This page has links for all materials/instructions necessary to submit an IRB proposal to ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) for Human Subjects Research.
If you’re wondering Do I need IRB approval for this?, the answer is YES.
Luckily, a complete proposal includes only TWO main components:
- Ìý(click to link)
- Respond in detail to ALL listed questions on form
- Provide support materials as appendices (e.g., paste in consent forms, surveys, CFPs)
- Paste in actual (typed names are not accepted) signature images for all researchers involved/listed. Students & anyone not ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ-affiliated must include their “³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ sponsor” (e.g., professor or affiliate) to be considered for review.
- Human Subjects training (or equivalent)
- Only attach certifications to proposals if they were not completed via ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ’s (listed in CITI as “Western CT State University”) CITI affiliation. We already have CITI records for anyone completing under our school code.
- Only attach certifications to proposals if they were not completed via ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ’s (listed in CITI as “Western CT State University”) CITI affiliation. We already have CITI records for anyone completing under our school code.
All proposals/appendices must be received as ONE completeÌýfile (.doc or .docx files ONLY) attachment emailed toÌýIRB@wcsu.edu. Incomplete or incorrectly submitted proposals (e.g., missing docs/sigs, not emailed as ONE “.doc type” file) will not be reviewed.
³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ IRB approval must be obtained before beginning sampling or data collection by, with, or on anyone affiliated with ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ.
During regular semesters, most reviews take ~2 weeks (i.e., Exempt & Expedited proposals are reviewed 1-2x weekly).
Deadline for proposals needing Full Review is – without exception – the 1st of the month. Full proposals received after the 1st are reviewed at next month’s meeting.
Proposals are reviewed only during regular Fall & Spring semesters; proposals for work during breaks must be received/processed in the prior semester. For Summer 2026, May 30th is the last date Exempt/Expedited proposals will be accepted for review (still May 1st deadline for Full Reviews). Outside these times, email responses ≥ month.
Academic Year Meetings
Meetings are typically remote and occur, when necessary, during these months only:Ìý
- September
- October
- November
- December
- February
- March
- April
- May
Applicants for proposals reviewed by the full committee are contacted around mid-month, after we meet as a full committee.Ìý
Direct IRB-related questions during regular semesters to the ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ IRB Chair at irb@wcsu.edu.