Student researchers may now do audio or video recorded or still photographed observations of:
(a) Large public meetings and lectures (over 25 persons) with informed consent of speaker (use “Consent Form for Audio or Video of Public Speaker);
(b) Public venues on UIUC campus (for example, residence dining halls), or public spaces connected with UIUC (for instance the dining hall of Bromley House, a private dorm for UIUC students, or The Greenhouse housing co-operative in Urbana-Champaign, which is available to UIUC students), with permission given by supervisor/manager of said space granted as appropriate;
(c) Classes of 15 students or less, with individual consent granted and permission of instructor (use “Consent Form for Audio or Video (Individual);
(d) Classes over 15 persons may be done with permission of instructor and no objection made by any member of the class, via either an informational handout (usually for classes over 15 persons but less than 40) or an informational presentation (usually for larger classes—over 40 persons), and anonymous balloting/survey, on-line or paper), and balloting shall not be done at the same time (i.e., during class time) informational handout or presentation by student researcher to class is given (use “Audio or Video Informational Handout”);
(e) Small non-class public lectures or meetings over 10 persons but under 25 persons; in such case an informational handout will be given to participants (use “Audio or Video Informational Handout”);
(f) Small non-class groups (10 or less, such as a focus group#) with appropriate individual informed consent.
If ANY objection is raised, NO recordings or photographs may take place. Audio or video recording of focus groups shall not include sensitive information. In the case of large public lectures or meetings, no sustained audio/video or still photography observation of individual audience members may be done, and in the case of audience participation, as in a question/answer session, any individual audience member’s image or voice (for instance stepping up to a microphone) must be deleted.
As you can see, the recording or photographing of classes as opposed to public meetings or lecture are governed differently as for a course students must be registered and are usually required to attend. It is important that no student feel pressured to participate even if the instructor has granted consent, which is why we require that the obtaining of consent or objection NOT be done at the same time the student researcher gives a handout or presentation. This is also important with regard to obtaining informed consent in courses of 15 students or less as consent forms contain printed names and signatures, and signed forms should not be viewed or collected by instructor at the time consent is either given or refused.
