If you will conduct research at or through an organization or institution, an authorized person must formally permit access to the population from which you wish to collect data. Before granting permission, this person must read your complete research protocol to fully understand the study and what will be asked of participants.
You must include a letter of permission from the authorized person with your original IRB submission. Or you can ask the person to email the IRB directly at irb@seattleu.edu. In the letter/email, the individual should state that they have read the protocol, understand the research goals, understand what will be asked of the participants, and that they grant you permission to conduct research at their institution/agency, etc. The IRB will not begin processing any protocol submitted without appropriate site permission letters or emails. Be sure you have obtained the necessary permission prior to submission to avoid delays in protocol review.
Churches, community and volunteer organizations, medical institutions and clinics, schools, governmental offices or departments (such as King County), workplaces, etc. Some school districts require permission from the Superintendent's office, not only the school principal. Additionally, some institutions (King County government, hospitals) may require you to submit to their own IRB or research ethics committee. Check research policies of the organization before submitting your IRB protocol.
Note: For any research involving Indigenous Peoples, you must provide written permission from tribal elders. Some tribes may have their own ethics committee that reviews research studies with members of their tribal community. Be aware of all expectations of individual tribes and comply with their procedures before submitting your protocol to the SU IRB.