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Research Compliance

Human Subjects Committee (HSC)

The Human Subjects Committee (also known as SUNY Oswego's IRB) is comprised of members from diverse backgrounds to promote complete and adequate review of research activities covered by this assurance.

The faculty, staff, and students of SUNY Oswego are obligated to comply with US Department of Health and Human Services regulations for the protection of human participants in research. Any member of the campus community participating in a research project (including but not limited to laboratory experiments, field studies, and interviews) is entitled to be free from possible injury and/or psychological harm and to maintain his/her personal privacy. The committee was formed to ensure that these guidelines are followed, therefore protecting human research participants studied by researchers on our campus.

Before submitting a research protocol for review, please read through the HSC Policies and Procedures manual. If you have any questions about or related to HSC, or the process of submitting a protocol, please contact [email protected].

New Protocol Submission

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.

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.
Renewal and Modification to Approved Protocols

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.

CITI Training

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.

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

Resources
Classroom Projects Involving Human Participants

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 ".

Is your research exempt?

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.

Leaving Oswego

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

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
Membership for 2024-2025
  • 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
Meeting Dates

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.

Information for Members

The following links are accessible to HSC members only when signed into their oswego.edu email account. 

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) 

Our mission is to guide and assist SUNY Oswego in caring for and using animals in ways judged to be scientifically, technically, and humanely appropriate. The IACUC is additionally charged with oversight of animal experiments in accord with the highest scientific principles. Before submitting a research protocol for review, please read through the SUNY Oswego IACUC Policies and Procedures Manual below.

IACUC Policies and Procedures Manual

2024-2025 Membership

The committee consists of seven members. Assignment of membership is done in accordance with the recommendations of the Guide for the Care and Representation of Animal Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. 

  • David Sargent – Chair, Human Development
  • Seth Briggs, DVM – University Veterinarian
  • David Dunn – Biological Sciences
  • Poongodi Geetha-Loganathan – Biological Sciences
  • Wade Narrow – Non-SUNY affiliated member
  • Ritu Radhakrishnan – Curriculum & Instruction
  • Maria Sagot – Biological Sciences

Ex officio:

  • William Bowers – Associate Provost for Research Development and Administration
Fall 2024 Meeting Dates

The group meets once a month on Tuesdays. 

  • September 17, 2024
  • October 15, 2024
  • November 19, 2024
  • December 17, 2024
Resources
Alternative Searches for Previous Research or Procedures
New Protocol Submission

Those who are interested in submitting an IACUC protocol form for their project, research, or class must use the Protocol Submission Form (PDF) developed by SUNY Oswego IACUC.

For review, all protocols must be emailed to [email protected]. Please allow 30 days for full review of your protocol and a response from the committee.

If you have any questions about related to IACUC or the process of submitting a protocol, please contact the Research Committee Coordinator at [email protected].

Maintaining Your Protocol

Protocols approved under the USDA Animal Welfare Act will expire after one year. To continue work under a USDA protocol after one year, a protocol must be renewed and follow the same processes as a new protocol.

Protocols approved under PHS Policy will expire after three years. Each year that the protocol is active, an annual review form must be submitted. To continue work under a PHS protocol after three years, a protocol must be renewed and follow the same processes as a new protocol.

All changes or amendments to either a USDA or a PHS protocol must be submitted to [email protected] for review prior to being implemented. 

If you have any questions about related to IACUC or the process of submitting a protocol, please contact the Research Committee Coordinator at [email protected].

CITI Training

Beginning Fall 2017, it is imperative that all individuals who will be working with animals complete the appropriate CITI Training modules.

To access all training modules, a CITI account is required. Please follow this guidance document to create an account and register for all necessary courses.

Feel free to go directly to the CITI Login if you already have an account in place.

Information for Members 

The following links are accessible to IACUC members only when signed into their oswego.edu email account. 

Scholarly and Creative Activity Committee

The purpose of the committee is to:

  • Promote and encourage scholarly and creative activity, including enhancement of the climate, resources, opportunity, and recognition for faculty, staff, and students conducting scholarly and creative activities.
  • Assist the Associate Provost for Research Development and Administration and act as an advisory committee for this office.
  • Advise the president and provost in matters relating to scholarly and creative activity and assist them with recognizing and supporting scholarly and creative activity and grant development by faculty, staff, and students.

SCAC Bylaws (PDF)

2024-2025 Membership

As there are many types of scholarly and creative activities expressive of different areas of study, the committee should have a large and diverse membership.

  • Yulia Artemenko – Co-chair, Biological Sciences
  • Matthew Baker – Co-chair, Chemistry
  • Christopher Chandler – Biological Sciences
  • Ioana Coman – Computer Science
  • Dean Crawford – Accounting Finance and Law
  • Arvind Diddi – Communication Studies
  • Amy Dumas – Extended Learning
  • Nathan Eaton – Art and Design
  • Adam Fay – Psychology
  • Poongodi Geetha-Loganathan – Biological Sciences
  • Lenuta Giukin – Modern Languages and Literatures
  • Tiphanie Gonzalez – Counseling and Psychological Services
  • Sien Hu – Psychology
  • Lowell Hutcheson – ARTSwego
  • Khairul Islam – Communication Studies
  • Sungeun Kim – Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Weihua (Daisy) Liu – Computer Science
  • Grace Maxon-Clarke – Educational Opportunity Program
  • David McLain – Marketing and Management
  • Matthew McLeskey – Criminal Justice
  • Cleane Medeiros – Advisement Center
  • Alanna Ossa – Anthropology
  • Rebecca Peters – Anthropology
  • Joshua Plencner – Political Science
  • JR Slosson – Atmospheric and Geological Sciences
  • Mohammad Tajvarpour – Accounting Finance and Law
  • Christina Vasquez – CSTEP
  • Alex Yeung – Curriculum and Instruction
  • Hui Zhang – Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Ryan Stiles – Student Representative (Graduate)

Ex officio:

  • William Bowers – ORSP / Associate Provost for Research Development and Administration
  • Kristin Sotak – Student ORCA (interim director)
Fall 2024 Meeting Dates

The group meets once a month on Wednesday mornings.

Advisory:

  • September 25, 2024
  • November 6, 2024

Full SCAC:

  • September 4, 2024
  • October 9, 2024
  • November 13, 2024
  • December 4, 2024
Spring 2025 Meeting Dates

The group meets once a month on Wednesday mornings. Exact meeting dates for Spring 2025 are forthcoming.

Campus Grant Programs Reviewed by SCAC 

SCAC reviews a large selection of the internal grants provided on campus. The guidelines and information for all grant programs peer-reviewed by SCAC can be found on ORSP's Internal Grants page.

Information for Members 

The following links are accessible to SCAC members only when signed into their oswego.edu email account. 

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

210 Sheldon Hall

8am - 4pm

Phone: 315-312-2888 

Email: [email protected]