Institutional Review Board

Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) encourages research as a vital part of the academic enterprise and is committed to the ethical practice of research. It is the duty of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to review and approve research in accordance with the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects ( Common Rule ) to assure compliance with the ethical principles as outlined by the Belmont Report. Any research involving human participants as subjects conducted (1) at B-CU; (2) by or under the direction of any employee or agent of B-CU in connection with his or her institutional responsibility; (3) by students of B-CU in connection with their institutional responsibilities; or (4) by or under the direction of any employee or agent of B-CU using any property or facility owned by B-CU or involving non-public information collected by B-CU must be reviewed by the IRB.

The following three basic ethical principles, as outlined in the Belmont Report, guide the function of the IRB:

1. Respect for persons
   • Individuals should be treated as autonomous agents
   • Persons with diminished authority are entitled to protection
2.  Beneficence
   • Maximize benefits and minimize risk
3. Justice
   • Risks and potential benefits of research should be equitably distributed

IRB Application Process

Approval from the IRB must be obtained prior to initiating a Research project involving Human Subjects, regardless of whether such project is part of a class or class requirement. Failure to seek IRB approval prior to conducting Human Subject Research is a violation of federal law and B-CU policy. The IRB meets quarterly each academic semester and as needed to complete full reviews. For full consideration, complete applications should be received by the 2 ^nd Tuesday of each month, during the academic year. 

• IRB Online Application Form
• Instructions for Completing the IRB Application
• B-CU IRB Policies and Procedures for Protecting Human Subjects from Research Risk