Membership of IRB Committees

1. The Institutional Review Boards report to and are advisory to the vice president for Research and dean of the Graduate School. Membership of each committee shall consist of the following:

   At least five faculty members representing expertise in a diversity of research methodologies, including those utilized in psychology, education, physiology, the social sciences, and kinesiology;

   Two supportive professional staff members representing expertise in medicine and research policy, with the latter serving as a non-voting members of the Board;

   One community representative not otherwise affiliated with Northern Illinois University.

   At least one person who is not a professional in science or medicine.  Such people may be members of the Board indicated above.

   The chair and all members of the Institutional Review Board shall be appointed by the vice president for Research and dean of the graduate School, subject to concurrence by the president.

   Length of term shall be three years, and shall be renewable, for faculty and community representatives. Supportive Professional Staff members serve according to availability.

2. Duties:

   Establish institutional policy, and monitor, all research activities conducted either at NIU or by persons affiliated with NIU that involve the use of human subjects, in accordance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services specifications for protection of human subjects (45 CFR 46, as amended).

   The maintenance of these committees is mandated by the federal government as a condition for NIU to be eligible to receive federal funding for research:  and the university also operates these committees out of a commitment to the ethical conduct of research involving human subjects.

   Minutes of meetings shall be distributed to members for approval; the approved minutes shall be in the Graduate School Office of Research Compliance.

Normally, IRB committee 1 meets the fourth Wednesday of each month and the IRB committee 2 meets the second Wednesday of each month.