Institutional Review Board
The Institutional Review Board oversees research involving human subjects. Learn how to apply for approval and ensure your project meets ethical standards.
If your project/grant proposal involves research and human subjects as defined by the Code of Federal Regulations, the project must be reviewed by Casper College’s IRB. The Casper College Grants Office will help you determine whether your project/proposal fits the definitions of “research” and “human subjects” and will help you complete the forms for submission to the IRB.
To conduct research that involves the use of human subjects, the College is required by federal mandate to have an assurance of compliance for protection of human research subjects. This assurance serves as Casper College’s agreement with the government in promising that all individuals involved in human subjects research will be treated ethically.
Grant/Project Contact persons should familiarize themselves with these documents prior to initiating research.
All projects conducted at Casper College by instructors, administrators, staff, and students that involve human subjects must be reviewed. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Once a project is approved, the approval is effective for no more than one year. A continuation application must be submitted before the end of the approved year. If the application is not reviewed, all work on the project must be stopped. This includes data analysis, even if no contact with subjects is occurring. If any changes occur in the project within the approval year, it is necessary to contact the Grants Office. Prior to changes being instituted, Contacts are to submit a request for an addendum or modifications to the Grants Office. In an addendum the Contact person explains any proposed changes and includes any relevant supplemental materials. Supplemental materials may include, but are not limited to, revised consent forms, copies of recruitment posters and ads or additional instruments.
Project Contacts are also responsible for the retention of all data pertaining to the research project. The government requires records to be retained for three years after the close of the project.
The membership of the IRB consists of at least 5 members.
The IRB meets as needed when proposals are made. At the meeting, IRB members discuss and vote on each application. The following scenarios represent possible outcomes:
Contact Scott Woods, IRB chair, to discuss: