Academic Affairs & Research Shared Governance

Access to all shared governance committee pages with a breakdown of Committees under the Office of Academic Affairs and Research.

General Shared Governance Committees

Shared Governance Shelf

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Oversight on ethical usage, protocol review, and federal compliance for animal research.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Overview

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is responsible for the oversight of all non-agricultural animals used in research and teaching; ensures compliance with the rules of appropriate regulatory agencies on the care and use of laboratory animals; reviews animal care portions of projects to determine if the appropriate animal model and number of animals have been chosen, and if personnel are properly trained and knowledgeable in the proper use of anesthesia, analgesia, and euthanasia; conducts semi-annual inspections of the animal housing facilities/laboratories and reviews animal care and use to ensure humane care, use, and treatment of animals; prepares reports noting all deficiencies found during inspections and submits reports to the Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies, and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare; and reviews and investigates complaints involving the use and care of animals.

Membership consists of at least five faculty members appointed for staggered three-year terms, at least four of whom are familiar with laboratory animal research; at least one faculty member from outside the sciences; a veterinarian (practicing professional), and at least one community representative who is not affiliated with Arkansas State University. Appointments are made by the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research.  The committee elects a chair at the beginning of each year.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Roster List for the Committee Members

Institutional Biosafety Committee

Procedures governing biological agent use, recombinant DNA, and biosafety compliance in research.

Institutional Biosafety Committee

Overview

The purpose of the IBC is to ensure adequate containment of potentially hazardous biological agents, to review and monitor potentially hazardous experiments, to inform the public about experimental plans that have a potential to be hazardous and to provide a means of communication among researchers and healthcare providers about potentially protocols.

Membership consists of no fewer than five faculty members who have experience and expertise in recombinant DNA technology, the capability to assess the safety of recombinant DNA research, and to identify any potential risk to public health or the environment.  At least two members who represent the interest of the surrounding community with respect to health and protection of the environment that are not affiliated with the institution will be on the committee. The IBC shall include at least one individual with expertise in plant, plant pathogen, or plant pest containment principles and one scientist with expertise in animal containment principles and one member of the university technical staff familiar with potentially hazardous biological agents.  The Director of Environmental Health shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member of the committee. Members are appointed to staggered three-year terms by the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research. The committee elects a chair at the beginning of each year. The IBC reports to the Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies.

Institutional Biosafety Committee

Roster List of Committee Members

Agricultural Animal Care and Use Committee

Standards and review procedures specific to animal research conducted in agricultural settings.

Agricultural Animal Care and Use Committee

Overview

The Agricultural Animal Care and Use Committee (AACUC) is responsible for maintaining  oversight of  the humane care and treatment of agricultural animals used in research and teaching; ensuring the University’s compliance with any public health service policy on humane care and use of agricultural animals, and following guidelines laid out in A Guide for Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Training and  reviews animal care portions of projects to determine if the appropriate animal model and number of animals have been chosen, and if personnel are properly trained and knowledgeable in the proper use of anesthesia, analgesia, and euthanasia; conducts semi-annual inspections of the animal housing facilities/laboratories and reviews animal care and use to ensure humane care, use, and treatment of animals; prepares reports noting all deficiencies found during inspections and submits reports to the Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies, and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare; and reviews and investigates complaints involving the use and care of animals.

Membership consists of at least three faculty members appointed for staggered three-year terms, at least two of whom should have animal science experience in research; at least one faculty member from outside the College of Agriculture; one livestock producer (not employed by the University); and a veterinarian (practicing professional), and at least one community representative who is not affiliated with Arkansas State University. Appointments are made by the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research.  The committee elects a chair at the beginning of each year.

Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research

The IRB reviews and approves human-subjects research to ensure compliance with federal guidelines.

Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research

Overview

The Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research (IRB) is responsible for reviewing research projects involving human subjects for compliance with federal guidelines, reviewing and approving grant proposals involving human subjects, and providing faculty information on human research policies and guidelines. The IRB is delegated final authority regarding what research is subject to review and whether that research is in compliance with federal guidelines. Policy decisions are forwarded to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Transfer. Membership consists of one community representative, a representative from the Office of Research and Technology Transfer, and nine faculty representatives appointed to staggered three-year terms by the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research.

Note: Guidelines require some faculty familiar with human subject research, some faculty members familiar with the social/psychological dimensions of 25 research, and at least one faculty member from a non-scientific area. The Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research must make appointments consistent with guidelines. The committee elects a chair at
the beginning of each year.