Research is an important systematic undertaking that increases knowledge in many dimensions. It informs, confirms, and reaffirms. It explores the past, examines the present and guides the future. Research is an important component of our commitment to learning. In 2017, to encourage and strengthen a culture of both faculty and student-led research on our campuses, President De Filippis created a formal Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC). The board is composed of nine full-time faculty and staff members who represent various campus constituencies, and one person who is not otherwise affiliated with the institution and who is not part of the immediate family of a person who is affiliated with the institution. The IRB reviews all applications and recommends projects to the President for her official consent to perform research.
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If you wish to conduct research with humans at NVCC, you MUST apply for IRB approval before beginning your research. Federal regulations and College policies require IRB approval for research with human subjects. You are required to submit a formal application if your project or study meets both of these conditions:
The form is a fillable form. Please download and save to your computer first and type your answers in. Email the completed form back to
All research conducted at NVCC must be carried out under the supervision of an NVCC faculty (tenured or tenure track) or staff member, and have the approval of the IRB and the President. Researchers from other institutions seeking to conduct research at NVCC must collaborate with an NVCC sponsor who ensures that the research is conducted in accordance with the approval conditions of the NVCC IRB and that all reports are submitted in a timely manner. Please note that NVCC does not permit class (instructional) time to be used for research studies and students should not feel compelled to participate in any studies.
Any individual conducting research at NVCC must successfully complete the “Protecting Human Research Participants” training course found on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) website. This is a free web-based training program. Each researcher must provide his/her NIH training certification number as part of NVCC’s IRB Application for Approval of Research. Principal Investigators who wish to conduct IRB approved research involving NVCC faculty, staff or students must also get permission from the College. NVCC reserves the right to decline to participate in IRB-approved research projectseven if the proposal meets the detailed standards. The President will make the final decision regarding all research proposals upon reviewing the recommendations of the IRB. Additional information about federal IRB and Human Subjects regulation is available on the United States Department of Health and Human Services website.
NVCC’s IRB is a standing committee charged with the review of all proposed research projects to be performed by NVCC faculty, administrators, staff and students as well as research requests from external researchers. All research activities or use of NVCC resources must comply with IRB procedures and policies.
IRB review will ensure that the rights and welfare of human subjects are protected, risks are minimized, the benefits of the research are identifiable, participation by the subjects is both informed and voluntary, and all research is conducted in a manner that is consistent with established ethical and policy standards.
The NVCC IRB meets twice per full academic semester (Fall, Spring) and on an as-needed basis during the summer.
Deadlines* for submission of complete IRB applications for consideration by the IRB are as follows:
IRB Meeting Date | Deadline |
---|---|
Mid-October | September 30 |
Mid-December | November 30 |
Mid-February | January 31 |
Mid-April | March 31 |
* Internal researchers (NVCC faculty or staff) may request an off-calendar review if the proposed research is part of a grant application.
Requests for expedited decisions
An expedited review procedure consists of a review of research involving human subjects by the IRB chairperson or by one or more experienced reviewers designated by the chairperson from among members of the IRB in accordance with the requirements set forth in 45 CFR 46.110.
The Office for Human Research Protections guidelines for proposals eligible for expedited review may be found here.
NVCC’s IRB will determine if an application requires IRB approval or if it is exempt from further review. As noted above, NVCC reserves the right to decline to participate in IRB-approved research projects and the President will make the final decision regarding all research proposals upon reviewing the recommendations of the IRB. At the formal IRB review meetings, the committee will decide whether or not the Principal Investigator (PI) qualifies for IRB approval. That approval may be contingent upon accepting restrictions or changes to the proposed protocol, as determined by the IRB. NVCC’s IRB will determine if an application requires IRB approval or if it is exempt from further review. As noted above, NVCC reserves the right to decline to participate in IRB-approved research projects and the President will make the final decision regarding all research proposals upon reviewing the recommendations of the IRB.
At the formal IRB review meetings, the committee will decide whether or not the Principal Investigator (PI) qualifies for IRB approval. That approval may be contingent upon accepting restrictions or changes to the proposed protocol, as determined by the IRB.
Does my research proposal require IRB approval?
The Office of Health and Human Services provides some helpful guidance to help researchers determine if IRB approval will be required. These charts may be found here.
If a proposal is determined to need IRB approval, the application may be:
Applicants will receive a written decision from the IRB regarding their application within ten business days of the formal IRB meetings as indicated in the schedule above.
The PI may appeal the decision of the IRB when a protocol has been disapproved or approved subject to restrictions and when mutual agreement cannot be reached as to an acceptable alternative. By federal regulations, institutional officials may not approve research that has not been approved by the IRB. A PI may approach the IRB to appeal or reconsider a decision regarding a human subject research activity. A final decision regarding the appeal will be made by a vote of the IRB and subsequent approval by the President.
The Signatory Official is the only individual at NVCC who has the authority to make a commitment on behalf of the institution that the appropriate regulatory requirements will be met. The IRB Signatory Official at NVCC is the President of the College.
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