There had been rumors for some time that the Board of Trustees was about to replace Edna Gordon as president of Great Eastern University. It wasn't that Gordon did anything wrong; it was more that she didn't do much of anything at all. The university had languished under her presidency and some board members had been hinting that new blood was needed. Then, unexpectedly, Gordon announced her resignation, saying that she would be leaving in six months to become the president of another academic institution.

None of this raised any eyebrows on Great Eastern's IACUC; the Committee members had seen presidents come and go over the years. For the IACUC, it seemed like business as usual, until one of the newer members raised an unusual issue. Doug Daniels, who considered himself well-versed in the federal regulations governing IACUCs, asked if there would be any change to the Committee's membership.

“No, I haven't heard anything—but why are you asking?” said Dave Hammill, the IACUC Chairman.

“Well,” said Daniels, “the Animal Welfare Act Regulations (AWRs) say that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) appoints the IACUC, and since the new president will also be our CEO, doesn't the new president have to reappoint the IACUC?”

“I've never heard of anything like that,” said Hammill. “In any case, President Gordon appointed Vice-President for Research John O'Connor as the Institutional Official (IO) and you may recall that under the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy) O'Connor can appoint the IACUC as long as his delegation to do so is specific and in writing.”

“Well,” said Daniels once again, “that's only under the PHS Policy, not under the AWRs. But even under the PHS Policy, if the new CEO can delegate the authority to appoint the IACUC to the IO, I'd still like to know if O'Connor will have to be reappointed by the new president when he or she comes on board, and if O'Connor will in turn have to reappoint the IACUC.”

What is your opinion on this matter? Will the new CEO (the new president) have to reappoint the IO or the IACUC? Under the AWRs, can the CEO delegate to the IO or someone else the authority to appoint the IACUC?

Response to Protocol Review Scenario: New IACUC not needed

Response to Protocol Review Scenario: New policy may be in order

Response to Protocol Review Scenario: No change in order

Response to Protocol Review Scenario: A word from OLAW and USDA