Animal Welfare Orientation Process

All Faculty, students and research or technical staff who will be directly involved in research with the use of vertebrate animals at NYU, Washington Square Campus, must satisfactorily complete the Animal Welfare Orientation process and have their role identified on a University Animal Welfare Committee (UAWC) approved protocol. Except for the final step of the process, the orientation process is designed to be completed on-line which facilitates timely completion by Scientists who have not yet arrived at NYU. As required by the UAWC, the orientation process must be completed PRIOR to participating in any animal-related activities and PRIOR to obtaining access to the research facility. No exceptions will be made and until orientation is attained, work with animals is prohibited.

The purpose of the animal welfare orientation process is three-fold:

1. First to insure that all people working with animals in research understand their individual responsibility for the welfare of their animals. This responsibility includes familiarity with the laws, regulations and policies as set forth in the USDA Animal Welfare Act, the Public Health Service Policy, the New York State Department of Health and New York University UAWC, which together, embody 3 decades of comprehensive and detailed standards of care for all vertebrate species involved in research.
2. Second, to describe and explain the requirements and procedures of the Animal Care Facility (ACF)
3. Third, to determine the need for further training for investigators, fellows, residents, and technicians.

The process involves 4 steps:

1. Complete the on line animal welfare tutorial and read the excerpt from the Guide to the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals . The applicant should be prepared to answer questions about the following informaton during step 3:
• Principles of humane care of animals in research
• Functions of the University Animal Welfare Committee including the protocol review process
• Functions of the Office of Veterinary Resources
• Facilty operating rules including animal ordering, animal care and technical services
2. Take the Animal Subjects Certification Exam
3. Complete and email the "New Scientist" questionnaire to the University Animal Welfare Committee (UAWC) at uawc.info@nyu.edu. If you you are unable to email the completed form then it should be printed and faxed to 212-995-4104.
4. Upon receipt of the completed "New Scientist" questionnaire, the applicant will receive confirmation to complete the final phase of the orientation. The final phase consists of a meeting with the Director of the Office of Veterinary Resources. Contact uawc.info@nyu.edu to sign up.

When the applicant completes the orientation process, their personnel information is presented to the UAWC at the next scheduled monthly meeting. Following UAWC review and approval, facility access will be granted to the applicant and a letter of confirmation will be sent to the applicant's faculty sponsor.