Institutional Review Board (IRB)
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a federally mandated body responsible for the protection of human subjects involved in research. The IRB reviews, approves, and monitors research conducted under the auspices of the University of West Georgia (UWG) by its faculty, students, and staff. The primary function of the IRB is to safeguard the welfare and rights of human subjects in compliance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The committee assists investigators in insuring that the rights and welfare of subjects are adequately protected.
The University of West Georgia operates by DHHS-assigned Federal Wide Assurance (FWA) number 00005615.
All studies (social science, behavioral, historic, linguistic, and marketing research) involving human subjects must be reviewed and approved by the IRB prior to involving subjects in research. If you have questions regarding the IRB or its process, you may contact any member of the IRB. Additional information regarding the IRB can be found under "IRB Information" and within the UWG Guidelines for the Review of Research Involving Human Subjects.
Due to data security and ownership concerns, the UWG IRB strongly recommends that investigators use Qualtrics for all new web-based surveys. Maintaining the security of research subjects' data is of paramount importance to the UWG IRB. The IRB has determined that the Qualtrics system meets University Data Security standards. The use of other web-based survey programs may be approved by the IRB, but only after additional institutional review has been completed. For questions about what additional information is required for non-Qualtrics surveys, please email irb@westga.edu.
Updated IRB Regulations as of 2019
The Federal regulations regarding the protection of human subjects in research were updated and put into effect January 19, 2019. These changes apply to all applications approved and reviewed by the UWG Institutional Review Board (IRB).
2023-2024 IRB Board Meetings
- October 13th @ 11 AM
- November 10th @ 12 PM
- December 1st @ 11 AM
- January 19th @ 11 AM
- February 16th @ 11 AM
- March 15th @ 11 AM
- April 12th @ 11 AM
- June 7th @ 11 AM
- July 12 @ 11 AM