For Researchers

As an agency that serves a diverse community, ACCESS is frequently invited to participate in research projects. The types of research projects that ACCESS participates in include needs assessments, survey assistance, program evaluation, population studies, focus groups, and among other types. ACCESS receives more requests for research assistance than staff can accommodate, and this form serves as a tool to organize requests and identify where ACCESS can best assist.

Please be advised, the research intake process can take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks from the time of submission of the research request form. ACCESS Community Research Review Board(CRRB), a committee within the Center for Arab Narratives (CAN), convenes monthly to review research requests. If your request is more immediate, please make that known in your submission. Depending on the phase of your research project, your request may not be approved.

To that end, individuals and research teams interested in working with ACCESS must adhere to the following guidelines:

1. All research requests, be it short- or long-term, must be registered on our Research Request Form. For access to the research request form please email research@accesscommunity.org

2. All research conducted will acknowledge and/or credit ACCESS role and include ACCESS as a co-investigator wherever appropriate. ACCESS will identify staff members to be listed on specific projects/studies.

3. ACCESS will give preference to projects where ACCESS staff are involved in the development of the research plan.

4. All student-led research should be conducted under the supervision of a university faculty member. University faculty members should be listed on the request form and need to be available for follow up by ACCESS.

5. Proposed projects will have to receive appropriate approval from the host Institution's Internal Review Board (IRB). We strongly suggest completing this form when you submit your IRB or have already received IRB approval. For long-term projects that require specific staff time, please consult with CAN to include specific ACCESS staff on your IRB. Any ACCESS staff identified will provide all necessary paperwork needed to complete the IRB process.

6. Currently, ACCESS prioritizes research projects that can lead to long-term and positive impacts on the communities that we serve.

What is the Community Research Review Board (CRRB)

1. A community-based forum, housed within CAN, that reviews and evaluates research coordinated by ACCESS, to ensure community empowered research

2. Interdisciplinary, community-driven conversation about MENA research that supports and informs the ongoing national dialogue about our community’s representation.

CRRB meets once a month, all research projects presented at CRRB are finalized one week prior to the meeting