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Resources: For Accreditation - Evaluation Instrument

Evaluation Instrument for Accreditation

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Latest Update: February 16, 2026
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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
USE OF THE EVALUATION INSTRUMENT FOR ACCREDITATION
THE FIVE SECTIONS OF ELEMENTS AND STANDARDS
LIST OF STANDARDS AND ELEMENTS
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
SUMMARY OF REVISIONS
DOMAIN I: ORGANIZATION
STANDARD I-1  
ELEMENT I.1.A. ELEMENT I.1.B. ELEMENT I.1.C. ELEMENT I.1.D. ELEMENT I.1.E. ELEMENT I.1.F. ELEMENT I.1.G. ELEMENT I.1.H.
STANDARD I-2
STANDARD I-3
STANDARD I-4  
ELEMENT I.4.A. ELEMENT I.4.B. ELEMENT I.4.C.
STANDARD I-5  
ELEMENT I.5.A. ELEMENT I.5.B. ELEMENT I.5.C. ELEMENT I.5.D.
STANDARD I-6  
ELEMENT I.6.A. ELEMENT I.6.B.
STANDARD I-7  
ELEMENT I.7.A. ELEMENT I.7.B. ELEMENT I.7.C.
STANDARD I-8  
ELEMENT I.8.A. ELEMENT I.8.B. ELEMENT I.8.C. ELEMENT I.8.D. ELEMENT I.8.E.
STANDARD I-9
DOMAIN II: INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD OR ETHICS COMMITTEE
STANDARD II-1  
ELEMENT II.1.A. ELEMENT II.1.B. ELEMENT II.1.C. ELEMENT II.1.D. ELEMENT II.1.E.
STANDARD II-2  
ELEMENT II.2.A. ELEMENT II.2.B. ELEMENT II.2.C. Element II.2.D. Element II.2.E. Element II.2.F. Element II.2.G. Element II.2.H. Element II.2.I.
STANDARD II-3  
ELEMENT II.3.A. ELEMENT II.3.B. ELEMENT II.3.C. ELEMENT II.3.D. ELEMENT II.3.E. ELEMENT II.3.F. ELEMENT II.3.G.
STANDARD II-4  
ELEMENT II.4.A. ELEMENT II.4.B. ELEMENT II.4.C.
STANDARD II-5  
ELEMENT II.5.A. ELEMENT II.5.B.
DOMAIN III: RESEARCHER AND RESEARCH STAFF
STANDARD III-1  
ELEMENT III.1.A. ELEMENT III.1.B. ELEMENT III.1.C. ELEMENT III.1.D. ELEMENT III.1.E. ELEMENT III.1.F. ELEMENT III.1.G.
STANDARD III-2  
ELEMENT III.2.A. ELEMENT III.2.B. ELEMENT III.2.C. ELEMENT III.2.D.
TABLES
TABLE II.2.A.1.
TABLE II.2.C.1.
TABLE II.2.F.1.
TABLE II.3.F.1.
TABLE II.3.G.1
TABLE II.3.G.2.
INTERNATIONAL ADDENDA
Country-Specific Addenda

ELEMENT III.2.C.

ELEMENT III.2.C.: Researchers and research staff follow the requirements of the research protocol or plan and adhere to the policies and procedures of the organization and to the requirements or determinations of the IRB or EC.
Researchers and research staff should be knowledgeable about and follow all legal and regulatory requirements and the organization’s policies and procedures that pertain to their research.  This includes adherence to the determinations and requirements of the IRB or EC. Once a research study is approved by the IRB or EC, researchers and research staff should follow the research plan or protocol as approved by the IRB or EC, and not implement changes until they are approved by the IRB or EC.

Regulatory and guidance references


Required written materials

  1. Essential requirements:
    1. Policies and procedures indicate that researchers and research staff are expected to be knowledgeable about and comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements and organizational policies relevant to the conduct of their approved research.
    2. Policies and procedures describe how researchers and research staff conduct the research in accordance with the IRB/EC approved protocol or research plan, including all approved procedures for recruitment, informed consent process, data collection and management, and study monitoring.
    3. Policies and procedures describe how researchers ensure IRB/EC determinations, approved materials, and approved changes in research are disseminated to all research staff and that all research staff are updated and, when appropriate, trained on revisions to the protocol or research plan.
  2. When following DOE requirements:
    1. Written materials require the IRB or EC to review and ensure that research protocols submitted to the IRB/EC for review comply with the DOE requirements for protecting personally identifiable information (PII).
  3. When following ED requirements:
    1. Policies and procedures indicate that for research funded by the U.S. Department of Education: 
    2. All instructional material--including teachers' manuals, films, tapes, or other supplementary instructional material--which will be used in connection with any research or experimentation program or project must be available for inspection by the parents or guardians of the children engaged in such research.
    3. Research or experimentation program or project means any program or project in any research that is designed to explore or develop new or unproven teaching methods or techniques.
    4. Children are persons enrolled in research not above the elementary or secondary education level, who have not reached the age of majority as determined under state law.
  4. When following VA requirements:
    1. Policies and procedures indicate the VA investigator must uphold professional and ethical standards and practices and adhere to all applicable VA and other federal requirements, including the local VA facility’s standard operating procedures, regarding the conduct of research and the protection of human participants. The responsibilities of the researcher may be defined in the protocol or IRB application.

Common types of materials that may be used to meet the element

  • Researcher manual

Outcomes

  • Researchers and research staff are knowledgeable about and follow all legal, regulatory, and organizational policies and procedures that pertain to their research.  
  • Researchers and research staff comply with the requirements of the IRB or EC.
  • Researchers and research staff conduct research according to the approved research plan or protocol.

Proceed To: ELEMENT III.2.D.