CVM Finalizes Four DVM Agreements with TAMU System Partners
As part of its commitment to “Serving Every Texan Every Day,” the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) has finalized four memoranda of agreement (MOAs) to increase support of rural veterinary medicine, mentoring relationships, and diversity within its Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree student population.
Under the Texas A&M Medical Center (TVMC) partnerships, agreements have been signed with West Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University—Kingsville, Tarleton State University, and Prairie View A&M University to establish a program for admission to Texas A&M’s DVM program, one of the most highly ranked programs in the world.
The MOAs serve to enhance collaborations and develop an even stronger relationship between the Texas A&M University System component institutions by building further capacity for the study of veterinary medicine at Texas A&M and mutually improving the educational programs and student opportunities at all involved institutions.
“The primary goals of the initiative are to more intentionally serve veterinary needs throughout the state, increase the diversity of each veterinary class in a manner that more closely reflects the demographics of the state of Texas, and provide additional opportunities for qualified applicants to the field of veterinary medicine and allied careers,” said Dr. Eleanor Green, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M.
Through the agreements, up to five additional positions in each entering DVM class will be reserved for students from each component college for at least five years.
The CVM faculty will work closely with faculty advisers at each MOA school to select strong candidates for the DVM program, actively participate in pre-veterinary clubs at each university, and develop collaborative opportunities for faculty at component universities, including teaching exchanges, cooperative research, and/or service activities.
Additionally, component universities will work to map curricula that best supports student success, as students will be held to the same admissions standards as students from non-component universities, and collaborate with the CVM in increasing awareness of the program at their universities.
These collaborations will be facilitated by the unique livestock, wildlife, and/or veterinary technology programs already offered by partner universities. West Texas A&M operates its own feedlot; PVAMU’s International Goat Research Center is one of the largest and oldest goat research programs in the nation; TAMUK’s Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute is the leading wildlife research organization in Texas; and Tarleton State operates the state’s only university-based dairy as a public-private partnership.
“By strengthening students’ credentials for admission and their preparation for success in the rigorous veterinary curriculum—through the recruitment, encouragement, and mentorship of students who have a passion for veterinary medicine—these partnerships are an investment into Texas by the Texas A&M University System,” Green said. “The exceptional strengths of each partner university and those of the world-class CVM will be leveraged with synergy and affordability to meet both statewide and regional needs of Texas.”
While up to five new positions have been provided for the universities under the MOAs, additional students who meet the admissions standards also can be accepted.
Originally posted on June 29, 2017.
