ECU's Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Submission Service: Vireo: Pre-Research Approvals

Pre-Research Approvals

Before beginning research, the student must be sure they obtain any necessary pre-research approvals. The student should discuss with their research advisor/committee chair about any pre-research approvals that may apply.

All research being performed for the completion of a thesis or dissertation must have a committee. There are requirements that must be met for the committee members.  

• Faculty chairing or serving on thesis or dissertation committees must have appropriate graduate faculty status as defined in Part II, Section IV of the Faculty Manual. The committee chair and at least two additional members of a thesis or dissertation committee must have either associate graduate faculty status or full graduate faculty status. Graduate teaching faculty may serve as a fourth or fifth member of a committee as provided in Part II, Section IV of the Faculty Manual. 
• External Thesis and Dissertation Committee Members. Individuals external to ECU with demonstrated expertise in the area of study in a thesis or dissertation may serve on but not chair a thesis or dissertation committee. The external member should have a terminal degree in an appropriate discipline or extensive professional experience. This appointment must be approved by the Graduate Program Director or Coordinator and the graduate faculty members serving on the thesis or dissertation committee. The Graduate Program Director will maintain a record of external members’ credentials (academic CV or resume) in case they are needed for external review.  

Once a thesis or dissertation committee is formed, the following forms must be completed by the student and submitted to the Graduate School. There is a 45-day limit to gather signatures once the approval form has been started.
 

• Masters Pre-Thesis Research Approval Form
• Advancement to Doctoral Candidacy Form

Mandatory Approval/Review Processes for Thesis and Dissertation Research

If any of these approvals and/or reviews are needed, students should initiate them BEFORE beginning their research.

• Research projects involving human participants require University and Medical Center Institutional Review Board (UMCIRB) approval.

• Research projects involving animals require Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval.

• Research projects involving radiation/biohazards must be reviewed by the Office of Prospective Health.

• Research projects involving the potential for an invention, patent, or other intellectual property should contact the Office of Licensing and Commercialization (L&C).

Note: A copy of the appropriate committee approval must be included in the appendices of the final thesis or dissertation. The student's name should appear on the approved IRB protocol approval memo. If the student is continuing research started by another, then an Amendment Approval Letter (which would be included in the document as the second appendix) must also be included that shows the current student's name.