The Animal Care and Use Committee is required by the Animal Welfare Regulations and the Public Health Service Policy. The chair of the ACUC is appointed by the Chancellor of the University. The chancellor also appoints at least one active scientist from the following departments, schools, or research centers housing or using animals: Health Sciences, Biological Sciences, WATER Institute, Chemistry, Psychology and a Field Scientist. In addition, the chancellor must appoint: one doctor of veterinary medicine with training and experience in laboratory animal science and medicine, one member whose primary concerns are in a nonscientific area, and one individual who is not affiliated with the institution in any way other than as a member of the ACUC and is not a member of the immediate family of a person affiliated with the institution.
The ACUC is charged with advising and making recommendations to the chancellor on all matters related to the responsible use and care for animals in research and teaching at UWM; reviewing and approving, requiring modification, or withholding approval of all proposed activities related to the care and use of animals before the activities are conducted; reviewing at least semi-annually the institution's program for humane care and use of animals; inspecting at least semi-annually all of the institution's animal facilities, including satellite facilities and all study areas; suspending an activity involving animals in violation of the Animal Welfare Act, the Public Health Science Policy or the "Guide" following review and in accord with specifications stated in the Problem Resolution Chart; advising the Institutional Official on how to ensure compliance with federal, state, and UW-System regulations on a functional, daily basis; and handling concerns about animal care and use.
