Vol. 19, No. 37

Aug. 10, 2000

Option opens door for veterinary study in Georgia

Students enrolled in UD's highly respected preveterinary medical concentration in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences who also are Delaware residents, now have a new option available. They can study at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine at the in-state tuition rate, currently a savings of more than $11,000 a year. Two slots will be reserved for Delaware residents in each class beginning in the fall of 2001, according to an announcement in June by the Delaware Institute for Veterinary Medical Education (DIVME) and the Delaware Higher Education Commission (DHEC). The Delaware commission is a member of the larger Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), and through its Regional Contract Program students may pursue professional degrees in health fields with their home states paying schools to maintain spots in their programs. The University of Georgia veterinary medicine contract is Delaware's first regional contract program. "This is an excellent program and an exceptional opportunity for Delaware students," John Dohms, animal and food science, who serves on the board and formerly chaired DIVME, said. Dohms has been an adviser in UD's preveterinary program for 22 years. "Our prevet program is demanding. Students get a thorough grounding in the sciences, taking courses in biology, physics and chemistry. "In addition, they get hands-on experience with animals. The University Farm maintains a dairy herd, a small beef herd, a sheep flock, pigs and poultry. The students learn about nutrition, diseases and physiology, gain experience in caring for and examining large animals and assisting at births. The University also has one of the foremost avian research groups in the world, and students can study virology and microbiology," he said. Not all students who are enrolled in the prevet program go on to veterinary colleges, Dohms said. On the average, seven graduates enter veterinary school a year, but this year, 12 have been accepted. Others in the program may chose medical school, graduate school or seek science-related jobs. Some students are accepted in veterinary colleges in their own states, Dohms said. The great majority of UD prevet students attend the University of Pennsylvania, and UD also has an admission agreement with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University. But, students applying there compete for places with other out-of-state students and pay $12,523, which is less than out-of-state tuition but more than in-state tuition, Dohms added. "Applications to veterinary colleges have risen since 1990, and this will have an impact on the acceptance of out-of-state students so we are looking into expanding the admissions opportunities for Delaware residents with other institutions," Dohms said. — Sue Moncure