Dear Colleagues,
We are writing to let you know that the College has decided to return the review and approval of College of Education exempt IRB submissions back to the campus IRB Office. Effective June 15, 2012, all faculty and students within the College will submit IRB forms (IRB-1 and IRB Application for Exemption) directly to the campus IRB Office. Until then, any new or modified IRB applications for human subjects research received by the Bureau will be forwarded to campus; however, after June 15, the College will facilitate IRB submissions upon request but no longer review or approve them. David Requa and Shawn Lampkins will continue to provide services in the Bureau of Educational Research to facilitate IRB applications; however these services will be limited to familiarizing faculty and students with campus IRB Office submission policies and procedures, general discussion of IRB regulations and discussion of missing, erroneous or incomplete information contained in submissions slated for campus review.
The impetus for reviewing our procedures and making the decision was driven in part by the retirement of Anne Robertson as the Director of the Office of School University Research Relations in the Bureau of Educational Research. Her departure is a great loss for the College but we want to wish her well in her new position at Washington University in St. Louis. For nearly a decade our faculty and students have been the beneficiaries of Anne’s guidance throughout the IRB review and approval process, particularly in the area of exempt projects.
As we reviewed the history of the IRB services within the College and available resources, it was evident that there are multiple challenges inherent in our continuing to provide the level of IRB assistance that has existed. Fortunately, the anticipated transition by the campus IRB office to a web-based submission system for human subject IRB research forms is expected to streamline the process while also improving the turnaround time for approvals.
The current process for IRB submission to campus is explained in detail on the IRB website at: http://irb.illinois.edu. Until the web-based submission system is implemented, campus IRB will continue to accept email, fax or hard copy (single sided) submission of completed and signed forms. Please note that all human subjects research must be reviewed and approval letters received before human subjects are recruited or involved in research activities, so please build this process into your planning timeline.
We recognize that this change in the processing of IRB submissions within the College will require us all to make adjustments. The COE College Research Committee’s Human Subjects Subcommittee, comprised of faculty from each department, will continue its critically important role in College research ethics compliance and education. We will be increasing the number of IRB process training opportunities for Education faculty and students, collaboratively developed with campus IRB, which will be offered in late summer through the 2012-2013 academic year. You are strongly encouraged to attend at least one session as schedules are finalized. We appreciate your continued patience as we undergo this transition.
Sincerely,
Stafford L. Hood
Sheila Miller Professor and
Associate Dean for Research and Research Education
James D. Anderson
Gutgsell Professor and Acting Dean