To All Student Researchers, Faculty Research Advisors, and Faculty Researchers:

The University of Puget Sound currently allows research protocols involving in-person activities, though any such activities must obey current state, local, and site-specific Covid-19 guidelines for the locations in which the research is being conducted. Please review this page again before undertaking any approved research, as our policies may change.

  • All research protocols involving in-person activities must be specific about where these activities will take place, and detail the steps being taken to minimize risk and comply with relevant Covid-19 guidelines.
  • Researchers must monitor Covid-related guidelines for their research locations, and adjust methodology as necessary to remain compliant with relevant guidelines.
  • If guidelines change for the locations where face-to-face interactions are planned, please email irb@pugetsound.edu and describe these changes, as well as any modifications to your methodology. A formal modification request is not required, unless requested by IRB after reviewing your email.
  • For questions about best practices for conducting in-person activities, please contact Director of Environmental Health and Safety Bob Kief (bkief@pugetsound.edu). Please also monitor the University’s Covid-19 webpage for updates on campus policies.
  • Modification requests can be submitted for projects approved before October 2021, when the policies listed here went into effect, if researchers wish to incorporate in-person activities.

The IRB facilitate the review and safety of research studies and projects involving human subjects at the University of Puget Sound, in compliance with university policy and federal guidelines. All such projects typically must have the Board's approval. Most often such research done at the university tends to fall into the areas of physical education, psychology, and occupational and physical therapy, but projects in other subject areas will require the IRB to grant approval if human subjects are involved.

On this page you will find information about current and recent Board activities, forms needed to seek IRB approval of a proposed research project, and links to useful resources for teaching and learning about research ethics and research with human subjects and animal populations.

Attention Student Researchers

Any IRB protocol listing students as principal and/or co-investigators must be submitted with a certificate of completion (one for each student) from the CITI program, indicating that the student(s) have passed the Puget Sound CITI course for students.

Please read all instructions thoroughly before proceeding with the training.

CITI Instructions for Student Research in Sciences and Mathematics
CITI Instructions for Student Researchers in Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Attention Faculty Researchers and Faculty Advisors of Student Research

All IRB protocols must be submitted with a certificate of completion from the CITI program, indicating that the Faculty Advisor or Faculty Researcher(s) have passed the Puget Sound CITI course for Faculty. Note that student researchers are still required to complete their own CITI training.

Please read all instructions thoroughly before proceeding with the training.

CITI Instructions for Faculty Researchers and Advisors

 

IRB activities

Here you can find a list of the current IRB members, the IRB Committees & Minutes, and the IRB policy statement on the Ethical Care & Use of Animals in research at UPS.

Completed protocols with all required signatures on the coversheet, should be submitted using the link below.

Submit an IRB Protocol

The Spring 2023 protocol deadlines and meeting dates are:

Protocol Due Date Meeting Date
January 13, 2023 January 23, 2023
February 03, 2023 February 13, 2023  
February 24, 2023 March 06, 2023
March 17, 2023 March 27, 2023
April 14, 2023 April 24, 2023

 

Forms and Checklists for Protocol Submission

Resources

Additional Forms

Resources for learning and teaching

A number of books and videos concerning ethical issues in the conduct of research are available to university faculty, staff and students. An evolving list of the resources available can be found online. We are also developing a resource page with links to key online information sources on research ethics and related topics. Suggestions for further on-line sources are always welcome.