Policy on Animal Facility Tours at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee


Under Wisconsin law, a publicly owned facility is not automatically accessible to any member of the public on demand. Wisconsin Law s.UWS18.06(6) provides:

Limited Entrance. The chief aministrative officer may by posting the appropriate signs, limit or prohibit entrance to university lands, or portions thereof, in order to maintain or preserve an instructional or research area.

In order to protect the health and well-being of all animals housed in UWM animal facilities and the ongoing research activities the UW-Milwaukee Animal Resource Center Policy Committee has recommended the following policy on public access to the animal facilities:

  1. All requests must be made to a Department Chair, Center Director, etc. The Department Chair, Center Director, will notify the veterinarian, the facility manager and all principal investigators using the facility. The granting of public acess requires the approval of all of the above parties. The request will be answered within a 2 week period.
  2. The Principal Investigator(s) will have the option to prohibit the public access for legitimate scientific reasons related to impact on ongoing research, well being of the animals, or other approriate reasons. The Principal Investigator(s) will also have the option to be present during public access period.
  3. The facility manager and Principal Investigator(s) must approve of the time of the public access.
  4. All public access will be guided by an appropriate university representative, determined by the ACUC and the PI.
  5. The request must state the reason for the public access. Public access will only be granted for informational purposes.
  6. Electronic devices will not be allowed if they interfere with the welfare of the animals or the ongoing research project.
  7. Children under the age of 16 will not be permitted public access without adequate adult supervision.
  8. The number of persons allowed public access at one time will be restricted based on the size of the facility and the nature of the visit.

NOTE: See also "Policy on Authorized User Bringing Guests into Animal Facilities" (Addendum to "Public Access to Animal Facilities" Policy)

Updated June 14, 2007 by SAK