AAALAC Site Visit Begins Tuesday, August 25

Beginning this Tuesday, August 25, and running through Friday, August 28, U-M will be hosting site visitors from AAALAC International (AAALAC) for the University’s re-accreditation visit. During this time, you should anticipate a visit to all animal housing locations and many laboratories across campus.

Please review the complete Site Visit Schedule  (or paste animalcare.umich.edu/aaalac-schedule into your web browser) for more information on the specific days/times that individual buildings/floors will be visited. Should there be any last-minute changes to the schedule during the week of the visit, the Animal Care & Use Office will attempt to contact your designated laboratory spokesperson(s).

To serve as good hosts and stewards of our institution, we ask that you remember to:

• Display your U-M ID badge at all times.
• Wear proper personal attire, which includes:
  • Shirts or tops that completely cover the upper torso,
  • Long pants that completely cover the legs, and
  • Closed-toe shoes.
• It’s OK to say “I don’t know” if that is genuinely the case. Then, offer to contact the appropriate party (often ULAM or the ACUO) to get the correct answer.
• Be passionate about your research and your care and use of animals. Site visitors are often interested in hearing about your laboratory’s research.
• Review the AAALAC Digital Preparation Toolkit  with any individual(s) who will be working in your laboratory throughout the Site Visit.

Special Safety Precautions

We understand that there may be concerns for the continued health of our research teams; we are confident we can conduct these visits safely. To ensure the safety of our entire community, including our visiting AAALAC colleagues, please review the following important reminders with your staff:

• Our team has established that only one Site Visitor will enter laboratory spaces to interact with research spokesperson(s).
• Follow the U-M Face Covering Policy for COVID-19.
• Adhere to occupancy requirements and practice appropriate social distancing.
  • If you are working in a space that the Site Visit Team has entered, they may don face shields and announce themselves before they enter.
  • Maintain 6-ft distance or offer to step out so they can step in.
  • If you are moving around the facility and come across the Site Visit Team, do not further crowd an area such as a hallway or room. Instead, ask when you can come back or pass through so that you are not creating an overcrowded space.
• Continue requisite disinfection practices and maintenance of Cleaning Logs.
• Remain vigilant and considerate of others.

Exit Briefing

Finally, we encourage you to show your support for our Program and our University by joining us at the AAALAC Exit Briefing on the afternoon of Friday, August 28. During the Exit Briefing, the Site Visit Team will summarize their key findings for the U-M research community. Although this session does not allow for open discussion, it provides unique insight into our Program’s core strengths and areas for further improvement.

Advance registration via the Zoom webinar platform will be required to attend. Additional information about the timing of the Exit Briefing and how to register will be communicated to the U-M animal care and use community via email.

Questions?

Questions about the AAALAC Site Visit should be directed to the Animal Care & Use Office at acuoffice@umich.edu or (734) 763-8028.

We hope that you will join us in capitalizing on this opportunity to demonstrate to our colleagues and peers that the culture of shared responsibility for excellence in animal care and use, and in research, that we have worked so hard to build here at the University of Michigan has not only been sustained but strengthened, by the challenges we have faced together.

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