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AACUC Policies

Charge

The AACUC is charged with facilitating centralized, uniform and high quality oversight of the institution's agricultural animal care program.

  • To make recommendations regarding the development and implementation of institutional policies and procedures to facilitate support and monitor the humane and appropriate use of animals in agricultural research and teaching as well as any other aspect of the agricultural animal care program.
  • To review and approve or disapprove protocols and other proposed activities, or proposed significant changes in activities, related to agricultural animal care.
  • To appoint representatives as deemed appropriate to conduct, at least twice per year, an inspection of agricultural animal facilities and study areas, to review the overall agricultural animal care and use program, and to provide a written report to the Dean of Agriculture and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, the director of the individual program that provides agricultural animal care, the Provost and the President.
  • To investigate concerns, complaints or reports of non-compliance involving agricultural animals at the facilities.
  • To suspend an activity involving agricultural animals when it is not in compliance with approved protocols or written operating procedures.
  • To make recommendations regarding the development and implementation of institutional policies and procedures to facilitate, support, and monitor the humane and appropriate use of animals in agricultural research and teaching as well as nay other aspect of the agricultural animal care program.
  • To perform other functions as may be required by institutional need and by applicable laws, regulations and policies.

Membership 

AACUC membership must include the following: scientist; animal, dairy or poultry specialist; veterinarian; non-scientist (on-campus); community member; and any other members as requirec by institutional laws, regulations and/or policies.

Current AACUC Membership
Name
Position
Represents
Don Kress
Member
Scientist - Professor Emeritus
Jane Ann Boles
Member
Faculty - Animal and Range Sciences
Darrin Boss

Member

Interim Chair
Faculty - Research Centers
Sarah McCoski
Member
Faculty - Animal and Range Sciences
Racquel Lindroth
Member
DMV, Faculty - WIMU
Tom Milesnick
Member
Community
John Siefert
Member
Faculty - Health and Human Development

Appointed By 

University President

Advisory To 

University President

Reports Due

As requested. 

 
Animal Activities the require AACUC Review
U.S. Public Health Services (PHS) Policy defines animal as "any live, vertebrate animal used or intended for use in research, research training, experimentation, or biological testing or for related purposes." 
Federal regulations and Montana State University policy require that all activities involving the use of agricultural animals (e.g., research, testing or teaching), must be reviewed and approved by the Agricultural Animal Care and Use Committee (AACUC), Examples of animal use include: 
  • Development of new therapies for humans and animals
  • Pre-clinical drug/device experiments
  • Classes to teach surgical and other medical techniques
  • Behavioral studies
  • Tissue harvest for in-vitro studies
  • Breeding of research animals 
  • Experiments testing treatments of agricultural animals 
Table Caption
Federal Regulations and Guidance
MSU Animal Operations Policies

Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural

Animals in Research and Teaching (Ag Guide)
BART Facilities
NARC Facilities

Protocol Submission and Review

The AACUC accepts research protocols and/or protocol modifications anytime for review.

The PI should submit the completed form to the AACUC staff at [email protected] The file can be in the original Word 2007 or in PDF format. 

AACUC will review the protocols and the PI should expect to hear from the committee chair within three weeks. 

Forms