The IRRC is responsible for protecting the rights and welfare of human research participants. It ensures that all research conducted under the institution’s jurisdiction complies with ethical standards and federal regulations, specifically 45 CFR 46, also known as the Common Rule.

Before beginning any project involving people—such as surveys, interviews, observations, or data collection—it’s important to determine whether your activity qualifies as research involving human subjects under federal regulations.To help you decide, please refer to the IRRC Decision Flowchart below. It will guide you through a series of simple questions to determine whether your project o determine whether your project needs to be reviewed by the IRRC.
Do I need to submit a research proposal to the IRRC?

Under the Common Rule (45 CFR 46), which governs human subjects research in the United States and is overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), research is defined as “A systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.” Not all activities that involve collecting data, interviewing people, or analyzing information are considered “research” under federal regulations. According to the Common Rule, an activity is not considered research if it does not aim to produce generalizable knowledge—that is, if it iis not meant to apply beyond the specific classroom, campus, or program.

Anyone planning to conduct research involving ACC human subjects (faculty, staff, or students) must submit their project for research review before beginning data collection. This includes surveys, interviews, experiments, and secondary data analysis with identifiable private information. Exceptions to this requirement involve classroom exercises, surveys and projects not intended to be published.

IRRC oversight is guided primarily by:

  • 45 CFR 46 – Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations for the protection of human subjects
  • The Belmont Report – Ethical principles and guidelines for research involving human subjects
  • Institutional policies that may further protect research participants (see below)

IRRC oversight is guided by ACC administrative rule 1.0601.01: Academic and Student Affairs Council, Board Policy Reference: AFA, Institutional Effectiveness, Performance and Institution reports.

To be considered complete, your IRRC submission must include:

  • A complete application form
  • A detailed research protocol describing your study’s purpose, methods, and participant protections
  • Copies of informed consent documents
  • All data collection instruments (surveys, interview questions, etc.)
  • A signed liaison form, if you are not a full-time ACC faculty or staff member, or if you are pursuing doctoral research external to your role as an ACC full-time faculty or staff member, confirming a full-time ACC faculty or staff member’s oversight. Please note that it is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and secure an ACC liaison for their research.
  • Incomplete applications will delay the review process.

The typical review period is 1 month from the time a complete application is received. The timing of the determination will vary based on the completeness of the application, ACC schedule, the current number of proposals under evaluation, and other factors. Determinations for some applications involving complex protocol, needing input from special resources, and/or full committee review could take longer. Researchers should not begin the participant recruitment process or data collection until they receive their official IRRC determination, but they may work on other aspects of their research while waiting. Please plan accordingly.

Depending on the level of risk to participants, your research may undergo:

  • Exempt Review – For minimal risk projects that fall into specific exemption categories under 45 CFR 46.104
  • Expedited Review – For minimal risk projects reviewed by one or more IRB members under 45 CFR 46.110
  • Full Committee Review – For projects involving more than minimal risk or vulnerable populations

The IRRC has the authority to approve, require modifications, or deny research involving human subjects within the ACC community, regardless of funding source. Decisions of the IRRC are final. Researchers will be informed in writing via email the determination of the IRRC.

For approved proposals, researchers must do the following:

  • Sign the Research statement within one week of receipt
  • Keep their ACC Liaison apprised of their progress
  • Report any adverse events or unanticipated problems
  • Submit modifications for any changes to the protocol to the IRRC
  • Submit closure report to the IRRC once the research is complete
  • Complete the research within one year or submit a continuing review to the IRRC

Contact the Institutional Research Liaison listed on the college website. Workshops and consultation appointments are also available.

Requests for data for research conducted/sponsored on behalf of ACC can be submitted to the Office of Institutional Research and Analytics via the data request process found here: https://oira.austincc.edu/data-and-reports/data-service-request/.

Requests for data for research by internal researchers not conducted/sponsored on behalf of ACC or those from external researchers should be submitted via an Open Records Request to the Office of College Relations & Marketing. Instructions for submitting a request can be found here: https://offices.austincc.edu/college-relations-and-marketing/open-records-requests/