Board of Governors, APPENDIX VIII, November 30, 2000

ITEMS REFERRED BY THE SENATE

FOR APPROVAL

Standardized Training in Animal Care and Use

Recommended: That the Board of Governors approve the establishment of a policy on the Standardized Training in Animal Care and Use as shown in Annex 1 (below), to come into effect January 1, 2001.

Background:

The research community at the University of Western Ontario is aware of the need to ensure the well-being of animals used in our work by following national guidelines from the Canadian Council on Animal Care and the legal requirements of the Animals for Research Act (Ontario). It is a given that the use of animals is a privilege and must be carried out with due consideration of the welfare of the animals. At the same time, it is recognized that the research environment at UWO must be open to facilitate advances in the biomedical sciences that can be achieved only with the use of animals.

To these ends, the University Council on Animal Care (UCAC) proposed, and the Senate approved (November 17), the introduction of a mandatory course of training for graduate students, post-doctoral students, visiting fellows, residents, tutorial assistants, research technicians, and animal care technicians whose work depends on animal use. The primary objective of this training will be to ensure that these people working in a laboratory that comes under the jurisdiction of the University Animal Care and Veterinary Services will be informed of the rules, regulations and laws that govern the use of animals in research as well as of the latest basic animal handling techniques.

In promoting the policy, UCAC recognized that individuals working with animals may have received formal or informal training elsewhere or in the past that easily qualifies that person for animal work and that this prior knowledge will exempt them from the proposed mandatory training course.

The policy was developed with the objective of creating a positive atmosphere for research at UWO and ensuring that the high standards of animal care and use on this campus are maintained.

In a recent assessment from the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC), there is a recommendation that such mandatory training be introduced. As well, a document entitled "Guidelines on Institutional Animal User Training" was issued in 1999 that sets out training requirements for institutional animal users which will become mandatory for participants in the CCAC assessment program by January 2003.

FOR INFORMATION

1. New Programs

MEng Program in Advanced Design and Manufacturing

Effective January 2001 a Program in Design and Manufacturing, leading to a degree of Master of Engineering (M.Eng.), will replace the MEng Program currently offered at The University of Western Ontario and will be offered jointly with McMaster University, the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo.

Four-Year BSc in Honors Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Effective September 1, 2001, a four-year BSc Honors Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program will be introduced in the Faculty of Science. This program provides students with a fundamental background in plant biochemistry and molecular biology and is designed for those interested in cutting-edge plant research and/or biotechnology.

Bachelor of Science in Honors Mathematical Sciences and Bachelor of Education Concurrent Degree Program

Effective September 1, 2001, a five-year, limited enrolment, concurrent degree program leading to the degrees Bachelor of Science in Honors Mathematical Sciences and Bachelor of Education will be introduced in the Faculties of Science and Education. This program is designed to prepare students to teach at the intermediate-senior level (grades 7-12) only. Entry into this program begins after completion of first year, and may be limited.

Bachelor of Science in Honors Geography with Computer Science Minor

Effective September 1, 2000, a Bachelor of Science in Honors Geography with Computer Science Minor will be introduced in the Faculty of Social Science.

Four-Year BA in Honors Economics and Computer Science

Effective September 1, 2000, a combined Bachelor of Arts in Honors Economics and Computer Science will be introduced in the Faculty of Social Science.

Four-Year BA in Honors Economics with Computer Science Minor

Effective September 1, 2000, a Bachelor of arts in Honors Economics with a Computer Science Minor will be introduced in the Faculty of Social Science.

King's College: Global Commercial Enterprise (GCE) Area of Concentration in BACS

Effective September 1, 2001, a Global Commercial Enterprise (GCE) Area of Concentration for the Bachelor of Administrative and Commercial Studies (BACS) Program will be introduced at King's College.

King's College: Finance, Administration and Computer Science (FACS) Area of Concentration

Effective September 1, 2001, a Finance, Administration and Computer Science (FACS) Area of Concentration in the Bachelor of Administrative and Commercial Studies (BACS) Program will be introduced at King's College.

2. Academic Development Fund - Small Grants Competition: 2000-01 Spring Awards

See Annex 2.

3. Academic College Report on the 252nd Meeting of the Council of Ontario Universities

See Annex 3.

4. Annual Report of the Senate Committee on Promotion and Tenure I

See Annex 4. [Unavailable in electronic form. Paper copies are available from the University Secretariat.]

5. Annual Report of the Senate Committee on Promotion and Tenure II

See Annex 5. [Unavailable in electronic form. Paper copies are available from the University Secretariat.]

6. Annual Report of the Senate Committee on Appeals

There were no appeals to the Senate Committee on Appeals in 1999-2000 and therefore no Annual Report from the Committee.

7. Establishment of an ad hoc Committee re Code of Student Conduct

On November 17, 2000, Senate was presented with the draft Code of Student Conduct prepared by the Vice-Provost's Advisory Committee on a Code of Student Conduct, chaired by Professor Brian Timney. Rather than deal with that report, Senate voted to establish an ad hoc Senate Committee that is to review the Code and make recommendations to the Senate.

The composition of the Committee is:

Seven members:

2 members of faculty
1 Senator from an affiliated college
2 undergraduate students
1 graduate student
1 other Senator

8. Announcements

Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry

A.D. Bocking, Chair, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, October 1, 2000 - June 30, 2005

A. Gelb, Acting Chair, Dept. of Anaesthesia, October 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000

D.J. Hollomby, Acting Chair, Dept. of Medicine, September 1, 2000 - August 31, 2001

Faculty of Science

D. Hunter, Associate Dean (Research), July 1, 2000 - December 31, 2003


APPENDIX VIII, Annex 1

The UNIVERSITY of WESTERN ONTARIO

POLICIES and PROCEDURES

Policy

STANDARDIZED TRAINING IN ANIMAL CARE AND USE

Number

7.10

Page

1

By Authority of the President & Vice-Chancellor

Secretary, The Board of Governors

Classification

Research

Effective Date

01JAN01

Supersedes

(New)

POLICY

1.00 Graduate students, post-doctoral students, visiting fellows, residents, tutorial assistants, research technicians, and animal care technicians (hereinafter referred to as "Animal Users") who use animals in academic endeavours, or through their employment at UWO or its affiliated institutions, are required to attend the Animal Care and Use Course (½ day seminar) and appropriate 'hands-on' workshops. Evidence that an equivalent course or experience has been obtained elsewhere will exempt Animal User from this requirement.

2.00 Ideally, attendance at the Animal Care and Use Course should occur prior to using animals, however, it is recognized that this could delay important research, so the next available session must be attended. As well, to facilitate their comfort and experience, trainees are encouraged to take as many of the 'hands-on' workshops as they wish.

2.01 Animal Users training at UWO when this policy initially comes into effect (January 2001) will be required to take the course if they have not already done so.

3.00 The Animal Use Subcommittee (AUS) may require further individual training where problems of animal use and care occur.

PROCEDURE

4.00 Animal Care and Use courses are offered at least two times per year in May and September. Workshops associated with the Animal Care and Use course are offered at least two times per year following each of the May and September lectures if numbers dictate the need. Special workshops may be provided based on need and resources.

5.00 The Animal Use Subcommittee Administrator in the Office of Research Services, will maintain a database of those who have taken the classes or otherwise qualified.

6.00 The Chair of the Animal Use Subcommittee and the Director of Animal Care and Veterinary Services will evaluate whether the Animal User may be exempted from the requirement to take the course.

7.00 If Animal Users have begun using animals and the course has not been waived for them, they must take the course within the next two times that is it offered or their privileges for using animals will be discontinued.