Policies

Campus Policy for Animals Care and Use for Research

Persons Affected

Faculty, Staff, Students

Policy Statement

The use of animals is essential to the research missions of Farmingdale State College. Significant benefits to the health and welfare of both animals and humans have resulted from animal use in research, and continued use is crucial to future advancements. However, those who utilize animals are morally and legally obligated to care for them properly and use them humanely. Each faculty member, staff member, or student involved in the use of animals is directly responsible for promoting and protecting their welfare within the instructional and research programs of the College. Those who use animals should assume this responsibility through precept and example.

1. An Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee will be constituted, with appropriate membership and training, if and when future research or teaching should necessitate the use of vertebrate animals. An Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee is not currently required, however, given that there is no such use of vertebrate animals at this time.

2. Animals should be used in teaching or research programs only as required to demonstrate principles, to obtain new information, and achieve results which will ultimately benefit society. Whenever feasible, mathematical models, in vitro biological systems, demonstrations, and computer and audiovisual aids should augment, complement, or possibly replace animal use entirely, thereby reducing the number of animals needed.

3. The procurement, care, and use of animals shall be in accordance with the regulations and terms of the federal Animal Welfare Act and the Health Research Extension Act of 1985, and subsequent revisions.

4. The housing, care, feeding and observation of all animals must be supervised by individuals trained in such matters. Managers of animal care facilities are expected to meet the guidelines set forth in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (for biomedical research projects) or the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching (for agricultural research projects), which are both published by the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research under the auspices of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Animal use shall be planned and conducted so as to avoid or minimize pain and distress to the animals. Procedures involving animals must be performed by, or be closely supervised by a faculty or staff member who is skilled in the procedure. Students taking part in such procedures must be appropriately instructed and supervised. If any experimental or demonstrative procedure, or its consequences, have the potential to induce significant and/or lasting pain, distress or suffering, appropriate methods of tranquilization, anesthesia and analgesia must be used.

5. Any faculty member, staff member, or student of the College who has reason to know or believe that this policy is being violated may submit a written request to the Biology Department Chair for review of the procedure or situation in question. The Chair will examine all pertinent facts regarding the alleged policy violation. If the allegation is substantiated, the Chair will report the violation to the appropriate administrative officials. The College will take all steps possible to prevent retaliation against the person requesting the review.

Farmingdale State College does not currently utilize vertebrate animals in any research or teaching on campus. However, if and when future research or teaching should necessitate the use of vertebrate animals, this “Animals Care and Use for Research Policy” will apply to said research.

Responsible Office

Office of the Provost

Policy History

Effective Date: December 5, 2017