Oversight Committees

Federal laws governing the regulation of research require that institutions of higher education appoint a high-ranking official, such as a CEO, COO, director of research, or dean as the Institutional Official (IO).

The Institutional Official at Bowdoin College is the Associate Dean for Academic Administration.

By federal law, the IO bears ultimate responsibility for Bowdoin research programs and their regulatory boards, including:

• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for animal research (vertebrates and cephalopods)
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) for human subjects research
• Institutional Biohazard Committee (IBC) for recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid research and management of select agents

The IO, in collaboration with the Committee on Faculty Governance and Affairs (GFA), selects members of research oversight committees. The committees report directly to the IO. The committees have direct responsibility for decision-making and policy approval for research activities under their authority.

Federal Regulatory Resources

• Office for Human Research Protections
• Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
• National Institutes of Health Office of Science Policy 

Related Policies

• Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research
• Conflict of Interest