Veterinary medical education building set to open in June
A new veterinary medical education building at Utah State University’s Logan campus is set to open in June, marking a major step in the expansion of the university’s veterinary program and its ability to train more veterinarians in Utah.
The 106,000-square-foot facility, located on the north end of campus, is part of a broader shift from a partnership-based program to a full four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine offered entirely at USU. The building was approved by the Utah Legislature in 2022 alongside the creation of the standalone College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dirk Vanderwall, dean of the college, said the new building allows the program to significantly increase enrollment and improve hands-on training opportunities.
“We’re excited to be moving to that brand-new facility in June,” Vanderwall said.
The building represents a $78 million investment and is designed specifically for veterinary medical education. It will allow the college to grow its class size from previous cohorts of about 30 students to 80 students per class, split evenly between Utah residents and non-residents.
Before the expansion, students participated in a “2+2” program in partnership with Washington State University, completing two years at USU before finishing their degree in Pullman, Washington. That partnership will continue through 2028 for current students, but new cohorts are now enrolled in the full four-year program in Logan.
Vanderwall explained the increased capacity comes in response to a growing demand for veterinarians both in Utah and nationwide.
“There’s still a dramatic demand, a huge demand, for more veterinarians in Utah and really across the country,” Vanderwall said.
The new facility includes a range of specialized spaces aimed at improving student training. These include clinical skills labs, mock exam rooms with observation areas, an anatomy lab and a surgical suite. The building will also house dog and cat holding areas used for spay and neuter procedures in partnership with local shelters and humane societies.
Students will spend most of their time in the new building, where classrooms and labs are designed to support a more flexible and interactive curriculum. Vanderwall said the updated layout will allow students to move between lectures, labs and clinical training throughout the day rather than remaining in a single classroom.
In addition to academic and clinical spaces, the building includes areas focused on student well-being. A wellness center staffed through Counseling and Prevention Services will provide mental health resources tailored to the demands of the veterinary program.
Keri Shoemaker, financial officer for the college, said the project has required close coordination between multiple groups throughout construction.
“There’s a big coordination effort that is occurring,” Shoemaker said.
Weekly meetings with contractors, designers and university officials have guided decisions ranging from lab layouts to furniture placement. Shoemaker said input from faculty has played a key role in shaping the building’s design.
“They’re being very, very good about asking our input on it because we’re the ones that are going to be using the space,” Shoemaker said.
The majority of funding for the building came from the state of Utah, with additional contributions from the college. Shoemaker said the building is fully paid for as the project nears completion.
Looking ahead, university officials expect the new facility to strengthen both education and community engagement. While the building will primarily support student training, it will also create opportunities for collaboration with local organizations and expand research capabilities.
“I would like to see it as community outreach as well,” Shoemaker said.
A full cohort of 80 students is expected to enter this fall. With the building opening this summer, the college is preparing for its next phase of growth as it works toward graduating its first full in-state class in the coming years.