focused on understanding anomalistic (i.e., extraordinary) and other non-evidence based beliefs, which includes belief in the paranormal, extra-terrestrials, conspiracy theories, motivated rejection of science, et cetera. Previous work in this area has typically shown that there are performance differences, such as reasoning ability, between people who hold such beliefs and those who do not. My research has concentrated on understanding these differences, as well as on how other variables may be related to anomalistic belief, such as delusion-proneness and thinking style (i.e., intuitive vs. analytical styles).

Credentials:
PhD, Cognitive Psychology, University of Victoria
MSc, Cognitive Psychology, University of Victoria

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michelle-Arnold-4

Dr. Kathy Bockhold

Biology
Office: C Building 224
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4542
Biology - Kathy Bockhold

After completing a BSc and MSc at UBC it was time to try something new and get out of the rain. I enjoyed just a year in Montreal before having an opportunity to finish my PhD at the Pasteur Institut and a post-doc in London. They were fantastic experiences, academically and culturally. Since then I have worked at the Terry Fox Labs and in Ottawa for Ron Worton but I have to say living and working in the Okanagan is special. I love the weather, culture and it suits my hobbies (horseback riding, hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing). At OC I teach first year, specializing in Anatomy & Physiology, and second year Microbiology and Pathophysiology.

Credentials:
PhD, Anatomy, Pasteur Institute/McGill University

Dr. Catherine Gee

Philosophy
Office: B Building 233
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 6455
Photo of Gee Cathy

My area of specialization is ethics and bioethics. After finishing my PhD I went on to complete a Clinical Ethics Fellowship with London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London in London, Ontario. I teach a variety of ethics courses including Bioethics, Contemporary Moral Issues, Business Ethics, Environmental Ethics, and Criminal Justice Ethics. My research interests focus on applied ethics and topics pertaining to personal autonomy, consent, deception, and authenticity.

Credentials:
PhD Philosophy, University of Waterloo

Dr. Gill Green

Geography & Earth & Environmental Science - Chair
Office: C Building 145
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4801
Professor Gill Green

My research interests include environmental governance and the application of GIScience to humanitarian crises and human rights issues. My work on environmental governance focuses on land and property rights in the context of environmental conflicts and peacebuilding. My GIScience research focuses on developing capacities of and methods for organizations working on human rights monitoring and documentation of war crimes and crimes against humanity. As an eductor, I also engage in research on open education for environmental science and geographic education

Credentials:
PhD, Geography, McGill University

www.greengeographer.com

Google Scholar Profile

Karmen Krahn

Human Service Work
Office: Salmon Arm Building 103
Campus: Salmon Arm
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 2241

Kathryn Truant

Certified Dental Assistant
Office: HS Building 302
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 6247
Headshot of Kathryn Truant

As an OC alumna, I began my teaching journey in the CDA program in 2018 as a clinical instructor. I also facilitate the Introduction to Dental Assisting course through Continuing Studies at OC, and I am developing advanced skills workshops for CDA’s in our new state-of-the-art dental clinic. I continue to practice as a CDA in the community - I have had a wonderful career in dentistry, in general practice and in oral & maxillofacial surgery. I enjoy promoting an integral health care profession, while fostering and educating the next generation of Certified Dental Assistants.

Credentials:
Master of Education (MEd) Curriculum and Instruction Post-Secondary, Simon Fraser University
Provincial Instructor Diploma (ID), Vancouver Community College
Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Okanagan College

Cathy Fitzgerald

Business Administration
Office: C Building 123
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4579
Business Professor Catherine Fitzgerald

Catherine is a professor in the management and human resource management programs at Okanagan College. She has been a course leader in the development, delivery and evaluation of the Okanagan School of business human resource management, leadership and organizational behaviour courses (in-person and virtual) for over two decades.

 

Academic Background

Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (Management), Saint Mary’s University

Master of Arts Degree, Career Development, School of Management, JFK University

 

Employment History

Professor, Faculty of Business & Extension Services, Okanagan (University) College (1995-current)

Human Resource Development & Management Consulting Business (1987-current)

Management and Human Resource Management Positions, City of Calgary (1980-1987)

 

Professional Certifications

The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) Designation (1996-current)

Canadian Council of Human Resource Associations and Human Resources Management Association- BC and Yukon, Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) Designation (1999-current)

 

Research and Publications

Cathy has published over 25 international and national scholarly peer-reviewed publications and paper presentations, over 16 business cases and case teaching notes and over 17 technical reports and magazine articles for professional, industry and public audiences. Since 2006, Cathy has been reviewing textbooks and various articles for publishers, peer reviewed journals and peer reviewed conference papers submitted for presentations. Cathy has authored 11 instructor’s manuals and test bank questions including context dependent multiple-choice questions designed to accompany the human resource management textbooks. She has authored various experiential exercises and case incidents that continue to be included in human resource management textbooks. She is the coauthor of the textbook Essentials of Managing Human Resources. 5th Canadian Edition. Toronto: Nelson Education

Colette Martin

Learning and Applied Research, Departmental Administrator
Office: B Building 120B
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4736
colette_martin