The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for overseeing all research involving human subjects that is done by Carleton faculty and staff members or students.

The U.S. government requires that all research involving human subjects conducted by an institution that receives federal funding be reviewed in advance by the IRB at the institution. Even if a specific research project is not funded by the government, the IRB is still expected to review it because Carleton receives federal funding. The IRB is subject to the regulations of a federal agency, the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Its goals are to ensure that researchers understand and uphold the following two standards:

1. Human subjects should not be placed at undue risk; and
2. Subjects should give un-coerced, informed consent of their participation in the research.

Like other institutions, Carleton has assured the DHHS that it will observe federal rules on these matters.

Any Carleton faculty or staff member or student wishing to conduct research involving human subjects must obtain approval from the IRB for that research prior to undertaking any research involving human subjects. Research done without IRB approval must not be used in any public presentation or publication.

Applications should be submitted to the IRB electronically, and are processed regularly throughout the academic year. For a complete discussion of requirements concerning research with human subjects and procedures for submitting an application, see the IRB Web site.