1. Alternatives to dissection must be available in all classes for students who choose not to dissect.

2. The responsibility for creating an alternative lies with the teachers, not the student.

3. Requiring the student to watch others dissect an animal is not an alternative; the student must be allowed to leave the room while the dissection is taking place.

4. Students will not be penalized or ostracized in any way for choosing the alternative exercise.

5. A student's choice to dissect or not to dissect shall be respected by all school faculty, and the student shall be treated in a nonjudgmental manner. A student must feel free to choose an alternative to dissection without fear of being singled our or pressured.

6. All students must be informed in writing of their option to choose not to dissect at the beginning of each semester during which dissection is scheduled, a minimum of three weeks prior to the dissection.

7. Those instructors who still teach dissection in their classes must verbally announce the policy to all students on the first day of the semester and on the day of the dissection.

Click here to download and print this sample student choice policy.