Institutional Review Board
All research involving human participants conducted, in whole or in part, by anyone acting on behalf of SVSU (faculty, staff, students and volunteers) must be submitted to the IRB before it begins, wherever the data are collected and whether or not the work is funded.
Policies & Procedures Manual
The governing document for human subjects research at SVSU: researcher responsibilities, review categories, student research and the full life cycle of a project.
IRBNet
Every application, modification, renewal and closure is submitted here. Applications, consent templates and forms are in the IRBNet library under Forms and Templates.
CITI Training
Required for the PI and every team member before submission. Register with your SVSU email and choose Social & Behavioral or Biomedical. Certificates are valid for 3 years.
Getting Started: Four Steps
Do not recruit, consent, enroll or collect data until you have written IRB approval or determination.
Determine Your Review Level
Use the IRB Determination Checklist. Choose the General IRB Application or the Classroom Project Application.
Complete CITI Training
Everyone on the team who interacts with participants or identifiable data needs a current certificate.
Build Your Package in IRBNet
Create a new project, upload each document separately with clear names, share with your team and advisor, and collect all signatures.
Submit and Wait for Approval
Submitting is not approval. Begin only after you receive the written approval letter and stamped consent form.
Levels of Review
You may suggest a level, but the IRB makes the final determination. Timelines begin when a complete package is received.
| Level | Typical Projects | Reviewed By | Anticipated Initial Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative / Class Project | Not human subjects research; quality improvement; literature reviews; course-based projects with no intent to disseminate | IRB Chair | 5–7 business days |
| Exempt | Anonymous surveys or interviews, public observation, publicly available or de-identified data, normal educational practices | IRB Chair | About 1 week |
| Expedited | Minimal risk: noninvasive procedures, audio recordings, identifiable existing records, behavioral research without stress | IRB Chair or a committee member | About 10 business days |
| Full Board | Greater than minimal risk, sensitive topics, vulnerable populations, deception, biological specimens | Convened IRB Committee | 1–2 months; submit early |
Note: Review timelines are estimates and may vary based on submission completeness, IRB meeting schedules, required revisions, and institutional workload. Review type is ultimately determined by the IRB, not the investigator. For more detailed information: What are the Types of IRB Review (23KB)
What Every Investigator Should Know
No Retroactive Approval
The IRB cannot approve research already conducted. Classroom data cannot later be converted to research data.
Renew or Close Every Year
IRBNet sends reminders at 60 and 30 days. Projects with no renewal or close-out form by the expiration date are terminated.
Students Need a Research Supervisor
All student research is supervised by a qualified faculty or staff member with current CITI training who reviews every submission.
Use the SVSU Consent Templates
Adult consent, parent permission, child assent and waiver of signed consent templates are in the IRBNet library.
Changes go in a New Package
Submit modifications as a subsequent package in your existing IRBNet project, never a new project. Wait for approval before using the change.
Report Adverse Events Immediately
Any adverse event or unanticipated problem must be reported to the IRB Chair right away.
Guides and Quick References
Short documents that answer the questions we hear most.
IRB Project vs. Package
How IRBNet tracks your study over its life cycle
IRB Submission Procedures
Step-by-step: applications, IRBNet, consent and timelines
Waiver of Documentation of Consent
When first-page survey consent is, and is not, a waiver
How to Access SVSU Courses in CITI
Choosing the Basic or Refresher course