5.Informed Consent Form
Purpose: The purpose of this research is to examine the alignment between labor market needs and the preparedness of business school graduates, in support of the Breech School’s strategic plan as part of the Continuous Improvement Review (CIR) process required for AACSB accreditation. The study involves administering an online survey to employers, alumni, and other relevant stakeholders. Participants will be asked to rate the importance of various competencies, assess the preparedness of graduates, and respond to a small number of open-ended questions. The survey will take approximately 10–15 minutes to complete.
Voluntary Participation: Participation in this study is completely voluntary. You may choose not to participate or withdraw at any time without penalty or prejudice. Declining or discontinuing participation will not affect your relationship with Drury University in any way.
Confidentiality of Data and Privacy Protection: All responses will be kept strictly confidential. Data will be collected anonymously and reported only in aggregate form. No personally identifiable information will be disclosed. The survey data will be stored securely on password-protected systems. All data will be retained for a period of three years following publication of results and then destroyed. Any reports, publications, or presentations resulting from this study will not include information that could identify individual participants.
Participants will be recruited from three affiliated groups: employers, alumni, and advisory board members connected to Breech School of Business Administration. The researcher will send an email invitation describing the study's purpose, estimated time to complete the survey (20 minutes), and the voluntary nature of participation. No individual will be pressured to take part.
Data will be collected using SurveyMonkey, a secure online survey platform. Participants will receive a direct link to the survey via email or official program communication channels.
Survey responses will be stored on SurveyMonkey’s secure servers and then exported to encrypted, password-protected files saved on the researcher’s university-owned computer. Only the research team will have access to the raw data.
Data will be secured by:
- Storing files on a password-protected and encrypted device.
- Restricting access to the research team only.
- Removing any identifying information before analysis.
- Results will be reported only in aggregate form in academic presentations, research reports, or publications. No individual responses or identifying information will be disclosed.
Risks to Participants: This study presents minimal risk to participants. The primary risk is the potential inconvenience of the time required to complete the survey. There are no anticipated physical, psychological, social, legal, or financial risks associated with participation.
Benefits: While participants may not receive direct personal benefits, the results of this study will contribute to improving curriculum design, student skill development, and employer engagement within the Breech School of Business. Findings will also support Drury University’s AACSB accreditation process, ultimately enhancing the value of its academic programs.
This project has been reviewed and approved by the Drury University Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB has determined that the research procedures adequately safeguard the participant’s privacy, welfare, civil liberties, and rights. The chair of the IRB may be reached at Drury University, 900 North Benton Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802. The telephone number is 417-873-639
I have read the material above, and any questions I asked have been answered to my satisfaction. By proceeding with the survey, I agree to participate in this activity, realizing that I may withdraw without penalty or prejudice at any time.