Doctoral vet program approved by trustees
USU’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted Friday, in favor of establishing a doctoral veterinary program in partnership with Washington State University in order to increase access to this degree for Utah students state-wide.
Students will be able to enroll in the program the summer of 2012.
Noelle Cockett, dean of the College of Agriculture, said there are currently 200 students in the animal, dairy and veterinary science program at USU. White said on average nine out of 11 students who apply for veterinary school get in and creating a veterinary school at USU would increase the likelihood that these students would be accepted.
“This has been a long time incoming,” said Ken White, the animal, dairy and veterinary science department head during the Board of Trustees meeting in the Eccles Conference Center. “There are two professional schools Utah is lacking: a dental school and this.”
Building a veterinary doctoral program from the ground up would cost about $15 million, Cockett said. However, the price tag with the Washington-Utah cooperation is $1.7 million. WSU agreed to partner because they believe USU students are “exceptional,” she said.
“It is exceptionally difficult to get into veterinary school,” White said. “It is extremely competitive, harder than dental and medical school, because of limited access.”
Utah’s population is growing, and the number of veterinarians needed has also increase, so there is currently a shortage, he said.
Cockett and White are working toward accessing federal funding for the program, and USU Trustee Douglas Foxley said if anyone can make the funding for this program happen, they can. Utah legislature representatives invited the doctoral program initiators to give a preview presentation to the higher education appropriation committee. White said he envisions this program will be funded with federal dollars so that knowledgeable staff can be hired.
“This is something we should really celebrate,” Foxley said. “… It’s not if it happens, it’s when it happens.”
In addition to a new doctoral program, ASUSU President Tyler Tolson and Vice President for Student Services James Morales, presented the idea of a new student center to be located where the old Agricultural Science building. Tolson and Morales have worked collaboratively on the potential building that is currently titled the Aggie Recreation and Community Center (ARCC.) The 150,000 square-foot building is estimated to cost $30-$35 million and house a bowling alley, health-themed cafe, fitness center, study lounges, ice rink and more.
“It will create a life of student synergy that would become the heart of campus,” Tolson said.
This year, 23 intramural teams were turned away because they did not have a proper place to engage in their desired activities, Morales said. He said he and Tolson observed that the Taggart Student Center has become a building for more student services rather than student rendezvous. The Nelson Fieldhouse is crowded and the HPER building does not allow students full access to its facilities, Morales said.
If the ARCC is constructed in the future, Morales said it may be plausible to turn the TSC into USU’s conference center and turn the Eccles Conference Center into a building designated solely for student services such as financial aid and admissions.
“These things are not without controversy,” Albrecht said at the end of the presentation.
Albrecht reminded the trustees that with new additions to the university, student fees may be involved, which may not be appealing to students after the athletics fee was approved last year.
The Board of Trustees also unanimously approved the purchase of a building in Tremonton to accommodate students taking online and broadcast courses. David Cowley, Vice President for Business and Finance, said the building will require funding to fix-up, but is a good investment to assist those students who cannot commute to campus.
– catheine.meidell@aggiemail.usu.edu
USU’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted Friday, in favor of establishing a doctoral veterinary program in partnership with Washington State University in order to increase access to this degree for Utah students state-wide.
Students will be able to enroll in the program the summer of 2012.
Noelle Cockett, dean of the College of Agriculture, said there are currently 200 students in the animal, dairy and veterinary science program at USU. White said on average nine out of 11 students who apply for veterinary school get in and creating a veterinary school at USU would increase the likelihood that these students would be accepted.
“This has been a long time incoming,” said Ken White, the animal, dairy and veterinary science department head during the Board of Trustees meeting in the Eccles Conference Center. “There are two professional schools Utah is lacking: a dental school and this.”
Building a veterinary doctoral program from the ground up would cost about $15 million, Cockett said. However, the price tag with the Washington-Utah cooperation is $1.7 million. WSU agreed to partner because they believe USU students are “exceptional,” she said.
“It is exceptionally difficult to get into veterinary school,” White said. “It is extremely competitive, harder than dental and medical school, because of limited access.”
Utah’s population is growing, and the number of veterinarians needed has also increase, so there is currently a shortage, he said.
Cockett and White are working toward accessing federal funding for the program, and USU Trustee Douglas Foxley said if anyone can make the funding for this program happen, they can. Utah legislature representatives invited the doctoral program initiators to give a preview presentation to the higher education appropriation committee. White said he envisions this program will be funded with federal dollars so that knowledgeable staff can be hired.
“This is something we should really celebrate,” Foxley said. “… It’s not if it happens, it’s when it happens.”
In addition to a new doctoral program, ASUSU President Tyler Tolson and Vice President for Student Services James Morales, presented the idea of a new student center to be located where the old Agricultural Science building. Tolson and Morales have worked collaboratively on the potential building that is currently titled the Aggie Recreation and Community Center (ARCC.) The 150,000 square-foot building is estimated to cost $30-$35 million and house a bowling alley, health-themed cafe, fitness center, study lounges, ice rink and more.
“It will create a life of student synergy that would become the heart of campus,” Tolson said.
This year, 23 intramural teams were turned away because they did not have a proper place to engage in their desired activities, Morales said. He said he and Tolson observed that the Taggart Student Center has become a building for more student services rather than student rendezvous. The Nelson Fieldhouse is crowded and the HPER building does not allow students full access to its facilities, Morales said.
If the ARCC is constructed in the future, Morales said it may be plausible to turn the TSC into USU’s conference center and turn the Eccles Conference Center into a building designated solely for student services such as financial aid and admissions.
“These things are not without controversy,” Albrecht said at the end of the presentation.
Albrecht reminded the trustees that with new additions to the university, student fees may be involved, which may not be appealing to students after the athletics fee was approved last year.
The Board of Trustees also unanimously approved the purchase of a building in Tremonton to accommodate students taking online and broadcast courses. David Cowley, Vice President for Business and Finance, said the building will require funding to fix-up, but is a good investment to assist those students who cannot commute to campus.
– catheine.meidell@aggiemail.usu.edu