St. Cloud State University is committed to the welfare and respectful treatment of animal subjects in research. Establishing responsibilities, authority, regulations, and processes are measures to help protect the interests of the University and those involved in research associated with the University.

Research with animal subjects at St. Cloud State University is governed by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The committee assures research, teaching and testing activities involving vertebrate animals are in compliance with applicable federal, state and local regulations as well as university policies and assurances. The committee is responsible for the oversight and evaluation of all laboratory-based and selected field-based animal use activities occurring on campus and/or utilizing university facilities or equipment. St. Cloud State University requires that all research involving the use of animal subjects, whether conducted by a student, faculty, employee, or other party associated with the university, must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before initiation (see Supporting URLs).

The St. Cloud State University president shall appoint an Institutional Official (IO) for research involving animal subjects.

The IO has the following authority and responsibilities:

• The IO is responsible for assuring that the St. Cloud State University IACUC complies with applicable federal, state and local regulations as well as university policies and assurances.
• The IO assures that the IACUC functions independently and free from coercion and undue influence.
• The IO is kept informed of the activities of the IACUC through consultation with the IACUC Chair(s) and committee, and staff from the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) who attend IACUC meetings.
• When necessary and appropriate, the IO communicates pertinent information about IACUC activities to other St. Cloud State University officials and to federal regulatory agencies.
• The IO keeps up to date on federal, state and University requirements for the protection of vertebrate animals used in research and teaching, through consultation with university legal counsel, staff from the RSP, and the IACUC Chair(s). When needed, the IO acts as arbiter and spokesperson for vertebrate animal issues in service to the St. Cloud State University research community.
• The IO has the authority to suspend an investigator’s privileges to conduct research involving animal subjects in cases of noncompliance.
• The IO reports IACUC of noncompliance, unanticipated problems and suspensions and termination of research to federal authorities.