Institutional Review Board

This page of the WCSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) contains links for all materials and instructions necessary to submit an IRB proposal.

If you’re wondering Do I need IRB approval for this?, the answer is YES.

 

Luckily, a complete proposal includes only two main components:

  1. Completed Proposal Form Note the new, simpler form (click to link).
    • Actual signatures needed for all researchers involved; it’s easiest to paste image files of sig. into the .doc file. Typed signatures aren’t acceptable. Students & anyone unaffiliated with WCSU must have signature of “WCSU sponsor” (e.g., professor or affiliate) to be considered for review.
    • Detail responses to all embedded questions on proposal form. Provide supporting documentation in appendices (e.g., paste consent forms, surveys, etc. to the end of the proposal form), and
  2. CITI (see Main Tab at left) or equiv. Human Subjects training.
    • Don’t submit CITI certificates; we see record of completed trainings online.

 

All WCSU IRB proposal documents must be submitted electronically as one (.doc or .docx files ONLY) file attachment to IRB@wcsu.edu. Proposals missing doc’s/sig’s or not emailed as ONE .doc file will not be reviewed.

 

IRB approval must be obtained before beginning human subjects data collection. For truly Exempt/Expedited proposals, plan at least 2 weeks processing time during regular semesters.

Submission deadlines for Full Review proposals are – without exception – the first of the month in which we meet. Full proposals submitted after 1st will be considered at next monthly meeting.

 

WCSU IRB meets only during Fall & Spring semesters. Outside these times, responses to email inquiries will take ≥ month. All research proposed for Intersession or Summer must be received/processed in advance (e.g., semester prior).

 

2019-20 Meetings

Meetings occur as needed on Wednesdays in Student Center Room 228, typically beginning at 8:00am.

  • September 11, 2019
  • October 9, 2019
  • November 13, 2019
  • December 11, 2019
  • February 12, 2020
  • March 11, 2020
  • April 8, 2020
  • May 13, 2020

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: 
Quality applications are essential, as they directly affect the integrity of the research process.

It is not the role of the IRB to comment on design or to determine or improve the quality of research protocols except insomuch as those methods affect the well-being, rights, and/or protections of those involved. As such, it is the role of the researchers involved, particularly as representatives of WCSU, to

  1. educate themselves regarding basic human-participants research procedures,
  2. submit complete proposals, with all necessary documents, and
  3. submit proposals devoid of grammatical and typological errors (particularly on documents for participants).

Proposals failing to adhere to these standards may not be reviewed.

WCSU’s IRB approval indicates that the proposed study maximizes protection of human participants. IRB approval does not indicate a particular study’s WCSU endorsement.

 

Direct IRB-related questions to the WCSU IRB Chair, Dr. Jessica Eckstein, at irb@wcsu.edu.