Institutional Review Board

Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the Protection of Human Subjects

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.

Casper College’s IRB policies and procedures are based upon the following:

• Code of Federal Regulations for Protection of Human Subjects
• Code of Federal Regulations for Expedited Review Procedures of Human Subjects
• The Belmont Report
• Casper College’s Exemption Categories
• Casper College’s Informed Consent Process
• IRB and Assessment at Casper College

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:

• Projects with or without funding
• All projects that involve an outside collaboration (i.e., information/data sharing and/or data gathering)
• All applications being reviewed by an outside board
• Research utilizing surveys, interviews, oral history
• Questionnaires
• Retrospective data analysis
• Research on individual or group characteristics or behavior
• Focus groups, pilot studies
• Classroom research projects
• “Exempt” projects (see Exemption Categories)

Annual Review:

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.

Record Retention:

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.

Membership of the IRB:

The membership of the IRB consists of at least 5 members.

Review Process for Full Board Review:

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:

• Approved : Application is approved with no revisions.
• Approved contingent/pending revisions : Application is approved once specific revisions are made.
• Deferred : A decision is deferred on the application until applicant provides more specific information, or until major revisions are made.
• Denied : Application is denied without further consideration.

Contact Scott Woods, IRB chair, to discuss:

• whether your project requires IRB review
• a possible “Exempt” application
• any other questions you may have about the IRB application and review process

IRB Forms:

• Exempt Protocol Form (PDF) – Exempt Protocol Form (DOC)
• Expedited Review Form (PDF) – Expedited Review Form (DOC)
• Full Review Form (PDF available upon request) – Full Review Form (DOC)
• Annual Continuing Review Form (PDF available upon request) – Annual Continuing Review Form (DOC)
• Informed Consent Form Template (PDF)
• Informed Consent Form Template (DOC)