Institutional Review Board

The MU IRB reviews all human subjects research for compliance with Federal regulations. MU has adopted the Belmont Report as its statement of ethical principles. This site provides guidance to anyone planning research involving human subjects under the aegis of MU.  

• Unsure if your project requires IRB approval? Start here.

• For a discussion of levels of human subject review, look here.

• For a discussion of the Federal definition of research, look here.

• Graduate Nursing students may want to begin by reading this article on IRB determinations regarding quality improvement projects.  

Tip for preparing the online protocol: Respond to each section that requires text input as though you are answering a question from someone who has no knowledge of any other component of your protocol.

Plan on 30 days for completion of IRB review.

Use this ONLINE FORM to submit your protocol.

Please review the following protocol examples before beginning your own:

Undergraduate Example 1, Undergraduate Example 2, Undergraduate Example 3
Masters Example 1, Doctoral Example 1, Doctoral Example 2

Informed Consent

Protocols must use this template for the study's informed consent document. For additional information on informed consents see this document.

For additional assistance:

• Students and Faculty can attend IRB Office Hours:

         Tuesdays 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. via Zoom

         https://millersville.zoom.us/j/6837036139

 

• Faculty new to IRB can attend scheduled workshops. See IRB Faculty Sessions below. 

---

NOTE FOR RESEARCHERS CONDUCTING SURVEYS: Before beginning any on-campus survey research, please read the University survey research policy (Requires Login) (Requires login). Furthermore, if you are conducting survey research on- or off-campus, you are strongly urged to use Qualtrics, the University's survey software. Qualtrics provides secure, password-protected data storage and MUST be used if you are collecting personally identifying information. Finally, if you intend to advertise your survey via any University-wide mechanism, such as "Ville Daily, " you MUST coordinate with the Office of Institutional Assessment. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Jeffry Porter. 

NOTE FOR EDUCATION RESEARCHERS:  Due to the volume of Millersville education students undertaking research in local public schools, principals and school district administrators require the MU IRB to provide a full review of all protocols involving public school students. Furthermore, all protocols for school-based research requires a letter of support from the school principal or relevant administrator. This letter must accompany the protocol and must be printed on school letterhead.

NOTE FOR RESEARCHERS PLANNING TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AT SITES OTHER THAN THE MU CAMPUS:  A site approval letter on the off-campus organization's letterhead and signed by someone with authority to grant permission must be uploaded with the original protocol.

---

All IRB investiagtors and co-investigators MUST complete CITI training in Social-Behavioral-Education Research, course prior to submitting a protocol. 

A current CITI certificate is required for all investigators, co-investigator, and for undergraduate investigator's faculty mentor.

CITI Certificates must renewed every three years.  Protocols will not be approved pending completion of CITI training. 

Allowing your CITI certification to lapse during your study will invalidate your study and prevent publication of results.

CITI Training is available for IRB and IACUC.

Click HERE for guidance on accessing training courses at CITI. 

Click on the CITI Program logo above to go to the CITI website.

If you have questions about which CITI course you should take, contact MU-IRB@millerville.edu.

 

 

Use this ONLINE FORM to submit your protocol.