IRB review is required for all dissertation research and for any data collection that is intended for publication or to contribute to generalizable knowledge. In addition, all faculty research not focused on internal improvement requires IRB review.
IRB review is not required for student course projects and institutional research that are not designed to contribute to generalizable knowledge. The following types of institutional research do not require IRB review: internal research to evaluate institutional programs or determine institutional effectiveness, data collection and analysis for accreditation purposes, and reviews of course or instructor ratings. NU faculty and staff involved with designing course projects related to research are strongly encouraged to contact the IRB to verify that the projects will not require IRB oversight.
The mission of the NU IRB is to support student success and nurture a university-wide ethical research culture that promotes the practice of robust research while protecting human participants.
The IRB values:
Email us at irb@nu.edu
Visit the IRB Office Hours page
The National University Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) includes a leadership team and staff responsible for overseeing research compliance and education. The Institutional Review Board (IRB), which operates under the HRPP, consists of faculty from various disciplines across the university. Below are brief biographies of the IRB members.
DR. JOSEPH MARRON - IRB Chair
Dr. Joseph M. Marron currently serves as Chair of the National University Institutional Review Board, having been a Faculty IRB Board Member since 2014. Dr. Marron is the Founding Professor and Program Director for the Higher Education Administration Graduate Program at National University. He also serves as a Professor in the Organizational Innovation Doctoral Program and Chair of the University Doctoral Admissions Committee. Dr. Marron received his Doctorate in Higher Education Administration at Vanderbilt University and his Post-Doctoral work was completed at the Institute of Educational Management at Harvard University. Dr. Marron previously served as Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management at a number of public and private colleges and universities for more than two decades. Other Higher Education positions held include: Systemwide Director for Educational Leadership and Policy, State Director of Student Support Services and Founding Professor and Program Director of a Higher Education Administration Doctoral Program. Dr. Marron has Chaired 40 + Dissertation Committees in the areas of Higher Education Administration, Educational Leadership and Organizational Innovation. Dr. Marron's research focuses on Higher Education Law, Leadership, Professional Development Models and Higher Education Standards and Professional Competencies. He is the author of 30 peer-reviewed publications and has presented over 200 juried academic papers/presentations and has held numerous leadership positions in a number of Higher Education Professional Associations.
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DR. LINDA CUMMINS - IRB Member
Dr. Linda Cummins currently serves as a member of the National University Institutional Review Board, and served as past IRB chair and IRB member at Northcentral University, IRB member at Capella University, and IRB faculty consultant for the School of Social Work at Indiana University. Dr. Cummins earned her PhD in Social Work from The Ohio State University and also holds degrees in nursing and psychology. She has worked as a social researcher, policy practitioner, and educator for 30 years teaching in the areas of research ethics, research methods, social policy, and policy practice. She has held positions of Staff Researcher at Ohio State University, Head Nurse at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Program Director for PhD programs in Social Work at Barry University, and Academic Program Director for PhD programs in Education at National University. Dr. Cummins has conducted research in the areas of homelessness, mental illness, addiction, community partnerships in the human services, and moral orientation of teachers. She is first author on two co-authored books, Policy practice for social workers: An ethic of care approached. (2nd ed.), with K.V. Byers & L. Pedrick. Routledge (2023); and Social work skills for beginning direct practice (4th ed.), with J. Sevel. Pearson (2017). She is currently conducting research on Ethics in Teaching Practice with Dr. Laurie Wellner and Dr. Michael Shriner, and co-authoring the 5th ed. of Social work skills for beginning direct practice with Dr. Mark Smith.
