The Non-research Animals on Campus policy is the primary reference for all non-research animal events on campus. This document is intended to serve as a guideline for Miami University departments and registered student organizations (hosting organizations) desiring to request an exception to the above policy to host events involving animals on the Miami University campuses. This information is not intended to provide guidance related to research endeavors involving animals, service animals and/or K9 police dogs.
Events involving animals include petting/therapy events, stress-relief events, live demonstrations, animal related fundraisers, and animal shows. Animal events may present health and safety risks or liability to Miami University, in part due to the unpredictability that is inherent in animals. These guidelines are meant to help University groups consider and minimize the risks associated with animal events.
General Requirements
Hosting Organization must submit a Request for Non-Research Animals on Campus form to Risk Management a minimum of 30 days in advance for all events. Process is detailed below in the Request for Non-Research Animals on Campus standard operating procedure.
The location of the event must be approved by the appropriate University Representative. For events that take place indoors, the appropriate facility coordinator must approve the event and location within the building.
Approval of an animal event is contingent upon a contract between the Vendor and the University. The contract used should be the Annual Performance Agreement signed by the vendor. For contracts with a fee, the contract should be routed through the Workday Contracting business process. For animal contracts where there is no fee involved, the contract should be routed through Workday Strategic Sourcing business process.
The vendor will be required to evidence $1M in general liability and auto liability insurance, naming Miami University as an additional insured. Animal events with exotic animals must provide evidence of exotic animal liability insurance.
The vendor will be required to provide documentation that the animals are in good health and have been vaccinated against diseases.
Animals must always remain in sight of and under control of the vendor. The form of this control may vary depending on the precise circumstances of the event and could include enclosures or leashes.
The animals may not stay on university property overnight.
Clean-up of animal waste must occur immediately and must be disposed of in a safe and sanitary manner. If indoors, the event cannot occur on carpeted space.
The location of the animals must be such that people have a buffer zone to prevent unwanted contact or proximity to the animals. Locations within residence halls must have alternate routes for residents to enter who have allergies related to animals.
For interactive events, where people are permitted to touch the animals, the hosting organization must provide handwashing facilities and signage to encourage the use of the facilities following contact with the animals. Hand sanitizers are not considered sufficient handwashing facilities. Handwashing facilities must include a sink with running water, soap and hand drying equipment.
Miami University reserves the right to control the location of the event, limit the duration of the event, and/or mandate the level of services to be present in the form of security, custodial and other support staff.
Request for Non-research Animals on Campus
Standard Operating Procedure
Please read the Non-Research Animals on Campus policy before requesting any exceptions to the policy.
Submit a Request for Non-Research Animal on Campus form a minimum of 30 days in advance of the event.
Provide the following information
Program contact: the name and email address of the Miami contact for this event.
Date of event
Start and end times of the event
Description of the event: brief description of the event—ex. farm animals petting zoo
Specific location of event on campus
Note: Preferred locations are always on university grounds. Exemptions will not be granted for buildings where food is served and scrutiny will be applied to any non-research animals in residence halls.
Sponsor of event: university department or registered student organization sponsoring and funding this event
Reason the Sponsor is requesting an exemption to University policy: ex. stress relief during finals week
Risk Management will forward the request to the appropriate location approver (ex. Director of Armstrong Student Center, Director of Residence Life, Special Facilities Operation Manager, etc.) via email. The location approver will need to review and approve the request by replying to the email from Risk Management.
Risk Management will now review the request and provide an Animal Performance Agreement document to the program contact that will need to be updated with the vendor’s name and address. The vendor will need to sign the document and provide a valid certificate of insurance. If the vendor will be driving on campus, automobile insurance and general liability insurance with minimum limits of $1M each will be required. Note: The sponsoring department or registered student organization should not countersign the animal performance agreement.
Documents will be reviewed by Risk Management prior to approval of the event.
Once the documentation has been reviewed and deemed satisfactory, the request will be submitted to the Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Services or his proxy.
Upon approval of the request, Risk Management will notify the program contract of any required assumption of risk forms for the event and will provide a copy of the Workday Submitting a Contract Routing Request Job Aid. The vendor signed Animal Service Agreement and Certificate of Insurance will need to be entered into Workday to begin the final approvals and signing of the agreement by Procurement.
Contract must be approved through Workday prior to the scheduled event.
