Introduction to Virginia Western’s Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Virginia Western Community College encourages and supports the scholarly work of faculty, students, and other researchers when resources allow.
Many research projects involve collecting or analyzing information from people. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Virginia Western helps ensure that this research is conducted responsibly and ethically. The IRB works to make sure that:
- The rights and well-being of participants are protected, and any potential risks are carefully considered and minimized.
- The potential benefits of the research are clearly identified and maximized when possible.
- Individuals volunteer to participate only after receiving clear information about the study and providing informed consent.
- Personal and private information is handled confidentially and research follows established ethical and professional standards.
Virginia Western’s IRB has the authority to review and approve research, request changes, or deny approval for research involving human participants that is conducted by or through the College. As part of this process, the IRB evaluates whether a project meets ethical standards related to informed consent, confidentiality, and potential risks to participants.
The primary role of the IRB is to protect the welfare of individuals participating in research. In addition, the College may delay or decline research requests if the project requires institutional resources that are not available at that time.
IRB Overview
What’s an IRB?
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is charged with ensuring that ALL research done at or by Virginia Western conforms to standards set to protect human subjects.
What constitutes research with human subjects?
- Using humans to answer questions posed.
- That includes some surveys used by faculty/staff in the classroom.
- This includes surveys done by students or external groups outside the classroom.
- This includes experimentation done using students, and others.
What internal research requests need IRB approval?
Any human subjects research that you even think you might want to publish or present outside Virginia Western should be submitted for IRB approval.
IRB APPROVAL CANNOT BE GRANTED RETROACTIVELY.
When in doubt, check with the IRB first!
What internal research is exempt from IRB approval?
Internal data analysis is exempt from need for IRB review if:
- It is undertaken by Virginia Western faculty and staff exclusively for Virginia Western needs assessment, program planning, or program evaluation.
What external research requests need IRB approval?
- Any request that involves Virginia Western resources (data, access to students/faculty/staff, meeting space, Bulletin notices, email notices, etc.) should be referred to Virginia Western’s IRB
- Any study that requests that participants be a student or employee of Virginia Western must have prior approval from Virginia Western’s IRB
What external research is exempt from IRB approval?
External surveys often do not require approval from Virginia Western’s IRB if they:
- Are advertised only through a public bulletin board notice AND
- Do not require participants to be Virginia Western students or employees.
When in doubt, check with the IRB first!
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval Process
- Contact the IRB to request approval to conduct your research study.
- Request and obtain the IRB application form.
- Complete the short application form with the required information about your research.
- Submit the completed form to the IRB for review.
- Allow up to six (6) weeks for the review process. Once the review is complete, you will receive a formal letter from ie@virginiawestern.edu determining if your research is approved to be conducted at Virginia Western.
How do you contact the IRB?
Contact Virginia Western’s IRB at ie@virginiawestern.edu.
Updated 03/10/2026
Contact Us
ie@virginiawestern.edu
Fishburn Hall F110
Address:
3093 Colonial Ave., SW
Roanoke, VA 24015