PULLMAN, Wash.–Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine has been granted full accreditation for seven years.
The seven-year period is the maximum duration of accreditation that can be granted by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education.
“Not only did we receive full, unrestricted accreditation, but our programs in all essential areas were uniformly regarded as meeting or exceeding essential requirements,” said Dean Borje Gustafsson. “The college was especially commended for its quality facilities, equipment, innovative curriculum, improvement of clinical resources, research and postgraduate education, library and learning resources, and faculty, staff, and student development.”
The outstanding support of the veterinary community, alumni and friends, and the college’s excellent development program helping to improve finances also were recognized.
The WSU veterinary college was noted for its increased communication and cooperation with Oregon State University and the University of Idaho through the WOI Regional Program in Veterinary Medical Education. The UI’s Caine Veterinary Teaching Center in Caldwell, Idaho, was praised for its vital role and contributions to the WOI program.
During the past 30 years, WSU’s veterinary college was fully accredited only between 1981 and 1988, holding limited accreditation the rest of the time. And even during the 1980s, the AVMA’s COE had strong recommendations for improving facilities, financial resources, clinical resources and caseload, faculty specialties, and curriculum in order to remain on probation or limited accreditation.
“Certainly, this accreditation is the hallmark of a remarkable level of support and vision on the part of WSU President Sam Smith’s administration and the Washington legislature,” said Gustafsson.
An example of such support, Gustafsson points out, is the new $38 million Veterinary Teaching Hospital, featuring more than $10 million in state-of-the-art medical equipment. The three-acre facility includes the world’s only linear accelerator that can accommodate large and small animals for cancer therapy, a sophisticated magnetic resonance imaging machine of such quality local hospitals send human patients daily to the veterinary hospital for diagnostic imaging, and an equine hydrotherapy pool for horses recovering from anesthesia to avoid reinjury.
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