Conducting an IACUC Meeting

The Chair will call the meeting to order and note if a quorum of the membership is present. If a quorum is not present, the meeting will be rescheduled.

The Chair will follow an agenda and announce each item of business in order. The Chair will refer to each item of business and ask if any members need to recuse themselves before deliberation begins.  The Chair will count the non-recused voting members to make certain that a quorum is still present.  If a quorum is not present, business on that item cannot be conducted, and the Chair will notify the committee that the item has been tabled until the next meeting, and the Chair will introduce the next item of business. Otherwise, consideration of the item may continue.

The Chair shall ask for a review and summary of the item from the member most familiar with the business item.  Following initial review and summary, the Chair will solicit comments about the business item from the entire committee, and will ensure that all opinions are heard as part of the deliberation. Once a consensus is apparent or a clear division in opinions is present, the Chair will ask for a motion.

Acceptable motions for business items such as IACUC minutes are: approve, approve with changes, disapprove, and table. 

Acceptable motions for protocols are: approve, require modification to secure approval, or withhold approval. Motions made on protocols should include the review path that will allow approval. For instance, a valid motion is "I move that this protocol be assigned to the 'require modifications' category, with the IACUC Coordinator empowered to grant approval if a revised protocol is received from the PI that adequately addresses corrections and concerns noted during this meeting."

Once a motion has been made, it must be seconded by another voting member to remain active. If the motion is seconded, then the Chair will ask for further discussion. The member who made the motion may alter the motion if further discussion prompts a change. If the motion is altered, it must receive another second to be valid.

The Chair will then ask for a vote on the motion as indicated by a show of hands or by asking for "aye" or "nay" verbal votes.  For the motion to pass, a majority of the quorum present must vote to approve. If the motion does not pass, the Chair will declare the motion dead or in some circumstances recommend further information be gathered and circulated to the IACUC for future consideration of the motion.  If the motion passes, the Chair will ask the IACUC Coordinator to record the number of "approve", "disapprove" and "abstain" votes, and note that a quorum was present for that item of business, as well as any members who recused themselves due to conflict of interest.  The Chair will then ask if any member wishes to submit a minority opinion for inclusion in the minutes. If no requests are made, the Chair will introduce the next item of business.

When all business has been completed, the Chair will adjourn the meeting.