Review Categories and Timelines
Human Research Protections Program
Submission Resources
Researchers and Advisors
This was an extremely clear, streamlined, and efficient process. I am blown away by the efficiency of this office.
Lindsay Foreman-Murray (she/her)Assistant Professor, Education Leadership & Inclusive Teaching
HRPP NOTES
Processing Timeline Update
- We have resolved the minor backlog due to the reduced hours during winter break and the high submission volume upon return. Refer to Review Categories and Timelines for current approximate turnaround schedules, and please plan accordingly when submitting your application materials.
IMPORTANT SUBMISSION INFORMATION: Use only the most recent HRPP submission forms and HRPP Consent and other templates. If you've already begun an application, we will still accept September versions, but not earlier. (Applications will be returned with a request for current forms.) Bookmark the Forms page and always download current forms and templates when preparing a new submission. (Don't save them to your device or the cloud for future use.)
NEW HRPP EMAIL: To better align with the mission of the Research Integrity and Compliance area, the new email for HRPP and other related programs is researchintegrity@wwu.edu. (Emails sent to compliance@wwu.edu will still reach us, but please update your contacts to the new address.)
Starting and Special Circumstances
Getting Started and Protocol Development Guidance.
Collaborating with a non-WWU affiliate? Please read the guidance on Ceding or Obtaining WWU HRPP Oversight before taking any steps.
Grant application requires "IRB approval" before you've developed your project? Please read the guidance on obtaining Developmental Approval.
INITIAL Processing (not determination or approval) for all review categories after Submission
- Email confirmation of receipt (only -- not processing) within 2-3 business days.
- Initial processing 3-5 business days. (This does not reflect review time!)
- For complete submissions ready for consideration, see individual Review Category timelines below.
Review Categories and Timelines
Accepted all year: No submission deadlines
- Exempt studies pose no or minimal risk to participants.
- Not Human Participant Research (NHPR) projects might collect data from individuals but do not meet regulatory criteria as "Research."
- Timeline for complete submissions ready for evaluation: approx. 8-10 business days (contingent on required revisions)
- Approx. 5-6 business days for initial processing and review.
- Revision feedback (if applicable) sent to PI.
- Upon receipt of revised materials (that meet revision expectations), 2-4 business days for final determination.
- NOTE: If you receive revision feedback, you will need to submit revised materials within 60 days, or the HRPP will administratively close the file, and you will need to submit a new application.
NOTE: For projects that might involve some more sensitive and/or identifiable data, the HRPP will conduct a "Limited Review" to assess a protocol and determine whether it meets Exemption criteria.
Accepted all year: No submission deadlines
- Expedited studies might involve some risk to participants (i.e., sensitive information, nature of the data collection process, more vulnerable population).
- Timeline for complete submissions ready for review: Approx. 4-7 weeks (contingent on required revisions)
- Approx. 4-5 business days for initial processing and assigning IRB reviewers.
- Feedback to PI approx. 3 weeks after submission.
- HRPP assessment of resubmission and approval (if no further revisions necessary): 2-4 business days
- NOTE: If you receive revision feedback, you will need to submit revised materials within 60 days, or the HRPP will administratively close the file, and you will need to submit a new application.
Full Board meets during regular academic year only (no summer submissions/meetings). Please note submission deadlines and plan accordingly.
- Full board studies are reviewed by the convened Institutional Review Board (IRB) because they typically involve highly vulnerable populations and/or greater participant risk.
- PIs (and faculty advisers) are invited to attend part of the IRB meeting to answer questions and help streamline the approval process.
- Timeline for complete submissions ready for review: Approx. 5-8 weeks (contingent on required revisions)
- Preliminary feedback for minor revisions within 4-5 business days. PI must resubmit within 2-3 business days.
- Full board feedback approx. 3-5 business days after the convened meeting.
- HRPP/Board assessment of resubmission and approval (if no further revisions necessary): 4-5 business days.
- NOTE: If you receive revision feedback, you will need to submit revised materials within 60 days, or the HRPP will administratively close the file, and you will need to submit a new application.
Full-Board Deadlines and Meeting Dates
The IRB cannot review studies without sufficient time for consideration and risk assessment. Studies that miss the 5 p.m. submission deadline will be considered at the next scheduled meeting.
We invite investigators (and faculty advisors) to join the Board meeting briefly to answer questions and provide clarifications. Your presence isn't required, but these productive, friendly conversations help avoid misinterpretation or miscommunication and significantly streamline the review and approval process.
To honor our volunteer Board members' time off contract, the IRB does not review full-board protocols over summer: no exceptions. Please plan accordingly and contact the HRPP if you need assistance.
NOTE: The HRPP processes Exempt and Expedited applications throughout the summer; however, due to limited reviewer availability, you might experience some delay in turnaround time.
Academic Year 2025-26
Deadlines apply to FULL BOARD protocols only. (Expedited and Exempt submissions do not have deadlines and are accepted all year.) Meetings take place from 8:30-10:30 a.m. online.
(Deadline 5 p.m.) / Meeting Date
FALL QUARTER
- (Thurs. Oct. 2) Thurs. Oct. 23 / (Tues. Nov. 18) Tues. Dec. 9
WINTER QUARTER
- (Thurs. Jan. 15) Thurs. Feb. 5 / (Tues. Feb. 24) Tues. March 17
SPRING QUARTER
- (Thurs. March 26) Thurs. April 16 / (Tues. May 19) Tues. June 9