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 [English] [en Español]
- 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.
- Required Training (CITI Program)
Guidance Topics
- Anonymity
- Anonymous Surveys
- Deception in Research
- Ethnography
- Public Data Sets (no irb application required)
- Research using Social Networking Sites
- Student Records and FERPA
- Students as Research Participants
- Students as Researcher Guidance- Version Effective January 1, 2024. Starting 2024, undergraduate students will no longer be allowed to serve as PI on new IRB applications.
- The updated guidance includes example timelines for successful student submissions.
- Teacher Action Research/Exemption Category 1
- Using Pre-Existing Data
Standard Operating Procedures
- Data Security
- Dietary Supplement Research
- EU General Data Protection Regulation
- Human Performance Laboratory
- Human Research Review Procedures
- Recruitment of Participants by Non-College of Charleston Researchers
- Reliance (Inter-Institutional) Agreements
Submit an Application to the IRB
- IRB eForm Application System (requires CofC credentials)
- Institution ID: cofc
- Application Instructions and Resources
- Faculty/Staff PI Instructions
- Faculty Sponsor Instructions
- Undergraduate Student Researcher Instructions
- Graduate Student Researcher Instructions
- Copy of eForm Questions
Additional Forms
- Participant Compensation Form
- External Request to Recruit Research Participants (Non-College of Charleston researchers only)
Templates
Note: see the Forms and Templates page for more information about which form(s) to use for your research.
- Anonymous Surveys Consent- Anonymous Online or Paper Surveys
- Adult Consent - Letter Style for Social/Behavioral Research
- Adult Consent - Outline Style for Physical and Biomedical Research
- Adult Consent - Exemption Category 1 Research
- Child Assent - Elementary School Age
- Child Assent - Middle/High School Age
- Parental Permission - All Research with Minors EXCEPT Exemption Category 1
- Parental Permission - Exemption Category 1 Research with Minors
- Photo/Video/Audio Release
Resources for Student Researchers and Faculty Sponsors
- Students as Researchers guidance
- Recommended timelines for successful student IRB research
- Student eForm Instructions
- Graduate Student IRB eForm Instructions: text-only; detailed with screenshots
- Undergraduate Student IRB eForm Instructions: text-only; detailed with screenshots
- Faculty Sponsor eForm Instructions
- Graduate Student Faculty Sponsor IRB eForm Instructions: text-only; with screenshots
- Undergraduate Student Faculty Sponsor IRB eForm Instructions: text-only; with screenshots
IRB Meetings and Membership
- Meeting Schedule and Application Deadlines - Deadlines are only relevant for applications requiring Full Board Review. Expedited and Exempt (Administrative) Reviews are conducted on a rolling basis.
- Membership Roster
- IRB Members Legacy Website (restricted access)
College of Charleston Policies and Procedures
- Policy on the Protection of Human Research Participants
- Financial Conflict of Interest Disclosure
- External Requests to Recruit Research Participants
- Gift Cards for Research Participants Policy
- Using Electronic Gift Cards to Compensate Research Participants Procedures
Resources
- Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP)
- OHRP Frequently Asked Questions
- U.S. Federal Regulations - Protection of Human Subjects (45 CFR 46)
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- The Belmont Report
- Declaration of Helsinki
- Ethnography and IRBs
- Oral History Association Principles and Best Practices
- Federal Drug Administration (FDA) Science and Research
- International Compilation of Human Research Standards
- Listing of Social-Behavioral Research Standards from around the world (HHS)
- About Research Participation (HHS Public Outreach Website)
Federalwide Assurance (FWA) for the Protection of Human Subjects: #00000772
For further information contact
Compliance@cofc.eduResearch Protections and Compliance
Office of Research and Grants Administration
Office location: 407-G BellSouth Building