March 12, 2020
To the IU Research Community:
On Tuesday March 10th 2020, IU joined many other universities across the country by announcing special conditions in response to COVID-19. Specifically, these included:
- Temporary suspension of face-to-face teaching until April 6, 2020;
- Telecommuting option for faculty and staff until April 6, 2020;
- Prohibition of university-sponsored/affiliated international travel or domestic travel outside of Indiana until April 5, 2020;
- Discouragement of visitors to all IU campuses.
ORC is well prepared to navigate through these restrictions; as such, ORC operations and committee reviews will continue without interruption. For several years we have had a robust telecommuting program. Staff are experienced in working remotely; therefore, increased telecommuting will have little to no impact on their daily receipt, review, processing and/or approval of your submissions. Our compliance committees will continue to meet as scheduled, albeit mostly virtually.
ORC is additionally preparing for any possible expansion of these restrictions, including a closing of campuses and university buildings to all but "essential personnel" access. To this end, we will shortly be sending emails to all researchers with active IRB, IACUC, and/or IBC approvals to collect information regarding your need to access university facilities in the event such further restrictions are announced by the University.
Your research is important to us and we are committed to working with you to assist in its continued progress. Please visit our important research announcements for updated information.
John R. Baumann, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Research Compliance
Office of Research Compliance
Office of Vice President for Research
Indiana University
baumannj@iu.edu