Committees: Institutional Review Board (IRB) for Human Subject research
In the interest of protecting the safety of Haverford College students and personnel, and of complying with federal regulations, all research involving human subjects, whether externally funded or not, must be first approved by its Institutional Review Board (IRB) for Human Subject Research.
- The term ‘research’ is intended to cover any type
of investigation that is meant for print, web-based, or broadcast
publication, i.e., whose results will in some form be available
to the public, regardless of whether public funding is sought.
- IRB approval is required for research performed by employees and students of the College, and to research by outside individuals or groups involving Haverford students or taking place on its campus.
Certain categories of human subject research (for instance: non-sensitive and anonymous surveys and some pedagogical research) are exempt from the federal human subject research regulations. Those wishing to undertake such exempt research should still obtain confirmation of the exempt status by filling out and submitting the Exemption Request Form (use the link to the right).
A faculty or staff member wishing to initiate research involving human subjects is expected to submit a detailed proposal describing the research. Haverford students must prepare a proposal jointly with a sponsoring faculty member. Investigators must complete the National Institutes of Health "Protecting Human Research Participants" course (http://phrp.nihtraining.com), or receive equivalent training.
A proposal application form may be downloaded using the link below. Copies of consent forms, survey instruments (questionnaires) and other relevant materials should be appended. Proposals may be submitted electronically to hc-irb@haverford.edu (as an attached .doc or .pdf file).
The IRB usually is able to reach a decision on a proposal within 2 or 3 weeks (4 to 6 weeks during the summer). Proposals are approved for a period of up to one year from the date of the approval letter. At or before the conclusion of this period, the faculty/staff investigator or sponsor should submit either a final report or a request for continuation, using the form linked below.
More details of IRB operations and criteria for reviewing proposals are given in the IRB procedures document, available for download below. Also included is a link to a checklist that may be useful both to proposers and IRB members.
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Committee Membership (2009-2010)
Chair: Rob Scarrow
Executive Assistant: Kim Minor
Human Protection Administrator: Steve Elkin
Natural Science Representative: Lynne Butler
Economics Department Representative: David Owens
Psychology Department Representative: Jennifer Lilgendahl
Athletics Director: Wendy Smith
Physician: Joel Lowenthal
Non-Affiliated Member: Joan Capuzzi Giresi