PROGRAMS

TUCVM Success and Opportunities for Achievement and Retention (SOAR) Pipeline Program

The purpose of the SOAR Pipeline Program is to build partnerships with other academic institutions to strengthen the pipeline to inspire and prepare AA students to pursue careers in veterinary medicine.

• SOAR PIPELINE UNIVERSITIES: Eight pipelines have been established through the TUCVM Success and Opportunities for Achievement and Retention (SOAR) pipeline program at universities with high AA student enrollment. These universities are: (1) Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (Alabama A&M), (2) Delaware State University,(3)聽 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), (4) Fort Valley State University (FVSV), (5) North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University (NCA&T),(6)聽 Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University (PVAMU), (7) Southern Texas University, and (8) 精东AV.聽

• PRE-VETERINARY MEDICAL SCHOLARS (PVMS): the premiere SOAR Pipeline program that targets rising junior and senior undergraduate AA students. The purpose of this program is to recruit undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are animal science, biology, natural science, and other science-related majors.聽聽 Through formalized articulation agreements, TUCVM work with pipeline universities for Pre-Veterinary Medical scholars to have an option of admission into its professional veterinary medical program after three years of exemplary pre-veterinary undergraduate education and completion of all admission鈥檚 requirements.

TUCVM COE Veterinary Summer Research Scholars Program

TUCVM will facilitate joint faculty and student comparative and interdisciplinary research that seek to protect public health and advance science that benefit both humans and animals. Animals are common carriers of zoonotic diseases such as rabies and leptospirosis; and foodborne diseases, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Therefore, it is beneficial for veterinary research that targets threats to public health and food security with the spread of foodborne pathogens associated with livestock production. In an effort to safeguard and improve animal and human health, TUCVM will conduct research projects in the following: zoonotic and chronic diseases; emergency preparedness; water, soil contamination; food safety; and investigation of the use of emotional support dogs and psychiatric service dogs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

• APPLICATION PROCESS:

The Alabama Southern Regional Herd Health Management Program

(Formerly the West Alabama Herd Health Management Program)

The Alabama Southern Regional Herd Health Management Program (formerly the West Alabama Herd Health Management Program) affords the opportunity to expose TUCVM students to the problems of the African-American small farmer. For decades, the Colleges鈥� clinicians have provided mini lectures and hands on experience to African-American rural farmers on all of the aspects of herd health components including cattle management, parasite control, vaccination protocols, blood collection, and basic care of small to medium size bovine herds.

FACULTY DEVELOPMENT

鈥淕row Your Own鈥� Program - The TUCVM 鈥淕row Your Own鈥� program is an avenue through which the TUCVM COE attracts and retains highly qualified AA faculty and build faculty expertise in specialty areas to provide specialty training to future veterinary medical graduates, and prepare faculty for administrative roles for College succession planning and sustainability. Each AA veterinary medical graduate admitted into a residency program will complete the program with focus on board-certification in the respective specialty discipline.聽 The veterinary specialist returns as a junior faculty member upon completion of his or her training program and is assigned a senior faculty member to serve as a mentor. These individuals, plus any other newly hired non-boarded faculty, will be provided release time and other incentives (e.g. support to attend professional meetings, mentorship, etc.) so that they can successfully complete their specialty board certification and/or prepare materials and research for submission for promotion and/or tenure. To enhance faculty retention and recruitment, faculty and staff will be provided financial support from COE and non-COE funds to participate in career development programs at both on and off campus sites. Faculty selected for the 鈥淕row Your Own鈥� will have a specialized plan developed that will lead to board certification. Faculty will be supported by attending short specialty courses where they can sharpen their clinical skills which will increase faculty expertise in specialty areas as cardiology, anesthesiology, oncology, dermatology, etc., and expand course offerings in the veterinary curriculum that will ultimate benefit the students鈥� learning experiences in preparation for passing the licensing examination.聽

Cultural Competency, Diversity and Inclusion聽

TUCVM COE advances cultural competency, diversity and inclusion through workshops and training sessions to increase awareness of cultural competence, diversity and inclusion will be included since junior faculty will be engaged with students and faculty of diverse backgrounds.聽

Summer Enrichment and Reinforcement Program (SERP)

This minority veterinary medical preparation program begins with a six-week summer session for minority students admitted to the veterinary college. The summer session will provide enrichment to ensure successful matriculation. Activities will include basic skills assessments, test-taking skills, time management, improving reading and critical thinking skills, and computer use. The summer session will be followed by one year of individualized tutoring, academic and personal counseling. Students scoring below 70% on any exam will receive an individual learning plan and monitored.