The information below is intended to support PIs with guidelines and talking points for approaching your own institution’s IRB about the REU evaluation.

The Center for Evaluating the Research Pipeline (CERP) has received IRB approval from BRANY for this REU Evaluation project as an Exempt, Category 2 project. All currently-funded NSF REU projects in the U.S. are eligible to use evaluation services being offered by CERP and are covered by this IRB approval.

Based on current OHRP definitions of when an institution is considered to be “engaged” in research, most institutions we work with do not require separate review and approval from their own institution’s IRB. This is because the local REU PI distributes anonymous pre-program and post-program survey links to the REU participants on behalf of CERP but has no other involvement in the research process (e.g., creation of the survey instruments, consent process, data collection, data analysis, or any other aspect of the study), and the PI will not have access to any data files or individually-identifying information resulting from this study. 

If you are a PI seeking to clarify your local IRB’s requirements, here are some key points to cover:

• The Center for Evaluating the Research Pipeline (CERP) is conducting a national evaluation and has IRB approval from BRANY as an Exempt, Category 2 project. This site is part of the national evaluation being conducted by CERP.
• The full study involves the distribution of surveys to REU participants at three timepoints: (1) prior to the start of their REU participation; (2) at the end of their REU participation; and (3) a one-year follow-up. These surveys will track changes over time among REU participants in their knowledge and skills, attitudes, and intentions to pursue further computing-related education and career pathways.
• The REU PI’s only involvement in the data collection process is to distribute an anonymous survey link to their REU participants on behalf of CERP for the first two survey administrations (at the beginning and end of the REU).
• The REU PI will have no involvement in the data collection for the third survey (the one-year follow-up); CERP will administer the one-year follow-up survey.
• The REU PI will have NO involvement in any other aspects of the research process.
• The REU PI will not receive a data file or any individually-identifying information resulting from this study. They will receive a summarized report of their REU results.
• For information purposes: The national evaluation being conducted by CERP also includes a comparison group of participants who will be tracked alongside the REU participants. Importantly, this is completely separate from the data collection that is taking place with REU participants, and local REU PIs have no involvement in this aspect of the project. The comparison sample is derived from participants in previous CERP surveys who gave permission to be contacted for future data collection efforts.

If your institution’s IRB does require separate review and approval, you or another colleague will need to serve as PI for the portion of the research project that will occur with students at your institution.

Please complete the request form linked above to receive CERP-created materials that will help you with your local submission. 

You can choose to receive a version of the materials that only pertains to the local implementation (recommended), or you may receive a version of materials that includes the comprehensive set of materials for the full national evaluation being conducted by CERP. Both sets will include a document “IRB resources for individual institutions,” which includes common IRB application questions and suggested answers.