Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

Westfield State University supports the use of animals for research as an ethical and scientific necessity for the advancement of human and animal well-being, and the advancement of knowledge and understanding of living systems. Accordingly, WSC has an Animal Care and Use Program in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act , Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter A, "Animal Welfare," Parts 1-3, USDA/APHIS Animal Care Policies , and the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

In accordance with federal regulations, WSC has an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) which is charged with overseeing the use of vertebrate animals in teaching and research. The IACUC reviews proposed projects using animals, inspects animal care facilities and study areas, submits reports to the Institutional Official, and investigates concerns.
Use of live vertebrate animals for research, teaching, training, experimentation, or biological testing, on or off-campus, and related purposes must have WSC IACUC approval before the project starts if:

• The work will be conducted by a WSC employee, WSC student(s), or anyone else with an affiliation with the College, and/or
• It involves use of animals housed in a College facility, and/or
• It is funded through an award to, or processed through, the College.

This also applies to consortium participants and subprojects. For animal use conducted at another institution or contractor, including foreign institutions, the other institution must have an OLAW Assurance and/or AAALAC certification. If your proposed use of animals is described in a proposal submitted through the WSC Office of Grants and Sponsored Research you must check "vertebrate animals" on an IACUC Approval Form submitted with your proposal. Contact the IACUC office if you are unsure whether your proposed use of animals needs IACUC review.