Human Research Protections (IRB)

Human Research Protections (IRB)

The Human Research Participant Protection Program provides assistance to investigators in fulfilling their obligation to plan and conduct research involving human participants in accordance with the highest scientific and ethical principles.

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) provides research oversight and evaluation of the institution's research involving human participants by ensuring compliance with the ethical principles embodied in The Belmont Report and the College of Charleston policies and procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions
Final Revisions to the Common Rule effective July 19, 2018
Flexibility Policy for non federally funded research
Qualtrics Survey Software is available for use by faculty, staff and students at no cost.
eForm Application link

Federalwide Assurance (FWA) for the Protection of Human Subjects: #00000772

About the IRB

Access IRB standard operating procedures, required training, membership information, and external resources.

Submit an Application to the IRB
Click here to access the eForm application
- Instution ID: cofc
- Cougarname and password
- Copy of eForm Questions
Application Instructions for Faculty & Staff
Faculty/Staff PI Instructions
- Faculty & Staff PIs (Text Only)
- Faculty & Staff PIs (w/ Screenshots)
Faculty Sponsor Instructions
- Faculty Sponsor of Undergrad Students (Text Only)
- Faculty Sponsor of Undergrad Students (w/ Screenshots)
- Faculty Sponsor of Graduate Students (Text Only)
- Faculty Sponsor of Graduate Students (w/ Screenshots)
Student
- Student as Researchers Guidance
- Recommended Timelines for Successful Student IRB Research
Undergraduate Student Researcher Instructions
- Undergrad Student PIs (Text Only)
- Undergrad Student PIs (w/ Screenshots)
Graduate Student Researcher Instructions
- Grad Student PIs (Text Only)
- Grad Student PIs (w/ Screenshots)
Guidance and Standard Operating Procedures
Guidance Topics
Standard Operating Procedures
Consent Templates and Other Forms
Note that all templates require access to the College of Charleston Hub.
Consent Templates for Research with Adults
- Anonymous Survey Consent
  - Use this template if you are conducting anonymous surveys, either on paper or online. Recommend using Qualtrics for anonymous online surveys. No wavier of signed consent is required in the eForm application since completion of the survey constitutes consent.
- Adult Consent - Letter Style for Social/Behavioral Research
  - Use this template for all social/behavioral research with adults. Options are included in this template for oral and signed consent. If using oral consent, you must request a "Waiver of Signed Consent" in the eForm application.
- Adult Consent - Outline Style for Physical & Biomedical Research
  - Use this template for all physical and biomedical research with adults. Options are included in this template for oral and signed consent. If using oral consent, you must request a "Waiver of Signed Consent" in the eForm application.
- Adult Consent- Exemption Category 1 Research
  - Use this template if you are conducting course evaluation research with adult students.
  - See Exemption Category 1 Guidance to confirm this is the correct template for you to use.
Parent/Guardian Permission & Child Assent Forms for Research with Minors
- Child Assent - Elementary School
  - Use this assent template if your research involves elementary school-age participants.
- Child Assent - Middle School & High School
  - Use this assent template if your research involves middle or high school-age participants.
- Parent/Guardian Permission for Research
  - Use this permission template if your research involves minors. This template is intended for research that does NOT qualfiy under Exemption Category 1.
- Parent/Guardian Permission - Exemption Category 1 Research
  - Use this permission template if your education research involves minors. This template is only intended for research that qualifies under Exemption Category 1.
  - See Exemption Category 1 Guidance to confirm this is the correct template for you to use.
Instructions for Using Informed Consent, Parental Permission, & Child Assent Templates
- Download the appropriate template(s) from above. Review the descriptions provided to determine which template(s) are the best fit for your research. Note that more than one template may be needed depending on the nature of your research methods.
- Fill in the information relevant to your study using the prompts in blue text.
- It is very important to write your consent form in layperson's language that can easily be understood by your participants. An 8th grade reading level is recommended for the general population.
- The templates include language suggested y the IRB. Please adapt as necessary to be sure your consent form clearly explains your individual research clearly.
- Remove all instructions in red text. This includes the instructions at the top of the template and any options that are not appropriate.
- Include a copy of the consent/permission/assent form(s) to the IRB application exactly the way your participants will see it, with all text in black.
Additional Forms
Required Training for Research with Human Participants
Completion of IRB-approved training is required of all College of Charleston personnel and students conducting research with human participants. The College of Charleston has contracted with the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) which provides a comprehensive online modular training program used nationwide.
CITI training must be completed before your Human Research Review Application can be submitted. This training must have occurred within the last five years. Refresher modules are available if recertification is required.
- Instructions for First Time CITI Registration (with screenshots)
- Instructions for First Time CITI Registration (text only)
- Instructions for Returning CITI users (with screenshots)
- Instructions for Returning CITI users (text only)
- CITI Program (Website)
Please note that it is not necessary to complete all of the modules in one session. The CITI system retains your information and you can access it at any time.
A quiz follows each module. You must attain a score of at least 80% on each quiz. When you have completed the entire training, you may print out your completion report for your records. An e-mail of your completion will also automatically be sent to the Research Protections & Compliance Coordinator.
We invite faculty members to use this online training resource for classes which involve human participant research.

IRB Meetings and Membership

IRB Membership

Name		Department
Beth Sundstrom, Ph.D., Chair		Communications Department
Joey van Arnhem, Ph.D.		Libraries
Chelsea Reid-Short, Ph.D., Vice Chair		Psychology Department
Anthony Bishara, Ph.D.		Psychology Department
Sarah Porto, Ph.D.		Health and Human Performance
Yu Henry Xie, Ph.D.		Management and Marketing
Eileen Callahan		Non-Scientist, Retired Staff
Gabrielle Principe, Ph.D.		Psychology Department
Sarah Althen		Community Member
Alternate Members
Katie Swart, Ph.D.		Teacher Education
Ex Officio and Supporting Staff
Sara Stevenson, M.P.A.		IRB Administrator, ORGA

Application Deadline*	Meeting Date	Meeting Time
08/23/2024	09/06/2024	3:00 PM
09/20/2024	10/04/2024	3:00 PM
10/25/2024	11/08/2024	3:00 PM
	No Meeting- Winter Break
01/03/2025	01/10/2025	3:00 PM
01/24/2025	02/07/2025	3:00 PM
02/28/2025	03/14/2025	3:00PM
03/28/2025	04/11/2025	3:00 PM
	Will meet on ad-hoc basis over summer

*Deadlines are only relevant for applications requiring Full Board Review. Expedited and Exempt (Administrative) Reviews are conducted on a rolling basis.

Additional Resources