Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

Austin Peay State University adheres to the requirements of the Federal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) and its amendments, the PHS Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and other Federal statutes and regulations relating to animals. Please visit the IACUC policy link for further information.

IACUC Members

Please contact one of the following people if you have questions or concerns regarding the care and use of animals at APSU.

Stefan Woltmann, Biology (IACUC Chair)

Chad Brooks, Research and Sponsored Programs (Ex officio)

Laura Colman, DA CACCP, (Community Representative)

Christina Webb, Assoc. Prof. of Agriculture (Veterinarian)

Brenna Morse, Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management (Ex officio, or designee)

TBD, Student Representative

Brian Hock, Psychology

Patrick Vincent, Art + Design (Non-scientist)

Isaac Sitienei, Agriculture

Jane Semler, Allied Health Sciences

Gilbert Pitts, Biology

Animal Concerns and Complaints

Please contact Dr. Stefan Woltmann, the Chair of the IACUC, or one of the other committee members if you have questions or concerns regarding the care and use of animals at APSU.

APSU IACUC's Complaint Procedure

Anyone may submit a complaint regarding the use and treatment of animals at APSU. These may include mistreatment of animals, procedures not included/allowed in an existing animal protocol, or if it is thought that a protocol is detrimental to the animals. Complaints may be submitted to any member of the IACUC. However, all complaints must be forwarded to the Chair of the IACUC. If the complaint involves animals under the care of the IACUC Chair, it must be forwarded to the Director of Research and Sponsored Programs.

AWAR (9 CFR § 2.32 ( c ) (4) states that no facility employee, Committee member or laboratory personnel shall be discriminated against or be subject to any reprisal for reporting violations of regulations or standards under the act. Consequently, the IACUC is required to protect the rights of any employee who has made allegations of impropriety.

The IACUC Chair will evaluate the complaint. If the Chair suspects that the complaint is substantiated and shows a threat to animal health and safety, or is a violation of policy, the Chair will begin a review process by calling a meeting of the IACUC within 24 hours. The investigation may include interviews, site visits and collection of other information pertinent to the complaint. The IACUC will vote upon the
course of action in response to the complaint. A written report of the conclusions, and a minority report (if needed) will be submitted to the Institutional Official (IO). These reports will be kept on file for a minimum of 3 years. The person that filed the complaint will also be informed of the findings.

The IACUC may, but is not limited to, these actions:

Determine that there was no violation.
Require immediate corrective action to address the complaint.
Suspend the protocol until corrections are made: Suspensions are reported to the IO within 24 hours.
Permanently suspend the protocol: Suspensions are reported to the IO within 24 hours.
Suspend the animal users from the use of animals in all protocols.