I. Scope
This policy applies to all university faculty, staff, students, visitors, and volunteers working with vertebrate animals and cephalopods during research and instruction. This policy does not include pets, service animals, emotional support animals, or wildlife in its natural environment.
II. Policy Statement
It is the responsibility of each employee, student, visitor, and volunteer to familiarize themselves with the relevant policies, programs, manuals, guides, and procedures related to animal welfare, health, safety, and institutional protocols while working with animals and observe these policies and procedures during the course of their work. Risk, Safety, & Resilience is responsible for administration of this policy; the Office of Research Integrity and Assurance is responsible providing technical assistance to Risk, Safety, & Resilience on matters related to animal use.
III. Definitions
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (“IACUC”): means the federally mandated committee, charted by the President of George Mason University, qualified through the experience and expertise of its members to oversees the university’s animal research/welfare program, facilities, and procedures.
Institutional Official (“IO”): is the Associate Vice President for Research Integrity and Assurance and is responsible for availing resources to ensure quality animal care and use is aligned with the university’s mission and meets regulatory requirements and guidelines as set forth by the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Animal Welfare Act, and the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC).
Research and instructional animal: means any vertebrate or cephalopod used in research or instruction.
IV. Compliance
A. George Mason University will comply with all applicable federal and state regulations governing the conduct of animal research and to maintain AAALAC International Accreditation.
B. The IO is responsible for the animal program at the university. Under the supervision of the IO, George Mason University must provide facilities and resources that make such compliance possible. The IO in collaboration with IACUC and the attending veterinarian establishes policies and procedures, ensure regulatory compliance, monitors animal program performance, and supports science and humane treatment of research and instructional animals.
C. All work with research and instructional animals must be approved by the George Mason University IACUC prior to purchase, introduction to campus, or work with research and instructional animals.
D. All research, testing, and instruction with research and instructional animals at George Mason University must be carried out under the supervision of a George Mason University faculty member (or veterinarian) qualified and experienced in the type of work being conducted, who assumes responsibility for the legal and ethical conduct of the work occurring under their supervision.
E. Faculty and staff listed on approved IACUC protocols must ensure that all individuals have access to any approved IACUC protocol on which they are listed.
F. Faculty and staff with approved IACUC protocols are responsible for ensuring that all individuals listed on protocols:
- Adhere to approved IACUC protocols
- Familiarizing themselves and follow all National Institutes of Health (NIH), and university policies, procedures, programs, manuals, plans, guides, and directives related to working with research and instructional animals.
- Remain in compliance with required and applicable training.
- Comply with applicable requirements of George Mason University’s Medical Surveillance Program, Respiratory Protection Program, Laboratory Safety Manual, and Biological Safety Manual.
- Report concerns about animal care and use, animal welfare, IACUC compliance, compliance with applicable regulations or laws, or health and safety to the IACUC Chair, Institutional Official, University Attending Veterinarian, or Risk, Safety, & Resilience.
- Comply with IACUC guidance, safety recommendations, and disciplinary actions.
G. The housing, care, feeding and observation of all animals must be supervised by individuals trained in such matters. Managers of animal care facilities must comply with guidelines set forth in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals or other guides adopted by the IACUC.
V. Dates
A. Effective Date
This policy will become effective upon the date of the approval by the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and the Provost and Executive Vice President.
B. Date of Most Recent Review
October 20, 2025
VI. Timetable for Review
This policy, and any related procedures, shall be reviewed biannually.
Approved:
_/S______________________
Julie Zobel
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
_/S_______________________
James Antony
Provost and Executive Vice President
Date approved: October 1, 2005
Date revised: February 17, 2012
Date revised: May 18, 2021
Revision approved: October 20, 2025
Page last updated: November 12, 2025