Research Integrity Office
RIO Contact Information
Contact the IRB Office via email at irb@capella.edu.
Contact Format Editing via email at formatediting@capella.edu
The Research Integrity Office (RIO) promotes and upholds research integrity at Capella University through its commitment to supporting Capella researchers in ethical and responsible research practices. The RIO promotes compliance with applicable federal, state and local regulations, and fosters ethical research through education, Institutional Review Board (IRB) review, quality assurance and improvement initiatives, and compliance monitoring.
The Research Integrity Office endeavors to:
- Promote the responsible conduct of research at Capella University.
- Foster awareness of and respect for the rights and welfare of human research participants.
- Build capacity for Capella University researchers to engage in quality and ethical research.
- Inform and educate Capella's research community regarding ethical research and human research protections.
- Facilitate the IRB Review Process and provide administrative support and reporting to ensure timely and efficient IRB review.
- Review and monitor research for compliance with ethical principles and federal regulations.
The Research Integrity Office is comprised of several teams:
IRB Office
The IRB Office is a critical component of Capella University's Research Integrity Office. The IRB Office ensures the integrity of the IRB process by promoting and upholding consistent IRB review processes in accordance with the Human Research Program Standard Operating Procedures (HRP SOPs). The IRB Office screens IRB submissions for completeness, coherence, and readiness, determines the appropriate level of review, and conducts human participant screenings and exempt reviews. In keeping with the consultative culture of the Capella University IRB, the IRB Office provides additional review of studies as needed to ensure the consistent application of the code of federal regulations and ethical principles for the responsible conduct of research. The IRB Office also identifies common concerns within the review process to address process improvements and professional development.
The IRB Office provides coaching and support for IRB Members, researchers and research supervisors. IRB Office Staff help facilitate clear communication between IRB Members and the research community and respond to general inquiries relating to IRB processes and human research protections.
Format Editing
Capella University's format editors review dissertation manuscripts prior to publication to ensure that they are properly formatted in accordance with APA style and Capella's Dissertation Format Guidelines. The goal of the format editing process is to ensure that the presentation of a learner's dissertation matches the same high quality of the research and scholarship that went into its writing. Format editors also promote responsible and ethical practices by confirming that sites and participants have been appropriately de-identified, that copyright issues are addressed, and that citations and references are correct. Format editors may also confer directly with learners and/or direct them to additional support.
Research Education & Compliance
The Research, Education & Compliance (REC) Office supports the mission of Capella University's Research Integrity Office by promoting researcher compliance with guidelines, policies, and regulations at the institutional, local, state, and federal levels. The REC Office provides compliance oversight to Capella's IRB through the implementation of initiatives to monitor the design, review, and conduct of research. The REC Office is also responsible for educational programming to promote research integrity and the protection of human participants.
The Research Integrity Office also relies on the work of several important committees:
Research Compliance Committee
The purpose of the Research Compliance Committee (RCC) is to ensure that all academic research conducted on or by Capella University learners, faculty, or staff meets the highest ethical standards and complies with the federal regulations for the protection of human participants in research. As such, the mission includes recommending policy and procedural changes that may impact the institution's ability to comply with federal regulations for the protection of human participants. The RCC is composed of members representing the RIO, the institution's academic leadership, and faculty. Members are appointed on an ad-hoc basis to make determinations and issue recommendations regarding corrective actions for findings of serious and/or continuing non-compliance, and to ensure prompt reporting to the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) of unanticipated problems or adverse events, and suspension or termination of IRB approval. The RCC also serves as the committee responsible for assembling a research misconduct investigation panel for the purpose of investigating allegations relating to research misconduct and making recommendations concerning findings and corrective actions.
Research Integrity Office (RIO) Advisory Committee
The Research Integrity Office (RIO) Advisory Committee is charged with assisting the RIO in promoting ethical research, assessing the potential impacts and outcomes of RIO's efforts, and providing feedback on strategic directions and initiatives. The RIO Advisory Committee supports the work of the RIO, serving as both touchstones for Capella's research community and ambassadors to Capella's research community. The RIO Advisory Committee is comprised of members representing the research community including faculty researchers, research supervisors, dissertation advisors, and other key stakeholders. The IRB Chairs and several IRB Members and RIO Staff also serve on the RIO Advisory Committee.
