AAALAC International 2013 Strategic Plan

2. AAALAC International 2013 Strategic Plan

3. Timeline September 2012 – Board approval to proceed with a Strategic Plan (SP) January 28, 2013 – Executive Committee (EC) selected Tecker International to facilitate the SP process and identified Committee members February 26, 2013 – Solicit Questions from EC for a Board SP Environmental Survey March 27, 2013 – Pre-Session SP Environmental Survey sent to the Board April 10 – 11, 2013 - Strategic Planning meeting held in Annapolis, Maryland April 25, 2013 – SP Committee Post-Session Survey submitted to Committee members May 11, 2013 – Tecker International, LLC submitted a revised SP to Executive Office May 19, 2013 – EC subcommittee to assess the revised SP with the 1996 SP recommending a blended plan EC completes plan through teleconferences: June 20, July 25, August 21, August 29, September 5, September 12 and September 19, 2013

4. Core Purpose To promote the welfare and responsible care and use of research animals* worldwide The use of the term “research animal” in this Strategic Plan includes any vertebrate animal as well as invertebrate species deemed sufficiently sentient by citation in international regulations and guidelines or by the independent judgment of AAALAC International based upon the scientific literature that are used or intended for use in basic and applied scientific investigation, testing, the production of biological materials, and educational activities.

5. Mission The Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC International) is a voluntary accrediting organization that enhances the quality of research, testing and education by promoting humane responsible animal care and use through provision of advice and independent assessments to participating institutions; and accreditation of those who meet or exceed applicable standards.

6. EnvisionedFuture AAALAC International’s accreditation program will capture the interest and widespread enrollment of additional organizations with diverse interests in research, testing and education on a worldwide basis. Reaching beyond accreditation, AAALAC International will be recognized by the scientific community and competent authorities worldwide as the premiere organization leading the convergence of the welfare and responsible care and use of research animals. 

7. Goals Goal 1:Promote the highest standard of animal care and use. Goal 2:Ensure the operation and management of the accreditation program evolve in a timely and appropriate manner with the changing environment and increased demand using globally harmonized standards. Goal 3:Ensure that reviews and on-site judgments be accurate, well-informed, consistent and balanced appropriately to the type of institution and its cultural and scientific context. Goal 4: Increase the awareness, recognition and credibility of and encourage participation in AAALAC International’s accreditation program globally. Goal 5:Improve and expand perception of AAALAC International by governments, policy makers and opinion shapers around the world as a valued independent partner in promoting the welfare and responsible care and use of research animals.

8. Goal 1:Promote the highest standard of animal care and use. Objectives: Increase the awareness in the animal care and use communities regarding AAALAC International expectations for accreditation. Ensure that Council Members, Council Emeriti, and Ad Hoc site visitors are knowledgeable in the science of animal welfare based on performance-based best practices. Use current scientific knowledge or regulations to determine species covered in the accreditation process.

9. Goal 1:Promote the highest standard of animal care and use. Strategies: • Expand educational efforts at institutions, conferences, and publications on the expectations and benefits of AAALAC accreditation. • Actively keep the AAALAC community aware of key developments and information available in peer-reviewed animal welfare scientific literature. • Identify and foster partnerships to support AAALAC International’s educational objectives. • Identify training gaps in Council Members, Council Emeriti and Ad Hoc site visitors and provide educational content to address those gaps. • Revisit AAALAC International’s Position Statement on the definition of “animal” periodically.

10. Goal 2: Ensure the operation and management of the accreditation program evolve in a timely and appropriate manner with the changing environment and increased demand using globally harmonized standards. Objectives: • Tailor the training and continuing education of the Council Members, Council Emeriti, and Ad Hoc site visitors to address the evolving landscape of the care and use of research animals. • Increase regional representation of AAALAC International’s global services. • Identify and apply ways to enhance the methods and support processes of the assessment and accreditation programs. • Adopt accreditation standards in a timely manner as knowledge and understanding enhance animal care and use practices and procedures.

11. Goal 2:Ensure the operation and management of the accreditation program evolve in a timely and appropriate manner with the changing environment and increased demand using globally harmonized standards. Strategies: • Provide resources necessary to the accreditation program to maintain excellence in AAALAC’s core purpose, to further growth, and to anticipate evolving needs. • Expand the use of technology, as well as other innovative tools and approaches to support the accreditation program. • Increase global distribution of human resources, commensurate with need, to include additional regional directors and satellite offices. • Provide AAALAC materials in multiple languages. • Identify barriers to accreditation. • Periodically query those participating in the accreditation program to obtain feedback on how the accreditation program can be refined. • Work with other organizations to identify globally harmonized standards.

12. Goal 3:Ensure that reviews and on-site judgments be accurate, well-informed, consistent and balanced appropriately to the type of institution and its cultural and scientific context. Objectives: • Assess the effectiveness and accuracy of the site visit team. • Increase consistency of the assessment/accreditation process in institutions of similar type. • Harmonize the consistency of the judgments of the site visit teams between institutions and in accordance with AAALAC International standards.

13. Goal 3:Ensure that reviews and on-site judgments be accurate, well-informed, consistent and balanced appropriately to the type of institution and its cultural and scientific context. Strategies: • Develop methodologies to assess the effectiveness, accuracy and professional conduct of site visitors from the institutional perspective. • Ensure effective mentoring and training of the Council Members, Council Emeriti, and Ad Hoc site visitors and a have a well-defined process for addressing suboptimal performance. • Communicate AAALAC International quality assessment/control outcomes to the BOT and accredited institutions.

14. Goal 4: Increase the awareness, recognition and credibility of and encourage participation in AAALAC International’s accreditation program globally. Objectives: • Increase awareness that AAALAC International accreditation signifies better animal welfare and science. • Increase AAALAC International’s collaboration with other organizations that support the use of research animals. • Increase the recognition, credibility and value with which AAALAC International accreditation is held by: • Research and teaching institutions (accredited, non-accredited, academia, industry, hospital and non-profits) • Government organizations • Scientific leadership (professional research societies, etc.) • Member Organizations • Animal Welfare Organizations and other associations that support the ethical use of research animals • Expand the Program Status Evaluation service to increase participation and awareness of AAALAC International.

15. Goal 4: Increase the awareness, recognition and credibility of and encourage participation in AAALAC International’s accreditation program globally. Strategies: • Promote AAALAC International’s brand and its services internationally. • Analyze and illustrate how AAALAC International accreditation equals better animal care. • Strengthen liaisons with other relevant organizations and groups. • Develop and utilize educational tools to express AAALAC International’s broad and specific support for improved research, testing and teaching through high quality animal welfare. • Promote, sponsor and participate in educational endeavors. • Enhance prepared material and support offered to AAALAC International accredited institutions. • Correct misconceptions about the standards and value of accreditation. • Minimize costs to institutions and explore novel ways to provide on-site advice for non-accredited institutions to promote accreditation. • Identify and promote accreditation from diverse institutions (e.g., universities, colleges, agricultural, wildlife, etc.) through targeted messaging.

16. Goal 5:Improve and expand perception of AAALAC International by governments, policy makers and opinion shapers around the world as a valued independent partner in promoting the welfare and responsible care and use of research animals. Objectives: • Increase knowledge and understanding about AAALAC International by government regulatory authorities and non-government organizations that set animal care and use standards around the world. • Increase dialogue with government oversight and funding agencies to increase awareness of the value and enhance the perception of AAALAC International accreditation and the accreditation process. • Gain recognition as a valuable resource (i.e., Observer Status) by policy makers when discussing/revising research animal related legislation, and by institutions confronted with the interpretation of new regulatory developments.

17. Goal 5:Improve and expand perception of AAALAC International by governments, policy makers and opinion shapers around the world as a valued independent partner in promoting the welfare and responsible care and use of research animals. Strategies: • Identify countries and engage government authorities and non-government organizations. • Develop a customized message to inform the government authorities and non-government organizations about AAALAC International, our mutual goals and how AAALAC International can help achieve these goals. • Invite international organizations to provide input into AAALAC International policy development. • Identify or develop an advisory body of policy makers and key opinion leaders from different countries to assist AAALAC International with its mission in those countries (high level arm of the BOT) e.g., Chinese advisory group, Indian advisory group.

18. Monitoring the Implementation of the Plan The principal responsibility for monitoring the implementation of the strategic plan will be shared by the Executive Committee and the Executive Director. At least once a year, the Executive Director should report in writing on progress towards implementation to the Executive Committee The progress report should cover each objective and strategy and should include areas where problems have been encountered in implementing strategies. Annually, the Chair of the Executive Committee should report progress to the BOT.

19. Replanning In order to ensure that the Strategic Plan remains vibrant and relevant to the issues that face AAALAC International, the Executive Committee will revisit the Strategic Plan at least annually to assess progress made, revisit priorities and identify challenges in accomplishing the objectives and strategies.  The analysis will take into account the experience gained in implementing the plan to that point.  The analysis will also take into account new factors developing in AAALAC International’s operating environment that may positively or negatively impact AAALAC International’s mission and impede the implementation of the above goals. Potential factors of interest include demographic changes in the care and use of research animals, the international economic and business climate, legislative/regulatory developments, technological advances and utilization and political and social perspectives on research animal use. The Executive Committee will then make recommendations to the BOT regarding the need for modifications.