Accreditation for Use of Animals in Research & Teaching
Within the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specialized accreditation for animal use and research is sought by such units as the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. The accreditation review of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences is conducted by the AAALAC International.
AAALAC International is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs. AAALAC works with institutions and researchers to serve as a bridge between progress and animal well-being. AAALAC is the ONLY animal care accreditation body that is world-wide.
The accreditation process is a communication-intensive program of evaluation and support, stressing application of performance standards and professional judgment rather than inspection and enforcement of engineering standards. The AAALAC “standard” is based on internationally recognized standards, subject to collective professional judgement of experts, and is applied through in-depth peer review process. There are many benefits to AAALAC accreditation, some of which include:
- harmonization of standards used allows for comparison in efficiency of ethical and animal welfare management,
- incites to adopt high standards and helps to raise the global benchmark for animal well-being in science,
- conveys a high level of professionalism to the scientific community,
- and, AAALAC accreditation is recognized by funding sources and research partners.
AAALAC International is where science and responsible animal care connect.
CALS has full AAALAC accreditation for its animal care program and facilities since February 2007. AAALAC accreditation places CALS among the top tier of agricultural and life science colleges with respect to standards of animal care. This assures continued animal research credibility with funding sources and the general public and is a sign of the high level of competence and performance of the research enterprise.
Current CALS accreditation status: Full Accreditation
Next AALAC Re-accreditation Site Visit for CALS: Fall 2021