Edmonds College Logo

Institutional Review Board

FAQ on this page:

What is the IRB?

Edmonds College encourages and supports the scholarly endeavors of students, faculty, and staff of the college.  In order to ensure that endeavors involving human subjects research are conducted in compliance with ethical principles as well as state and federal policies, all such projects must receive approval from the Edmonds College Institutional Review Board (IRB).

The goal of the Edmonds College IRB is to protect human research participants by ensuring that in all Edmonds College research and/or research done at Edmonds College:

  • The rights and welfare of human research participants are appropriately protected.
  • Research is guided by the ethical principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice as set forth in the Belmont Report, and is conducted with the highest level of expertise and integrity. More information about basic ethical questions governing the conduct of research is discussed in the Belmont Report (1978).
  • Such research complies with applicable laws set forth by the US Health and Human Services(HHS) Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) - Regulations & Policies.

What research is covered?

Research is defined as a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Human subjects research is any research or clinical investigation that involves human subjects. As a general rule, anticipated dissemination of results in conference presentations, publications, theses, and dissertations, or reports available outside the institutional confines of Edmonds College will indicate that the data collection or analysis constitutes research. Data collection and analysis intended for institutional consumption by employees of Edmonds College for operational purposes or self-assessment or public information available in report or raw data form is not regarded as research and therefore does not require IRB approval.


Human Subjects Research must undergo IRB review when: 1) Research is being conducted by Edmonds College faculty, staff, and/or students needs to undergo IRB review; 2) Research is being conducted on Edmonds College campus, using Edmonds College personnel and/or students as participants or using Edmonds College data.


How does the IRB derive its authority?

The Edmonds College IRB is authorized through an active IRB registration and Federalwide Assurance with the HHS OHRP. OHRP is the federal office responsible for the oversight of research involving human participants and is part of HHS. It is essential that all research receive appropriate IRB review, as audits conducted by OHRP at several institutions have resulted in the temporary suspension of all research activities involving human subjects.


How to apply for IRB Approval:

To apply, please follow the link that applies to you:

Exempt or expedited? Define each, explain additional forms needed

Determine whether you are exempt or expedited, and fill out the appropriate forms below. Please read carefully. If the appropriate form is not filled out, it will be rejected (Form links at the bottom of each)

Fillable Narrative Form (required)

Exempt or expedited? Define each, explain additional forms needed

Determine whether you are exempt or expedited, and fill out the appropriate forms below. Please read carefully. If the appropriate form is not filled out, it will be rejected (Form links at the bottom of each)

Fillable Narrative Form (required)

When does the IRB meet?

The next two IRB meetings will take place on:

  • Fall 2019 - Wednesday, November 13, 2019, 3-4 p.m.

Who is in charge of the Board

The chair of the IRB committee is Robin Datta (rdatta@edmonds.edu ). The human subjects review process is administered through the Executive Vice-President for Instruction Office.
TOP