If you intend to submit a proposal for research that will involve human subjects, your plan for managing the human subjects' aspect of your project must be approved by the College's Institutional Review Board (IRB). All IRB materials must be submitted via the IRB moodle page.

When applying for IRB review, please note that there are two separate tracks you can follow to get IRB approval and/or notify the IRB depending on whether your research fits the technical definition of research as spelled out in federal code 45cfr46 (click here to read 45cfr46).

To begin the IRB approval process, please decide which track best describes your research (more guidance is available on the IRB moodle page).

Track 1 (T1) is intended for people doing research with human subjects that will be disseminated outside of the class setting (via a public talk, publication, etc.).

Track 2 (T2)  is for people doing research with human subjects in the context of a class or program evaluation process and the results will NOT be disseminated outside of the class/ institutional setting.

The table below outlines the steps you will need to take for each track.

When applying for IRB review, make sure to follow these steps:

T1 -  Research that will be disseminated

1. Do not begin research on human subjects without IRB approval.
2. Complete the IRB Application.
3. Submit all of these required IRB materials by uploading them to the IRB moodle page:
   • Completed IRB application (available on the IRB moodle page);
   • Informed Consent form;
   • Data collection instruments (e.g., surveys and sample interview questions) - these materials are crucial to the IRB's decision making;
   • Evidence that all researchers involved in the project (including research assistants) have completed the CITI training course;
     Supplementary materials (e.g. permission to use a particular location or dataset - follow instructions in IRB application form).

 T2 -  Class-based research that will not be disseminated

1. Do not begin research on human subjects without IRB approval (a non-reviewable determination letter).
2. Complete the IRB application.
3. Submit all of these required IRB materials by uploading them to the IRB moodle page:
   • Completed IRB application (available on the IRB moodle page);
   • Informed Consent form;
   • Data collection instruments (e.g., surveys and sample interview questions) - these materials are crucial to the IRB's decision making;
   • Evidence that all researchers involved in the project (including research assistants) have completed the CITI training course;
   • Supplementary materials (e.g. permission to use a particular location or dataset - follow instructions in IRB application form).

The RMC IRB Committee consists of Luke Ward - Chair, Holly Basta, Barb Vail, Jenny Reichert,  Julie Beicken, and Sara Young.  The RMC Institutional Official for Human Subjects Research is Derek Sjostrom.

Please email Dr. Luke Ward at lucas.ward@rocky.edu if you have questions about the IRB process.

IRB Resources for Oral History

• Sample Informed Consent form for Oral History Research
• Sample Interview Questionnaire for Oral History Research

Additional Links

• Criteria for IRB Approval
• How to Submit Required Materials to to the IRB
• Jurisdiction & Rules
• Types of Research Reviewed by the IRB