The vivarium (ARW), provides housing, care, and support for research animals, as well as surgical and necropsy facilities. This unit also offers graduate and undergraduate student training opportunities in these areas.
Facility Access
Facility access is limited to the hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. although specific exceptions may be granted when required by the animal protocol. Standard light cycles for animal rooms are set at 6 a.m. for lights on and 6 p.m. for lights off in order to allow research animals to maintain regular circadian rhythm. Entrance to animal rooms after 6 p.m. is discouraged as it may have a detrimental effect on animal welfare, specifically influencing reproductive success and the stress response.
Everyone accessing the facility must wear close toed shoes and long pants. No cameras or video recording are allowed within the facility. Backpacks, briefcases and jackets must be stored in the coat closet and not taken into animal areas. No food or drink are allowed in the lab or animal areas. There is a fridge in the breakroom to store your items. Please be sure that they are labeled appropriately.
For animal health, research integrity and safety, access to animal facilities is restricted. Access privileges vary depending upon the purpose, whether on-going or ad hoc.
Research personnel/investigators
- Must complete online CITI Training and safety video/quiz.
- Must be on an IACUC-approved protocol.
- Must complete Facility Walk through and Facility Orientation.
Service/maintenance personnel, vendors, contractors
- Maintenance and repair can disturb animals. Work must be coordinated with facility manager to ensure minimal risk to research and personnel.
- Visitor scan badges can be signed out during normal business hours through facility manager.
Visitors and Tours
- ARW must approve all visitors including but not limited to visiting professors, undergraduate / graduate observers, interview candidates and tours.
- Researchers can bring in observers into their labs with 24 hour prior approval.
- Tours must be coordinated at least 24 hours in advance with the Facility Manager and must be escorted by Vivarium personnel at all times.
- Visiting hours are between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding any holidays.
- Visitors are not allowed to touch or handle any animals.
- No cameras or video recording allowed without prior approval.
- Visitors must read the informed consent form and sign the visitor log at the West entrance to ARW.
Badge Access
Badge access will be granted to individuals. Contact the vivarium for details.