Compliance Committees & Councils

Caltech has a Clery Committee to actively incorporate campus safety policies and educational programs for students, faculty and staff.

The Crisis Management Council is an advisory group that provides guidance to the Emergency Preparedness and Continuity Program Office. There are six working groups that are tasked with developing plans and procedures in specific functional areas, namely: Communications, Critical Infrastructure, Resource Management, Human Factors, Exercises and Drills and Outreach and Education. The Council meets monthly and participates throughout the year in activities aimed to further the effectiveness of emergency management at Caltech. For more information, visit the CMC website.

The Institute Biosafety Committee (IBC) is charged with reviewing protocols for research and teaching that involve the use of recombinant DNA (rDNA) subject to the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (NIH Guidelines), infectious biological agents, and biohazardous agents at Caltech. Committee oversight helps to ensure that all research protocols involving biohazardous materials and the facilities used to conduct the research are in compliance with existing government regulations and applicable Caltech policies. For more information, visit the IBC EH&S and IBC Research Compliance website.

Caltech is committed to ensuring that animals involved in research and teaching receive humane care and treatment. All research or teaching activities at Campus or at JPL involving use of live vertebrate animals or tissues collected from such animals must be reviewed and approved by the IACUC. The primary role of the IACUC is to ensure the ethical and humane care and use of animals in research, testing and teaching. The IACUC is also responsible for ensuring that the animal research program is in compliance with federal regulations and the Guide for the Care and use of Laboratory Animals. To support compliance, the IACUC also inspects Caltech animal facilities and laboratories and oversees training and educational programs regarding animal research. For more information, visit theIACUC Committee Website.

The mission of the IRB is to ensure that the Institute's vital human subject research is conducted in full compliance with both the letter and the spirit of the federal regulations and guided by ethical principles. The IRB approves and continually monitors research to ensure that human subjects are protected. The IRB Chair and Committee share authority over all IRB policies and procedures in collaboration with the Institutional Official and the IRB Administrator. For more information, visit the IRB website

Several Institute-wide safety committees have been developed to ensure the safety of research conducted at Caltech.

The Administrative Committee on the Use of Human Embryos and Stem Cells (HESC) fills the role, as applicable, of the Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee required by the State of California and the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, the role of an oversight committee required to comply with NIH Guidelines for Research Using Human Stem Cells, the role of the Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee recommended by the National Academies, and the role of the Human Embryo Research Oversight Committee recommended by the International Society for Stem Cell Research.

HESC Website (Caltech Log in Required)

The Radiation Safety Committee is appointed by the President of the Institute. It is responsible for ensuring that radioactive materials and radiation-producing devices are used safely and in accordance with state and federal regulations as well as Institute policies. Please see more Information on Radiation Safety and the Committee.

The Risk Management Council (RMC), comprised of Campus organizational leaders, meets periodically throughout the year to help functional areas across the Institute more consistently and comprehensively identify and manage risk. The RMC is comprised of leaders whose functions incur risk in the normal course of Institute business. The RMC includes members from Information Management Systems and Services (IMSS), Facilities, Financial Services, Student Affairs, Provost Office, Office of General Counsel, Human Resources, Academic Division representation, and Audit Services and Institute Compliance. The ASIC Associate Vice President chairs the RMC and orchestrates discussion on Campus risk topics and current-state practices. Members advise on the need for campus-specific guidance documents, education materials, and compliance procedures.

The Committee on Sponsored Research, a group of faculty members appointed by the president, reviews proposals for sponsored research projects submitted on behalf of the Institute. The Committee review focuses on academic and other policy issues likely to be of concern to the Institute. Upon completion of the review, the Committee makes a recommendation to the Vice Provost of endorsement, or non-endorsement, of the proposal. For more information, visit the Administrative Committee on Sponsored Research website.

Caltech has a Title IX Committee to ensure that Caltech manages its responsibilities under Title IX. Caltech has created a Title IX guide for faculty and staff to help create a safe and respectful community free from violence. The guide addresses key issues related to Title IX and the Sexual Violence Elimination Act (SaVE). The guide provides instructions and resources for helping students and employees who may have been affected by sexual violence, sex discrimination or unlawful harassment. For additional information, see the following documents - Title IX Document and Title IX Card.