• All Plan A Master’s and all Doctoral students must turn in the Approval form.
• The Approval form is taken as evidence that the document has been examined and approved by the major professor or thesis/dissertation director. It also serves to document compliance with the appropriate Institutional Review Board for the use of human and vertebrate animals for research.
• The approval form, with required signatures, can be submitted to the Graduate School by email to msuetds.approval@grd.msu.edu; or dropped off in person to the Graduate School (466 W. Circle Drive, 2nd Floor, Chittenden Hall).
• Supplemental files
  • Supplemental files may be included with the electronic submission of the thesis or dissertation in the student’s ProQuest account ONLY if the files have been approved by the faculty advisor/committee.
  • Approval of supplemental files by the faculty advisor is to be noted on the Graduate School Approval form.
  • Formatting of any supplemental files WILL NOT be reviewed by the Graduate School
• Approval Form (Fillable PDF)

Human Research Protection Program

MSU Requirements

MSU IRB review and approval or an exempt determination is required for all projects that involve research or clinical investigations with human subjects conducted by faculty, staff, students, or agents of MSU before initiation of any human subject research activities.

For those projects that may qualify as exempt from IRB approval, an exempt determination must be obtained from the MSU IRB office prior to initiation of the human subject research. For those projects that do not qualify as exempt, IRB approval must be obtained prior to initiation of the human subject research.

Limited Exceptions

A limited exception may apply if MSU has an arrangement to rely upon another IRB's review. MSU may enter into a written agreement to rely on another institution's IRB review or to allow another institution to rely on MSU's IRB review. Such agreements are entered into to reduce duplicate IRB review when appropriate. If you are conducting research at multiple institutions or entities, visit the HRPP reliance webpage for more information, including the process to request project-specific reliance.

In addition, MSU may rely on a commercial IRB to oversee the management and review of certain protocols when specified criteria are met. Currently, MSU has entered into arrangements with several commercial IRBs. Visit HRPP Manual 1-4, Reliance on Commercial IRBs, for the criteria of when a commercial IRB may be used.

Please note: your thesis or dissertation may be rejected if you did not obtain IRB approval prior to the start of your research, if your IRB request was backdated or if your review request was denied by the Human Research Protection office. For further information, please see the Human Research Protection Program website at: https://hrpp.msu.edu/. Phone: 517-355-2180. Email: irb@ora.msu.edu.

• If human subjects were used in your research, the IRB letter (on letterhead from the Human Research Protection office) should be sent to the Graduate School by the same methods that the Approval form was sent.
• The IRB number that is to appear your approval form is the “Approved” number on the IRB letter (ie: x12-456 or 15-123), not the application number (ie: i45603).
• Sample of an IRB letter
• If your name is not listed on the IRB letter, you will need to provide information indicating that you were an approved researcher on the project. Your PI should send an email to msuetds.approval@grd.msu.edu stating the approved IRB number and the project title and he or she should state that you were an approved researcher on the project.

Animal Care Program

Activities Needing Approval

Any ownership or use of animals for research, teaching, testing, or public outreach by or for MSU must be approved by the IACUC. Some activities are exempt but check first.

Check with the IACUC before you do any of these:

• breed, buy, or conduct research involving animals
• study wild animals
• conduct farming and food production with animals
• euthanize an animal
• import or export animals
• test products, procedures, or treatments on animals
• transport animals
• initiate a new project
• add a new procedure or controlled substance
• change your protocol
• change the breed you are using
• schedule a public performance or demonstration with animals

Get approval before you begin ANY activities involving animals.

The laws and guidelines for using animals are numerous. Non-compliance can affect animal care. Non-compliance will be costly to the investigator and the University (such as damage to our reputation and funding). The IACUC committee and staff have up-to-date information on legislation and regulations and contacts with agencies providing guidelines for the care and use of animals.

Please note: your thesis or dissertation may be rejected if you did not obtain IACUC approval prior to the start of your research, if your IACUC request was backdated or if your review request was denied by the Animal Care Program office. For further information, please see the Animal Care Program/IACUC website at: https://animalcare.msu.edu/iacuc/index.html. Phone: 517-432-8103. Email: iacuc@msu.edu.

• If vertebrate animals were used in your research, the IACUC (AUF) letter (on letterhead from the Animal Care Program office) should be sent to the Graduate School by the same methods that the Approval form was sent.
• The IACUC (AUF) number that is to appear on your approval form is the “Application” number on the IACUC letter (ie: 10/12-123-01)
• Sample of an IACUC (AUF) letter

• Please take a few moments to complete this survey the semester that you plan to graduate. Only students who have applied for graduation will have access to this online survey. Your participation is important and is greatly appreciated by the Graduate School. The survey will ask you questions about your educational experience in your graduate program. The Graduate School uses data from this survey when reviewing graduate programs and to guide decisions about services and initiatives for graduate students.
• The identity of all respondents will be kept confidential and only aggregate (group) information will be made available to faculty and administrators. It takes about 5-10 minutes to complete the online survey. Please follow the steps outlined below:
  • Access the following website:
    • Doctoral students: https://www.egr.msu.edu/doctoral/survey
    • Master’s students: https://www.egr.msu.edu/masters/survey
  • Enter your MSU NetID (Login name) and password.
  • Complete all items on the survey. When finished, click Submit.
  • If you cannot open the survey, please contact the Graduate School by email at exitsurvey@grd.msu.edu and include your name, student ID#, degree level (PhD, MA, MS, etc), and the semester of graduation. You will then be notified when you are able to access the survey.

• The Survey of Earned Doctorates is the definitive source of information on the nation’s new research doctorates. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation and five other federal agencies and conducted by RTI, the SED is critical to the understanding in what specialty areas doctorates are produced and their post-graduation employment plans.
• Results are used by government as well as academic institutions to make decisions about graduate education funding, developing new programs and supporting existing ones.
• Michigan State University REQUIRES verification of completion of the survey. When you submit your survey, a notification of completion will automatically be sent to the Graduate School office. It is recommended that at the end of the survey, you also have a copy of the “certificate of completion” emailed to your personal email for your records.
• The registration URL for the survey is: https://sed-ncses.org. You will receive an email with a PIN and password as well as the URL to the survey upon registering.
• Confidentiality Assurance: The information provided in the survey questionnaire remains confidential and is safeguarded in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 and the NSF Act of 1950, as amended. The survey data are reported only in aggregate form or in a manner that does not identify information about the individual.
• Questions about the survey may be directed to RTI at sed@rti.org or at 1-877-256-8167.