Facility Access and Security

Facility Access

CMP administrative offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. CMP offices are closed during weekends and scheduled University holidays.  Animal care is provided 7 days a week / 365 days a year (366 if a leap year) and a duty supervisor and veterinarian are on call 24 hrs. a day.

Access to CMP buildings is given to Texas A&M University personnel who conduct business in the facility on a routine basis. Access to the CMP animal facilities (CMP LARR and CMP Support Facilities) requires authorization through CMP administration. Authorization processes are described in the next section.

During normal office hours the CMP LARR facility may be accessed through the Administrative entrance. To enter through the front office everyone must sign in and out at the receptionist's desk - NO EXCEPTIONS. Access to the CMP LARR facility through other entrances requires authorization by CMP Administration and the Principal Investigator.

CMP-Support Animal Buildings remain locked at all times and require key access. Periphery gates to the CMP-Support Facility are coded and require authorization by CMP Administration and the Principal Investigator for access.

Acquiring Authorization for Access to CMP

To acquire card and/or key access to the CMP LARR and Support Facilities, personnel must complete and submit a CMP Access Request form and attend a CMP orientation. The access request forms are available at the receptionist's desk in the CMP administrative offices.

Orientations are scheduled weekly. Once a request form is submitted to the CMP receptionist, orientation attendance will be either scheduled or verified. Authorization for key or card access will not be given until after the CMP Orientation has been completed and access clearance is verified through the principal investigator.

CMP encourages investigators and their staff to plan ahead and seek facility access at least 48 hours before access to the area is needed. To avoid problems with access after normal business hours, please do not assume your card and key will provide access until you have verified that they work in the lock system. Problems can then be addressed in a timely manner and solved before access needs become critical.

To ensure adequate security for all animals, only authorized personnel can access the facility. Facility access will automatically expire every 12 months and must be renewed. Access cards and keys should NOT be shared.

Visitors

ALL visitors to the facility must be accompanied by CMP personnel unless other arrangements have been made through the CMP Program Manager. Media and special group visits are disruptive to daily animal care activities and MUST be scheduled and coordinated through CMP Administration.

Photography and Media Visits in the CMP Facility

The use of photography/video equipment and/or the production of audiovisual materials by anyone in the CMP facility require prior approval through the CMP administrative offices. An acknowledgment and agreement form regarding the production of audiovisual materials must be completed and submitted for approval to the CMP director or the CMP Director’s designated representative. Such measures are in place to ensure that all materials produced in the CMP facility provide the best possible presentation. Public relations and the public's perception of animal use in teaching and research are extremely important.

Visits from any media representatives require at least 24-hour notification of CMP administration prior to the event. Deviations from this notification time line must be approved by the CMP Director or his/her designated representative. All media members must be accompanied by CMP administrative personnel. As explained previously, media visits are very disruptive to the daily work schedule, and coordination through CMP administration is of utmost importance. Ideally, a representative of Texas A&M University's public relations team should also be notified and included in the visit.

Children in the CMP Facility

Children (16 years and under) are not allowed in the CMP facilities without written permission from the CMP Director or her designated representative. This policy was established to prevent potential exposure of children to infectious agents, radioactive materials, human carcinogens and other hazardous operations and materials, and to avoid unnecessary disturbances to animals.

Pet animals in the CMP facility

To prevent unnecessary exposure of the laboratory animals to potential pathogens, pet animals are NOT allowed in the CMP animal facilities.

Parking

Limited parking is available at the CMP facility. Five University Business parking slots are available at the northeast end of the CMP parking lot with the use of a departmental University Business (UB) parking placard. UB placards may also be used anywhere in the adjacent Vet school parking lot (Lot 36). CMP has a limited number of UB placards that may be checked out at the receptionist's desk for parking in the CMP lot (#79).

Placards must be returned after each visit. A white drop box is located at the administrative entrance for returns after 5:00 PM.

As a reminder, UB parking placards are only valid with a current Texas A&M hang-tag. Visitors should inquire at the CMP front desk about parking arrangements.