Date of Senate Approval 05/08/03

Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

FWDC 3:       Proposal to establish the Animal Care and Use Committee as a new Standing Committee (formerly the Animal Care Committee)

Faculty Handbook Section 10.4.18

Purpose:

The Animal Care and Use Committee is charged with the task of reviewing and monitoring projects which utilize live animals to insure compliance with relevant legislation, to meet the University's moral and ethical obligations to other living organisms, to provide assurances for granting agencies, to address public concerns about the humane treatment of experimental animals, and to protect investigators and students from unsubstantiated or unwarranted allegations of improper procedures. (The definition of live animals is directed by federal law, i.e. Public Health Services Act (Public Law 99-158), Laboratory Animal Welfare Act (PL 99-198), and 1985 Health Research Extension Act.)

Duties:

1. Review the Application for Animal Use required of any project by an investigator of UNCA

(faculty or student) or any teaching procedure which requires the use of live animals.

2. Review all grant applications by UNCA investigators which require the use of live animals.

3. Conduct semi-annual site visits to all live animal housing facilities on campus.

4. The Chair should send out a yearly reminder about the appropriate use of animals.

Membership:

One faculty scientist who is using live animals (appointed by URC) as chair

One veterinarian (appointed by the Chancellor)

One non-affiliated person (This person is not to be affiliated with the research facility and is to provide representation for the general community interests in the proper care and treatment of animals. (appointed by the Chancellor)

Faculty are appointed for two year terms. Non-university and veterinary members are solicited through the Assistant to the Chancellor and serve two year terms. Individuals may be reappointed to successive terms.

Recommendations to: the URC for policy and procedural changes

Reports to: the VCAA

Rationale:
This committee has been functioning with minor changes since 1988. It is reasonable that it become a standing committee because it is an on-going committee required by federal law, i.e. Public Health Services Act (Public Law 99-158), Laboratory Animal Welfare Act (PL 99-198), and 1985 Health Research Extension Act.