From President Tim Sands: Statement on AAALAC accreditation initiative

Dear President’s Council,

AAALAC International is a well-respected organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in life sciences, research, and education through a voluntary accreditation process.  More than 1,000 institutions in 47 countries have earned AAALAC accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to responsible animal care and use.

Interim Provost Clarke and I, like many of our colleagues at peer institutions, believe in the value of AAALAC accreditation and are committed to expanding our current accreditation beyond the College of Veterinary Medicine to include the whole university in order to better position us to attract and retain top-tier faculty and research talent, develop and maintain strong strategic partnerships, and compete more effectively for funding opportunities from public, private, and other sources.

Theresa Mayer, vice president for research and innovation, is leading this important university-wide initiative with collaboration and support from key stakeholders across our research and instructional programs.  The hiring of a new university veterinarian experienced in the AAALAC process will help facilitate moving this important process forward.  The next steps will be to identify all university-based animal use programs, assess the resources necessary to bring each program under the AAALAC umbrella, and develop a prioritized plan and schedule for expanding our current AAALAC accreditation.

If you have any questions regarding Virginia Tech’s process for expanding our AAALAC accreditation, please contact vpresearch@vt.edu.
 
All the best,
Tim