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Miami University

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Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship

102 Roudebush Hall • Phone: 513-529-3734 • Fax: 513-529-3762

Animal Use in Teaching

It is the policy of Miami University that the use of either live or deceased vertebrate animals for solely instructional purposes (in lab or field) is permitted when:

  1. the cognizant instructor(s) judges that the educational goals of the program or course will be best achieved by such usage and when
  2. the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) determines that such usage is humane, proper, and appropriate, consistent with government principles and regulations for the utilization and care of vertebrate animals used in teaching and research. Only the minimum number of animals essential to instructional objectives should be used. Instructors are encouraged to use alternatives to animals whenever possible.


    PROCEDURES FOR USE OF ANIMALS

Any faculty member who intends to use vertebrate animals for teaching purposes must submit an Animal Use Protocol signed by the department chairperson to the IACUC via OARS. Reuse of previously approved preserved material requires no approval. Protocol approval is for a three-year period; annual updates are requested by the IACUC.

The protocol must include information about the source from which animals are procured. In addition, the protocol must explain why animals are needed to achieve the goals of the course, and justify the species and the number of animals to be used. If the IACUC questions the species of animal chosen, the procurement process, the number of animals to be used or other related matters, such questions must be resolved before the animals may be ordered.

Live vertebrate animals must be cared for according to the University’s policies and procedures governing the use of laboratory animals. Disposal of animal tissue must be in compliance with relevant health and safety regulations.