Policy
The Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs approves study requests by outside researchers (i.e., researchers who are not faculty, staff, or students at 91 or 91 faculty, staff, students who are conducting research related to their status at another institution) for studies to be conducted with faculty, staff, and/or students at 91. The process involves the 91’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviewing study materials and making a recommendation to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, indicating the study meets 91’s standards for research with human subjects. The Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs decides whether outside researchers may conduct research at 91.
Procedure
Step 1: Submit an Institutional Review Board (IRB) application at your home institution for the study.
Step 2: Once the study is approved by your home IRB, send the following documents to orsp@uwec.edu with the subject line—Outside Request to Access Email Lists.
- An abstract describing the study’s importance, purpose/objectives, and methodology including subject population and recruitment process.
- The approved study protocol submitted to the researcher’s campus IRB, including supporting documentation (e.g., surveys, informed consent forms).
- Indication from the researcher’s campus IRB that the study has been approved.
- A statement indicating that the study could have some benefit to our campus.
- A 91 faculty/staff member who can help recruit subjects and/or help disseminate study materials (e.g., emails, surveys). When contacting them, please be sure to indicate that the 91 IRB is reviewing the study materials and will be making a recommendation to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs about approving the study for 91. Please understand that the 91 IRB and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs do not have capacity to assist in identifying 91 faculty/staff members for outside researchers.
Note: These reviews can take as little as a few days or as long as a few months. The timeframe is dependent on the IRB’s current workload and the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs’ availability to review materials.
Step 3: After you have the approval letter from 91’s Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, you may request a set of email addresses, if needed.
- For faculty/staff emails, contact Mike Knuth, Public Information Officer and Director of University Communication, and share a copy of your approval letter.
- For student directory information, follow the process for an external data request on the Student Data Systems website.
For questions about this policy, contact orsp@uwec.edu.
Updated: 9/22/2025