In February 2013, UT Arlington was awarded full accreditation by AAALAC International, the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International.  AAALAC accreditation is a voluntary process that demonstrates high standards and a commitment to animal welfare and the humane treatment of animals in science.  To achieve accreditation, the University participated in an independent, expert assessment of its programs, procedures, facilities, and research.

AAALAC accreditation offers several benefits to UT Arlington, including:

• Signals a quality program: Accreditation demonstrates UT Arlington’s commitment to setting, achieving, and maintaining a high standard for animal care and use.
• Enhances scientific validity: Reliable results in scientific research involving animals depend on consistent standards and  superior animal care. Accreditation engages scientists, managers, and administrators in a rigorous assessment of the animal program, ultimately resulting in better research practices and outcomes.
• Demonstrates accountability: Accreditation demonstrates a willingness to go above and beyond what is required by law to conduct animal research in a humane manner. It states to the university research community that we are committed to responsible animal research.
• Provides assurances to funding sources: Many funding sources view AAALAC accreditation as a commitment to program excellence, and as an assurance that animal use will be justified and humane and regulations will be followed.

More than 890 companies, universities, hospitals, government agencies and other research institutions in 37 countries have earned AAALAC accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to responsible animal care and use.

To view more information about AAALAC, the accreditation process, and the accreditation standards, visit www.aaalac.org.