IRB Forms
Instructions
All research involving human subjects conducted by UWG faculty, staff, or students must be approved by the UWG IRB. All IRB submissions must use the forms linked on this website. Note the following prior to submission:
- All applications for IRB review must come from a UWG faculty member. Students conducting research should complete their application materials and submit them to their faculty PI who will review, approve, and submit the IRB application materials.
- IRB applications should be submitted at least 4 weeks prior to the start of data collection.
- No work on the project can begin prior to IRB approval.
- CITI Training must be completed prior to submission of IRB application materials.
- All materials must be submitted to irb@westga.edu
The forms linked in the tables below are the up-to-date forms accepted for IRB submission. The IRB does not accept older versions of forms.
Determining if Your Project Needs IRB Approval
| Name | Description | Version Date |
|---|---|---|
| Research vs. Quality Improvement or Evaluation Project Table | This table will researchers help determine whether a project requires submission to the IRB as a human subjects research project. Please contact the IRB at irb@westga.edu with any questions or for assistance in making a determination. | v1.2019 |
| Determination of Human Subjects Research Form | Complete this Qualtrics survey receive IRB determination of whether a project meets the definition of human subjects research according to 45 CFR 46 (The Common Rule) and thus needs IRB approval before it can begin. The Principal Investigator (PI) or student researcher may complete the survey. A PDF copy of the results must be emailed to irb@westga.edu for the office to provide a determination. If the survey is completed by a student, the student must email results to the faculty PI for approval before submitting to irb@westga.edu. | v1.2024 |
IRB Applications
| Name | Description | Version Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exempt Study Application | Use this application for research that is Minimal Risk and criteria for exemption in categories 1-6 according to federal regulations. Review the NIH infographic for a summary of exempt categories. | v7.2025 |
| Expedited or Convened Study Application | Use this application for research that is Minimal Risk and meets federal expedited research categories or for research that is More than Minimal Risk. Click here for guidance on determining whether a study is Minimal Risk. | v7.2025 |
| Application to Modify Approved Research Protocols | Use this form to propose modifications or changes to approved research protocols. The IRB must review proposed changes to applications prior to implementation unless there was a need to eliminate an immediate hazard facing the subject. | v3.1.2025 |
| Application for Continuing Review | If your expedited study has an expiration date or if you are conducting More than Minimal Risk research, you must submit an application for continuing review to irb@westga.edu. Timelines are noted on the form. The IRB will re-review the study to determine if it is appropriate for the study to continue, as is or with modifications. | v1.1.2019 |
| Protocol Development Application | Use this form if you are applying for a grant or other sponsored project and the sponsor requires documentation of IRB oversight, but not review and approval. This application should be considered a pre-cursor to an IRB application. | v1.2018 |
Informed Consent Templates
| Name | Description | Version Date |
|---|---|---|
| Classroom-Based Research Consent Template | Use this template to create consent forms for students conducting research as part of a class assignment or single semester classroom-based capstone project. This is not a required document, just a recommended template for classroom-based research projects. | v1.2025 |
| Exempt Study Information Sheet Template | Use this template to create information sheets for Exempt studies. | v3.2025 |
| Exempt Study Information Sheet Template for Anonymous Surveys | Use this template to create information sheets for Exempt studies that use an anonymous survey as the primary data collection method. | v5.2025 |
| Exempt Study Information Sheet Template for Confidential Surveys | Use this template to create information sheets for Exempt studies that use a confidential survey as the primary data collection method. These surveys would collect identifiable information. | v1.2025 |
| Exempt Study Information Sheet Template for Education Surveys | Use this template to create information sheets for Exempt studies meeting Criteria 1 that use a survey as the primary data collection method. These studies typically have a PI who is a professor/instructor using a survey to collect data from or about a class. | v1.2025 |
| Exempt Study Verbal Information Sheet Template | Use this template to create information sheets for studies during which consent will be collected verbally. | v1.2025 |
| Informed Consent Template for Adult Participants | Use this template to create a consent form for studies of Expedited or Convened categorization. | v3.1.2025 |
| Parent Permission Informed Consent Template | Use this template to create a parent permission Informed Consent form to gain their consent to request study participation from minors. | v2.2019 |
| Parent Permission Information Sheet Template for Exempt Studies | Use this template to create parent permission information sheets for Exempt studies that meet the criteria for Category 1. | v3.2019 |
| Child Assent Template | Use this form to create an assent document for studies that use minors as participants. | v3.1.2019 |
Site Acknowledgement Documents
| Name | Description | Version Date |
|---|---|---|
| Research Site Letter of Acknowledgement Template | Use this template to document approval to recruit and conduct research at any external site associated with your research study. | v2.2025 |
| UWG Research Site Letter of Acknowledgement Template | Use this template to document approval from UWG administration for any study that proposes to collect data from UWG students, faculty, or staff as participants. You may access the list of UWG Administrator Approvers below. | v1.2024 |
| UWG Administrator Approvers | Use this document to find the list of UWG Administrator Approvers for studies needing site approval from UWG. | 2025 |
Administrative Check-In and Study Closure
| Name | Description | Version Date |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Check-In Form | This Qualtrics survey is the Administrative Check-In required to notify the IRB of the status of your study. Each study determined to meet Exempt study criteria and each approved Expedited or Convened study has an Administrative Check-In date noted on the determination or approval letter. The IRB will send out reminders to PIs via email. | v1.2024 |
| Closure Request Application | Use this form to request to close your IRB file when your study is complete. Studies are complete when the investigator is no longer engaging with participants to collect data, engaging with identifiable data, or collecting consent. | v6.1.2025 |
Reliance Agreement Documentation
| Name | Description | Version Date |
|---|---|---|
| UWG Reliance Agreement Template | The UWG IRB will use this form to begin documenting a reliance agreement for Expedited or Convened studies with multiple engaged institutions where UWG serves as the relying IRB. | v1.2024 |
| UWG Individual Investigator Agreement Template | Use this template to create an agreement for individual investigators who do not have a home IRB and engaged in studies with a UWG PI where UWG serves as the relying IRB. | v1.2024 |
| SMART IRB Communication Plan Template | Use this template to create a communication plan between the Reviewing IRB, the Study Team, and the Relying Site for any studies needing reliance agreements. | 2024 |
IRB Administrative Documents
| Name | Description | Version Date |
|---|---|---|
| UWG IRB Communication Plan | Use this form to complete a communication plan between the PI and the UWG IRB. | v1.2024 |
| UWG Adverse Event Form | Use this form to promptly report all instances of adverse or unanticipated events to the UWG IRB. | v1.2011 |