The IRB operates within all federal mandates, ethical guidelines, and ACE policies listed in this handbook. In addition to these policies, the following processes are used to guide the IRB and its actions.
Length of Term
IRB Members are appointed for a term of one year; however, can stay on for more than one term if agreed upon by the member and the senior academic leader.
Reviews
This board reviews research proposals on a regular basis and returns decisions within 10 business days of receipt (in most cases).
Record-Keeping
The IRB prepares and maintains documentation or proposal reviews, votes, decisions, and feedback provided to researchers pertaining to the decision. This information is maintained the College’s repository.
Responsibilities
In addition to reviewing all research proposals for human subject protection, the IRB will make recommendations to the Academic Council for any policies and procedures related to research. The board also reviews and approves research proposals submitted by faculty and students which involve the protection of human rights and serves as the monitor for ongoing research to protect potential conflicts of interest, the integrity of the research, and to determine if research should be terminated.
IRB Decision Guidelines
- IRB decisions are the final verdict for approval of ethical safeguards in candidate dissertation proposals and institutional research. Candidates and researchers are expected to follow the approved protocol and not deviate from the approved plan. If revisions are needed to the approved proposal, an updated proposal must be approved by the IRB prior to the implementation of a new protocol and before conducting research.
- The IRB can review approved proposals and final dissertation submissions to ensure the approved protocol has been followed.
- IRB committee decisions are final, unless concrete evidence is brought to the IRB Chair to warrant a Chair Review. After this decision is rendered, no additional appeals may be requested. An IRB decision may be revoked after approval if evidence is brought forward that shows the approved protocol was not followed or what was approved was not presented in an accurate manner.
- The IRB operates within the parameters established by the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) and detailed within CITI guidelines. The college may establish specific institutional guidelines for research, above and beyond the requirements listed by CITI, which are enforced by the DRR and IRB review processes.
|
