Institutional Review Board
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a research ethics committee that reviews and approves research involving human subjects. The IRB’s primary responsibility is to protect the rights and welfare of research participants. IRBs have origins in the Nuremberg Code, a set of principles governing research with human subjects developed in the aftermath of World War II. All student performing research that involves human subjects must complete the IRB process following the guidelines below.
Guidelines for Applying for IRB Review
Research may not begin until IRB approval has been received. Please allow 6-8 weeks after IRB application for Committee review. Please be prepared to respond to Committee feedback and potential revisions.
Protecting Human Research Participants (PHRP) course
The student researcher must complete the required Protecting Human Research Participants (PHRP) training. The training and certificate of completion is $49.00 USD. Please visit https://phrptraining.com
Upon completion, the student will receive a certificate. Please download and save the certificate to include in your IRB submission packet. The certificate remains valid for three years. If the dissertation or thesis is not completed within that period, the student must complete the training again.
IRB Research Proposal Face Sheet (Form IRB002)
The student must submit a completed IRB Research Proposal Face Sheet (Form IRB 002) that includes:
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All requested information
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Required signatures
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Required dates
If additional space is needed, supplemental pages may be attached.
Advisor Review Form (IRB003)
Before applying to the IRB, the student's Proposal must be approved by the thesis advisor or dissertation chair.
The thesis advisor or dissertation chair completes Form IRB003: Advisor Review Form. This checklist reviews all items that must be included and completed as part of the approved Proposal and IRB submission packet. The student will include the completed form in the materials submitted to the IRB Chair.
Approved Proposal Requirements
The IRB application must include a copy of the approved master's Thesis Proposal or doctoral Dissertation Proposal. The Proposal should contain:
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Purpose of the research project
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Research design
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Description of and maximum expected number of participants
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Interview questions, survey questions, or questionnaires
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Data collection procedures
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Planned data analysis methods
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Data storage and data destruction process
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Significance and relevance of the research
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Potential risks to participants (psychological, social, legal, physical, or other) and steps to minimize those risks
Informed Consent
Any study involving human participants must include procedures for obtaining informed consent. The approved Proposal must explain how informed consent will be obtained.
The student must complete all required fields on the consent forms before obtaining participant signatures. Copies of all completed consent forms must be included in the IRB application.
After IRB approval, the primary investigator must submit copies of all signed consent forms to the IRB Chair before or during the research process.
Confidentiality and Protection of Participants
The Proposal must show that the student understands confidentiality and explain in detail how participant confidentiality will be protected.
Exception: Mandatory Reporting
If a minor discloses information indicating that a probable crime has been committed against them, such as physical or sexual abuse, the investigator is legally required to:
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Stop the research process.
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Report the information to the appropriate authorities immediately.
Researchers working with minors must acknowledge this requirement in the proposal and describe the procedures that will be followed if such information is disclosed.
Research involving minors requires a Full Review by the IRB. A Full Review will take at least 8 weeks.
IRB Submission Packet
The student emails the completed IRB application materials to the IRB Chair, Dr. Ayal Feinberg, at irb@gratz.edu. The submission packet must include:
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IRB Research Proposal Face Sheet (IRB002)
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Advisor Review Form (IRB003)
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Approved Thesis or Dissertation Proposal
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Interview protocols, survey instruments, and/ or other data collection sheets
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Completed consent forms (IRB010A, B, C, and/or D)
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PHRP training completion certificate
Review Timeline
- Expedited or standard review: 2-4 weeks; please allow for a 6–8-week buffer period.
- Full review: approximately 8 weeks
Forms
Forms are fillable Word documents. Please provide all the required information directly on the document and submit them as part of your IRB packet.
IRB MEMBERS FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2026-2027
Ayal Feinberg, Ph.D., IRB Chair
Karen Galardi, Ed.D.
Brendan Goldman, Ph.D.
Donna Guerin, Ed.D.
Philip Moore, M.F.A., Ed.D.