The school also has attained Provisional Accreditation status from the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education.
After months of reviewing hundreds of applicants and conducting in-depth interviews, the pioneering group of 60 students have secured their place in the very first class of the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) in Amarillo.
These students, from across rural and regional communities of Texas and New Mexico, will now call Amarillo home when they begin their veterinary education in August.
In addition, the SVM reached a major milestone in its ongoing development when it was granted the all-important status of Provisional Accreditation by the national accreditor, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE).
“We are so fortunate we will get to work with a truly amazing group of students,” said Guy Loneragan, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. “Texas Tech has worked for years and years to get to this point, to finally meet and welcome our very first class.
“It takes a team driven by a shared purpose to reach important milestones. Texas Tech, Amarillo, regional communities across Texas and our legislators are a wonderful team, and all get to share in the ownership and celebration of achieving the status of Provisional Accreditation. This is an amazing accomplishment for us all.”
The School of Veterinary Medicine has hired a team of almost 50 people so far. This includes more than 30 talented faculty who are busy starting their research programs and preparing for the first class.
Construction of the world-class facilities is on schedule. The SVM will welcome the first class in two state-of the-art buildings. One facility, Amarillo Campus, is the academic headquarters and is adjacent to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center campus in Amarillo. Located about two miles northwest, the second facility, called Mariposa Station, is purpose-built for instruction in livestock veterinary medicine.
