Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine once again received full accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education.
“The College of Veterinary Medicine is pleased that the (Council on Education) has reaffirmed our full accreditation,” said the college’s Dean Sheila W. Allen. “Accreditation by the COE is recognized internationally as the gold standard for veterinary medical education. Thanks to the work of many throughout the college, we have earned this well-deserved recognition.
The council evaluates veterinary medical education programs including facilities, clinical resources, curriculum, faculty and research programs. The standards are interpreted and applied by the council to each college in relation to its mission.
The accreditation process takes about a year and includes a comprehensive self study reviewed by the site team prior to a five-day visit to each college. After the visit, the site team files a report to the council, which then votes on whether to award full accreditation or limited accreditation.
The site team reviews everything in the college that relates to students’ education in the doctor of veterinary medicine program. “They conduct extensive interviews of faculty, staff and students and evaluate programs to determine that our students are receiving the best professional veterinary education possible,” Allen said.
The accreditation review occurs every seven years for fully accredited colleges of veterinary medicine. Currently, the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education has 28 schools accredited in the U.S.; another five accredited schools are located in Canada; and 13 more are located outside of North America. The council is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the accrediting agency for veterinary medicine.
UGA College of Veterinary Medicine
The UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, conducting research related to animal and human diseases and providing veterinary services for animals and their owners. Research efforts are aimed at enhancing the quality of life for animals and people, improving the productivity of poultry and livestock and preserving a healthy interface between wildlife and people in the environment they share. The college enrolls 102 students each fall out of more than 800 who apply. For more information, see www.vet.uga.edu.
The current UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, built in 1979, serves more than 22,500 patients per year in one of the smallest teaching hospitals in the U.S. The college is currently building a new veterinary medical learning center, which will include a new teaching hospital as well as classrooms and laboratories that will allow for the education of more veterinarians. For more information, see www.vet.uga.edu/vmlc.
