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Policy Directory Ref. No.
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T2.4.7
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Approved By:
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Academic Senate (Resolution 05/03)
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Date Approved:
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12 March 2003 (to take effect from Spring Session
2003)
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Date last Amended:
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Date of Next Review:
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On or before 12 March 2006
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Related Policies:
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Animal
Research Guidelines
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Contact Officer:
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Ethics Officer - Research Office |
Contents
1. Preamble
2. Responsibilities of Academic
Units
3. Responsibilities of Students
1. Preamble
1.1 The University of Wollongong is committed to recognition
of the diversity of values held by students at the University
and seeks to provide avenues for students to complete
their chosen field of study without compromising their
ethical commitments. The University, through its Animal
Ethics Committee has a responsibility to review any
proposed research and teaching involving living animals
in accordance with the NHMRC Australian Code of Practice
for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes
(1997) and the Animal Research Act (1985) (NSW).
1.2 This policy provides a framework for recognition
of and responses to students' ethical or religious objection
to animal use in coursework subjects at the University
of Wollongong. For the purpose of this policy, animal
use includes killing of animals in experimental work,
dissection of animals that are already dead, use of
animal tissues, use of animal-derived products (such
as sera). These uses are relevant to teaching and assessment.
1.3 This policy does not cover research-only activity.
1.4 The University of Wollongong recognises that some
students have conscientiously held ethical, religious
or cultural values that entail avoidance of teaching
or assessment activities involving animals, animal tissues
or animal products.
1.5 The University will make reasonable efforts to
accommodate those students referred to in 1.4.
1.6 There are subjects and courses in which the use
of animals, animal tissues or animal-derived products
(such as sera) is inherent and unavoidable, in order
to achieve specific learning objectives. These subjects
and courses will be identified in the University's Undergraduate
Handbook and in Attachment
A. The listing of subjects and courses included
in the attachment will be reviewed periodically by the
University Animal Ethics Committee. Students with conscientious
objections to that use should not enrol in these subjects
and courses.
2. Responsibilities
of Academic Units
2.1 Academic Units in which teaching involving animals,
animal tissues or animal products occurs will advise
students in writing in the Subject Outline (and in any
information provided electronically) of animal usage
and the source of animals, animal tissue or animal products
in relevant student information and course and subject
materials. This information will be made available to
students by the end of the first week of formal contact
for each subject.
2.2 Academic units will advise students in writing
in the Subject Outline (and in any information provided
electronically) of their rights to conscientiously object
to teaching and assessment activities involving the
use of animals, animal tissues or animal products, and
the availability of alternatives, where appropriate.
This advice will be included in student information
and subject materials for all such subjects by the end
of the first week of formal contact for each subject.
2.3 Academic staff involved in teaching of students
in relevant academic units may inquire into the basis
for a student's objection and its scope, but should
not interrogate the student in a manner that is disrespectful
of the student's commitments.
2.4 Where alternatives to teaching or assessment activity
are provided by an academic unit, they should have similar
pedagogic goals, be of comparable difficulty, and should
require similar amount of time and effort, and be assessed
as rigorously as the activity which they replace.
3. Responsibilities of
Students
3.1 Students who intend to avoid a particular learning
activity on the basis of conscientious objection should
notify the subject coordinator in writing as early as
possible, not later than the end of Week 2 of the session.
3.2 Students who have notified the subject coordinator
of their conscientious objection to animal use in a
given teaching or assessment activity may request separate
evaluation of their learning experiences in practical
components or exams, where appropriate (refer to 1.6).
These separate evaluations will be of equal weight to
the conventional assessment questions for the equivalent
material.
3.3 Students who request an alternative to a given
teaching or assessment activity, have an obligation
to use the alternatives provided, or risk losing marks
in any assessment of material from those practical components
in theory or practical exams.
3.4 Students who are dissatisfied with the alternatives
provided for teaching or assessment activities or any
perceived unequal treatment by teaching staff may appeal
through the Head of Unit, or, if the Head of Unit is
involved in the teaching of the relevant subject, the
Sub Dean of the relevant Faculty. Students may elect
to have another person in attendance at any meetings
relating to the resolution of such an appeal.
3.5 Students who have notified their subject coordinator
of their conscientious objection and who have been assessed
through an alternative assessment activity retain their
other entitlements and responsibilities as students
of the University including those articulated elsewhere
in this Code of Practice.
ATTACHMENT A
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Subjects
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Courses
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BIOL321: Cellular and Molecular Immunology
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Bachelor of Biotechnology
Bachelor of Biotechnology - Advanced
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MARE300: Fisheries and Aquaculture
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Bachelor of Marine Science - Advanced
Bachelor of Marine Science
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