Research Compliance

All new IRB protocols must be submitted through Google Forms. Before submitting you will be asked to log into your SUNY Oswego Google account if you have not done so already. Exempt and expedited reviews will take 1-2 weeks for review. Full committee reviews will occur at least monthly. If you think that your protocol is greater than minimal risk, or if it involves a protected class, please submit your protocol at least two (2) weeks in advance of the next scheduled HSC meeting.

• SUNY Oswego Human Subject Committee Research Protocol Form
  • Microsoft Word version
  • Google Docs version
• Informed Consent (Sample Documents)
  • New General Informed Consent Form
  • Minor Assent Form
  • Minor Parent/Legal Guardian Consent Form
  • Audio/Visual Recording Consent Form
• Submit your complete protocol and all associated documents
• Additional Investigators Addendum

HSC Protocol Review Process

• Step 1: The investigator and associates complete each of the CITI Training Modules related to their research. Additionally, the investigator reads the HSC Policy and Procedures Manual.
• Step 2: The Investigator completes an HSC Protocol Form and submits this form along with all associated protocol documents through Google Forms.
• Step 3: The submitted protocol is pre-reviewed to determine which type of formal review (exempt, expedited, limited or full) is appropriate for the submitted protocol.
• Step 4a: If a protocol is exempt, an exempt letter will be sent directly to the investigator. If a protocol falls under expedited or limited review, the protocol will be reviewed by either the HSC Chair or a designated primary reviewer.
• Step 4b: For a full committee review, HSC convenes within 30 days to discuss the protocol. The investigator may be asked to attend the next HSC meeting to discuss the documents and the research that is being proposed.
• Step 5: If any protocol modifications are required, the Chair sends a letter to the investigator outlining each revision/clarification requested by the HSC.
• Step 5a: The investigator addresses all of the points raised by HSC during review and submits a revised protocol and any edited documents to [email protected] for re-review. If the changes are significant, the protocol may need to be reviewed by the full HSC. If the changes requested are minor, the committee can give the Chair permission to review the protocol modifications. Reviews at this stage can result in HSC re-engagement with the investigator for further clarification or final protocol approval.
• Step 6: The final decision for the protocol is made. The protocol is either denied or approved. If approved, a letter is sent by the Chair to the investigator detailing approval date, approval term, and reporting requirements. If denied, a letter from the Chair is sent as well.

To satisfy Federal requirements, every study approved by the Human Subjects Committee (HSC) at SUNY Oswego is approved for at most one year.

Longitudinal and continuing studies can be continued on a year-by-year basis. To continue your existing study, federal regulation requires written explicit declaration by the Principal Investigator that the study is ongoing and subsequent re-approval from HSC.

Renewals of approved human subjects protocols at SUNY Oswego can now be done using the Study Renewal and Modification Form . This form helps the HSC and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to maintain accurate records of the studies currently conducted at SUNY Oswego. We therefore kindly ask your assistance in letting us know if you plan to continue your human subjects research project using this form. Moreover, if you need to modify an already approved human subjects study, you may use this same Study Renewal and Modification Form to submit such changes.

Beginning Fall 2018, it is imperative that all individuals who will be conducting research involving human subjects complete the appropriate CITI Training modules.

To access training modules and to set up an account, please create a CITI Account and follow the prompts provided.

• CITI Account Creation Guide

For assistance with this process, please review the guidance documentation below that is most applicable to your work:

• CITI Course Selection Guide
• Biomedical Research
• Classroom Projects
• Faculty Research
• Student Research

• 45 CFR 46 - The Code of Federal Regulations that must be followed when conducting research with human subjects
• Belmont Report
• Revised Common Rule
• NIH Single IRB Policy
• NIH Single IRB FAQ
• Implementation of Single IRB
• Human Subject Regulations Decision Charts
• Human Subjects Research NIH PowerPoint
• Revised Common Rule Videos

If you have a course where students will be completing classroom projects that involve human participants, please carefully review the " SUNY Oswego HSC - Policy on Student Classroom Projects ".

Please complete this Google Form to determine if your research may be exempt under the Common Rule. Be sure to submit the form when you have completed it. Your email and any information submitted will only be visible to HSC administrators. If you have completed this form and the CITI training, and you are still unsure about your research, please contact [email protected].

Even if you believe that your research is exempt, you must still complete and submit a protocol application form. The HSC chair will determine if the research is exempt during the pre-review stage, and a letter of exempt status will be sent to your email for your records.

All active and ongoing research involving human subjects that is expedited or greater than minimal risk requires continual oversight by an IRB.

Therefore, if you are leaving SUNY Oswego, there are a few options available to you:

Transfer your studies to another institution – The Oswego HSC will work with your new institution to ensure that there is continued coverage for your research study. As soon as possible, please let ORSP know that you are leaving Oswego and that you wish to have your study transferred to your new institution.

Transfer to another PI – If taking your study with you is not an option, the study may remain open if another PI is identified. Once the new PI is ready, you will submit a modification to change the PI on your study.

Close the study – If you are not interested in continuing with your study or are just not able to carry on for various reasons, you will need to close your study. If your study is funded, it is always a good idea to check in with your funding agency about whether closing your study is possible. You will also want to think about what you will do with the data that has been collected. And a friendly reminder – if the data are identifiable, it is not permissible to analyze these data without current and active IRB approval.

Please contact [email protected] if you have any further questions, or to begin this process.

Individual Investigator Agreement (IIA) 

This is a formal written agreement between an institution conducting research and an individual investigator who is collaborating on the research project, by which the institution agrees to extend its Federal-Wide Assurance (FWA) about human subjects research to the individual, and by which the independent investigator agrees to fulfill specified expectations and responsibilities. For example, this agreement could apply to a former student working after graduation with their faculty mentor, a collaborating professional in the community with specific expertise, or community partners that do not have an FWA. The IIA is signed by the:

• Individual Investigator
• SUNY Oswego Principal Investigator (PI)
• SUNY Oswego Institutional Official or designee

• Theo Rhodes, HSC Chair – Psychology
• Marissa Caico – Penfield Library (August 28, 2023–August 27, 2026)
• Deborah Furlong – Institutional Research and Assessment
• Tiphanie Gonzalez – Counseling and Psychological Services
• Sabine Ingerson – Community Member
• Elizabeth Keida – Health Promotion and Wellness
• Sungeun Kim – Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Marthinus Koen – Criminal Justice
• Jed Locquiao – Curriculum and Instruction (August 26, 2024–August 25, 2027)
• Bastian Tenbergen – Computer Science
• Michele Thornton – School of Business
• Andrea Vickery – Communication Studies

If your protocol is greater than minimal risk, or if it involves a protected class, HSC will meet to review and return a decision. Please allow enough time for the committee to review before the anticipated start date of work.