Laboratory Policies  

1. In the laboratory  you and a lab partner will be training an albino rat (Sprague Dawley Holtzman rat). You will be asked to choose a lab partner at the beginning of the semester.  If you have no preference then I will assign a lab partner.  The only stipulation for establishing a lab partnership is that at least one of the students is willing to handle the animal.
2. Each lab group is responsible for weighing the rat daily (usually before testing the rat in the operant chamber) and writing the animal's weight on the weight sheet in the weight room. 
3. Each lab group is responsible for cleaning the operant chamber after finishing with the rat.  Empty the catch tray under the chamber and rinse in the sink.  Brush bedding material or food pellets from the counter top.
4. The bedding in the rats' cages are changed on Tuesday's and Friday's.   During the summer students are responsible for changing bedding on Tuesday's but not on Friday.
5. Students are NOT responsible for feeding the rats in their home cage.   The rats will be fed by Dr. Vigorito or the Undergraduate Lab Assistant.   Generally, rats are given 1-hr access to food immediately after the laboratory exercises Monday through Thursday. Friday through Sunday they are given free access to food all day.
6. ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD OR DRINKS ARE PERMITTED IN THE ANIMAL LABORATORY FACILITIES!
7. Because you will be working with a lab partner you will be sharing the same data as your partner.  However, all written assignments must be your own.  Create your own graphs and write your own text.  It is okay to discuss the data and explanations of the data, but all text must be your own.  The point of these exercises is to allow you to practice your writing and computer skills.
8. A computer is used to run all learning laboratory   procedures. A  floppy disk (3.5") must be used to run the programs. If you do not have a floppy disk you will not be able to run the program.  Extra floppy disks are NOT available in the laboratory.  SUGGESTION: Always have several formatted disks  available.
9. Respect your lab partner. No one is simply entitled to "get the data" from a lab partner. Occasional absences are understandable, in such cases it is appropriate to ask your partner for the data from the day that was missed.  However, excessive unexcused absences places the burden of training the animal on one student.  That student is not required to provide   the data to his or her excessively absent lab partner.  PLEASE let me know if you are having problems with your lab partner.