Grants and Sponsored Programs Administration
Compliance
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) are also coordinated through this office. The IRB conducts reviews of research studies and projects involving human subjects to ensure compliance with Institutional policy and federal guidelines. Also in accordance with federal law, SOU has an IACUC that oversees and evaluates all aspects of the institution's animal care and use program.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
The SOU Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a presidential committee mandated by Federal guidelines for research involving Federal monies and by University accrediting bodies. All research activities involving the use of human beings as research subjects (participants) must be reviewed and approved by the IRB. Investigators may not solicit subject participation or begin data collection until they have received approval from the IRB or written concurrence that research has been determined to be exempt. The committee meets on an ad hoc basis as proposals are submitted for review. The goals of SOU's IRB are as follows:
- To review proposed research projects that involve human subjects.
- To protect the rights and privacy of such human subjects.
- To assure protection from physical or psychological harm for those human subjects.
- To provide information, feedback and advice for researchers who will be working with human subjects.
Application and Review Process
Researchers, whether faculty or students, must protect the rights of their subjects as described in the Southern Oregon University Ethical Standards: Institutional Guidelines.
Steps:
- Researchers must submit the Review Form for Projects Using Human Subjects to the relevant body in their department. Each department will designate faculty member(s) to review the research using human subjects.
- The department will review the research proposal to verify appropriateness of research, assess educational validity, evaluate protocols, and confirm consistency with accepted norms within the discipline and relevant professional associations. The department may then endorse submission to the IRB and indicate the anticipated type of review. See Categories for Exemption.
- If the department determines that the activity is practice rather than research, they must send a copy of the Review Form for Projects Using Human Subjects noting the decision to the IRB. Only the IRB, however, may make the determination if the research qualifies for exemption under Title 45 CFR 46.101.
- If the research is sponsored by a non-SOU organization but the research subjects are SOU students or employees, or if SOU facilities are to be used, the Review Form for Projects Using Human Subjects must be submitted to the IRB.
- Click here to download the electronic version of the form in MS Word format.
- Please allow two (2) weeks for the review and decision-making process. Summer and quarter breaks may require longer.
Responses to the 21 questions in the review form are basic to the IRB's determination about the protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects in your research. Responses should be clear, complete, and easy to understand. You may download the electronic version of the Review Form for Projects Using Human Subjects and type directly into the form. Completed forms can then be printed out and delivered to the Grants Administration Office at the address shown below. Place your typewritten responses immediately under each question, not on a separate sheet. It is important that you answer every question. If a question does not apply to your research, enter a response such as "N/A" or "Does not apply". Submit one complete, signed hard copy of the proposal packet and one (1) digital copy via e-mail or disk to the following address:
Grants Administration
Deborah d'Este Hofer
Churchill 205
Southern Oregon University
hofer@sou.edu 541.552.8662
Checklist: Include these items with your proposal packet:
- Departmental Approval for Submission to IRB.
- Proposal Clearance (if grant application is included).
- Review Form for Projects Using Human Subjects.
- Forms that will be used to document informed consent and assent.
- Cover letter and/or script to be used to inform subjects about the nature of the research.
- Copies of surveys, instruments or measures, questionnaires, interview schedules, focus group questions, and/or other materials used to collect data.
- Instructor Authorization to Conduct Research (if applicable).
- Request to Access Educational Records for Research (if applicable)
- Release form for audio or video taping (if applicable).
Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee
Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care & Use of Laboratory Animals
Site for a tutorial for new animal care and use committee members, institutional administrators, investigators, animal care personnel, veterinarians, or others who are interested in learning about the PHS policy guidelines.
