CMC Institutional Review Board

Protecting the safety, health, welfare or well-being of research subjects and ensuring institutional compliance

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a federally mandated committee that provides oversight for all research activities with the aim to protect the rights and welfare of the human subjects recruited to participate in research. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Health and Human Services (specifically Office for Human Research Protections) regulations have empowered IRBs to approve, monitor and review biomedical and behavioral research.

IRBs came into existence due to research abuses that took place earlier in the twentieth century. The 1974 National Research Act, which established IRBs, also created the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research.

All research involving human subjects, whether funded or unfunded, is reviewed by committee members to ensure the research is conducted in a manner that does not infringe on the subject's safety, health, welfare or well-being and ensures institutional compliance with related Federal regulations (Code of Federal Regulations: 45 CFR 46 and 21 CFR 50). Title 45 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 46 provides a guideline for the protection of human subjects involved in research.

IRB Schedule

Institutional Review Board (IRB) members will review any Full or Expedited research applications by the second week of the IRB review months. Review months are: October, November, December, February, March and April.

Completed applications will need to be submitted no later than the first Monday of each review month prior to the IRB review date.

Review calendars for CMC student's exempt class research project applications should be submitted between the 5th and 9th week of the Fall or Spring semesters.

The IRB does not meet nor review any applications for research during the summer months of May, June, July, Aug and Sept.

IRB Documentation

Step by Step Guide to Applying to the Institutional Review Board
IRB Guidelines For Class Projects

IRB Forms

Application forms to request approval from the IRB to conduct research involving human subjects are available for downloading below.

Having trouble with the Exempt Application Form or Expedited or Full Board Application Form?

Try opening the form using Adobe Reader (free download). If you still are having trouble you can contact the IT Service Desk or print the form, fill it out and scan back in and email along with any attachments to vkinion@coloradomtn.edu.

Survey Help

The Department of Institutional Research provides collegewide help to those wanting to conduct their own surveys and research. Below are documents to help you:

Download the Survey Success (pdf)

IRB – Frequently Asked Questions

Who must apply? Faculty, staff and students who collect data associated with human subjects in any fashion.

What kinds of data collection are covered? All types, including data gathered by survey, focus group, interview, direct contact, web survey, class assigned data collection, reanalysis of data gathered for an alternate purpose, etc.

What types of approvals are available? Three types: exempt from full board approval, expedited committee approval and full board approval.

What is the advantage of approval? Protects individual researchers from liability if there is an unexpected negative outcome; provides institutional backing for research; ensures institutional access for external funding; and meets the requirement of Federal statute.

Ignorantia juris non excusat

Who do you contact for further information?

Veneeya Kinion
Director of Institutional Research
Colorado Mountain College
802 Grand Ave
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
vkinion@coloradomtn.edu