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Institutional Review Board

The Augustana Institutional Review Board is a committee reporting to the administration and responsible for approving campus research involving human participants. Federal regulations and Augustana policies require all research involving human participants, with some limited exemptions, to be reviewed and approved by the IRB. This generally includes, for example, surveys of students.

To submit a proposal for review, complete the Request for Review form. For more information, email committee chair Dr. Jeff Renaud.

  • Request for Review Form
    • A PDF copy of this form is available for reference.
  • IRB Policies Manual
  • IRB Complaint and Violations Manual
    • This policy was approved by the IRB committee, the Associate Dean of Academic Strategic Priorities, and the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs on 28 September 2023. It covers not only those projects under the purview of the U.S. Office of Research Integrity (ORI) [ORI approval pending as of 19 December 2023] but all research overseen by Augustana’s IRB.
  • Training is required for faculty and students who wish to submit proposals for review to the IRB.
    • How to register: Register > Select Your Organization Affiliation > Type "Augustana College" > Agree and Affirm > Create account using Augustana email
    • Select Student, Faculty/Staff, or Faculty/Staff Refresher training courses

Institutional Review Board function

a. To interpret and implement policy on research involving human subjects (Code Federal Regulations - 45 CFR 46, revised June 19, 2018, effective January 21, 2019.)
b. To review and investigate allegations of misconduct in research conducted at, or sponsored by, Augustana College, and to report all findings and recommendations in these matters to the president of the college.

Membership

In its membership, the IRB committee seeks diversity in all its forms.

Chair: The chair is appointed by the president or the provost. 

Administrative member: Appointed by the dean of student life for a three-year term. 

Community member: One community member not currently affiliated with Augustana College, who serves one-year, renewable term, appointed by the committee.

Student members: Two student members, appointed by the chair, serve one-year terms.

Faculty: Six faculty (including the chair); faculty members on the IRB, with the exception of the chair, are appointed by Nominations and Rules for three-year, staggered terms.

At least one member should have research experience that does not involve human participants.  

At least one member should have research experience that primarily includes human participants.  

Members

  • Jeff Renaud, chair (2026)
  • Dell Jensen (2025)
  • Jeff Mettler (2025)
  • Megan Lorenz (2026)
  • Meg Kunde (2027)
  • Lisa Szafran (2027)
  • Farrah Roberts, administrative member (2025)
  • Eric Welsh, community member (2025, one-year term, renewable)
  • Sam Vasich, non-voting student member (2025, one-year term)
  • Isaac McConnell, non-voting student member (2025, one-year term)

Non-voting specialists: The IRB may, at its discretion, invite individuals with competence in special areas to assist in the review of issues requiring expertise beyond or in addition to that available on the IRB. These individuals may not vote with the IRB.