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Accreditation Policies and Procedures of the AVMA Council on Education (COE)
Revised April 2008

5. Council on Education¹

5.1. History
The AVMA was founded in 1863. In 1890 it established a Committee on Intelligence and Education. In 1906 the Committee took steps to initiate a college evaluation program. All of the colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States and Canada were notified that during the next two years the AVMA would undertake a classification of the colleges considering curriculum, faculty, and physical equipment. It was planned that the colleges would be assigned A, B, or C classifications according to the quality identified by an evaluating committee.

After several years of struggling with the problem, the effort to classify the schools on a purely subjective basis was abandoned, and in 1921 the first detailed list of "Essentials of an Acceptable Veterinary School" was adopted by AVMA. Since then the "essentials" statement has been revised many times, and a system of accreditation, rather than classification, has been used. In year 2000, the term essentials was changed to standards.

In 1946 the entire structure of the AVMA was reorganized and the Council on Education was formed to replace the Committee on Intelligence and Education. Since that time the COE has conducted the AVMA accreditation program.

The COE's realm of accreditation consists of all veterinary colleges in the United States (28) and Canada (4). US and Canadian colleges voluntarily seek accreditation through the AVMA COE. The COE is the only recognized accrediting agency for colleges of veterinary medicine in the two countries. Additionally, the AVMA COE provides accreditation for foreign colleges of veterinary medicine which voluntarily seek such classification, and meet or exceed all standard requirements.

5.2. Purpose
As the recognized accrediting body for veterinary medicine, the Council considers the interests of the veterinary profession and society at large in the review of programs.

It is the objective of the AVMA COE to assure that each graduate of an accredited college of veterinary medicine will be firmly based in the fundamental principles, scientific knowledge, and physical and mental skills of veterinary medicine. Graduates should be able to apply these fundamentals to solving veterinary medical problems for different species and types of domestic animals.

The fundamentals with which each graduate leaves the college are expected to provide a basis for a variety of career activities including clinical patient care, research, and other non-clinical options relevant to animal and human health. These fundamentals should be the basis for a lifetime of learning and professional development.

The Council attempts to conduct all activities in ways that best serve the interests of the veterinary profession, veterinary students, and society, without discrimination on the basis of age, race, gender, or creed.

While recognizing the existence and appropriateness of diverse institutional missions and educational objectives, the Council subscribes to the proposition that local circumstances do not justify accreditation of a substandard program in veterinary education leading to a professional degree.

Accreditation by the COE does not enable colleges to participate in Title IV student loan programs.

5.3. Charge

1. Meet the needs of society by promoting active programs in veterinary medical education. In fulfilling this function, the Council will encourage and assist colleges of veterinary medicine to meet the requirements for full accreditation.
2. Study and recommend methods of instruction, and promote the continual improvement of veterinary medical education in all its facets.
3. Recommend standards for accredited colleges offering professional degrees in veterinary medicine.
4. Without review or influence by any other entity of the AVMA, evaluate each college offering a professional degree in veterinary medicine according to established standards, making accreditation decisions, and assign a classification of accreditation to each such college.
5. Publish an annual listing of colleges of veterinary medicine showing the current accreditation status of each.
6. Provide consultation to proposed, developing, and existing colleges of veterinary medicine.
7. Review and make recommendations to the AVMA Executive Board concerning the activities of committees concerned with veterinary specialties, veterinary technicians, graduates of foreign colleges of veterinary medicine, and licensing examinations.
8. Recommend curriculum changes to enhance the veterinarian's ability to meet changing professional demands and societal needs.

5.4. Function
A major function of the AVMA COE is to ensure quality professional veterinary education by conducting periodic accreditation reviews to determine the degree to which a college or school of veterinary medicine meets the standards for accreditation and its own stated goals (mission) and objectives; and through the process of assuring quality education, protecting the interests of the general public as related to veterinary medicine. The Council recognizes only those programs which meet the accreditation standards developed and agreed upon by various communities of interest, including the public. Additionally, the Council interacts and communicates with the AVMA Executive Board regarding veterinary specialty boards, veterinary technician programs, graduates of foreign veterinary colleges, and licensing examinations.

The Council's accreditation program ensures quality education for veterinarians and ultimately leads to quality veterinary care for animals.

5.5. Technical Assistance
The COE, through the activities of AVMA support staff and the COE Chair, provides technical assistance to colleges seeking a letter of reasonable assurance, accreditation, or renewal of accreditation. This support is in the form of telephone conversations between the colleges and the Council Chair or AVMA staff. Information regarding the self-study document is provided based upon the inquiry. The Chair of the COE or AVMA staff responds to written inquiries. In conjunction with either the spring or summer meetings of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), a session is offered for the deans of veterinary colleges whose institutions are to be evaluated and visited in the upcoming year. The meeting focuses on changes to the standards and/or self-study procedure and is conducted by AVMA staff.

If a proposed United States or Canadian veterinary college seeking a Letter of Reasonable Assurance desires consultation and advice on planning, the college may request a consultative site visit. The consultative site team is composed of COE members and AVMA staff who provide an unofficial appraisal of the program as related to planned compliance with the Standards. The proposed college must submit a detailed self-study report of evaluation noting the plan in advance of the site visit, and after the visit, the COE will provide an unofficial written report of evaluation noting the readiness for a complete site visit. All expenses for the consultative site visit are paid by the proposed college.

Specifically, the COE meets the needs of society by promoting active programs in veterinary medical education. In fulfilling this function, the Council encourages and assists colleges of veterinary medicine in meeting the requirements for full accreditation. Further, the COE provides consultation to proposed and developing colleges of veterinary medicine.

5.6. COE Membership
The Council on Education prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, creed, race, or national origin. The AVMA prohibits discrimination in the election of members and public representatives to the COE.

The COE is composed of voluntary members elected by the AVMA House of Delegates specifically representing the diversity of disciplines in the profession. The membership consists of at least five veterinary medical college faculty members, at least six private practitioners, one at-large member, one veterinary researcher, one public health veterinarian, and one non-private practice, non-academic veterinarian. Additionally, the COE appoints three public members; one Canadian veterinarian is appointed and funded by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association; and one non-voting observer is appointed and funded by the AAVMC. Many of the Council members, including public representatives, have advanced degrees. All members except the AAVMC observer are appointed for a term of six years. The terms of new members begin at the close of the AVMA Annual Convention.

5.7. Public Member Selection
The criteria used in the selection of public members specify that they shall be:

1. Non-veterinarians.
2. Not faculty members or administrators of colleges of veterinary medicine.
3. Not a current or former employee of a school or college of veterinary medicine.

Public members are appointed by the Council when a vacancy exists, for a six-year term that begins at the close of the AVMA Annual Meeting in July.

5.8. Meetings
The full Council meets biannually at AVMA headquarters to conduct business. Prior to the COE meeting, various subcommittees may meet to conduct business and prepare recommendations and reports for the Council.

Issues brought to subcommittees are discussed and, in most cases, appear as agenda items for consideration by the full COE. Items not on the agenda are considered under the item "New Business." Where appropriate, business is conducted according to the conventions of Robert's Rules of Order, New Revised, through presentation of a motion followed by a vote. During interim periods, the COE Executive Committee may conduct Council business via conference call or electronic means

5.9. Officers
The officers of the Council on Education are as follows:

The Chair of the Council on Education is:

1. The Chief Administrator of the Council.
2. The presiding officer of the Council, responsible for the conduct of all official meetings.
3. As presiding officer, the Chair:
   1. Must be familiar with the bylaws and standing rules of the Council as well as the job descriptions for officers and committees.
   2. Assures that action taken by the Council is based on a majority vote.
   3. Conducts meetings according to the most recent version of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
4. In consultation with AVMA staff, establishes the agenda for the Council, and with the Executive Committee and staff, plans the order and conduct of the meetings.
5. With AVMA staff assistance, originates or edits all official Council correspondence and communication reflecting policies and procedures of the Council to the colleges of veterinary medicine and other individuals and organizations interacting with the COE. Such correspondence communicating official Council action or policy will be on AVMA letterhead, over the signature of the Chair.

The Vice Chair of the Council on Education:

1. Shall be a member of the Executive Committee.
2. Shall assume all duties and responsibilities of the Chair in the latter's absence.
3. Shall succeed to the Chair upon completion of the latter's term of office, unless specific action of the Council determines otherwise.

5.10. Travel Expenses
The Council is authorized to appoint one member to accompany the staff consultant to one conference on accreditation each year, at a cost not to exceed $500 each year.

5.11. Reports Received
From time to time, the Council receives liaison, progress, information, and other reports from colleges or other groups. Reports received by the COE may be 1) received, 2) accepted, or 3) rejected.

Received – The Council studies the report but does not agree or disagree with the content. The Council may or may not choose to respond to the submitter of the report and may choose to forward the report to another entity.

Accepted – The Council studies the report, approves the report as to form and accepts the report as written. The Council notifies the submitter of the report stating its action.

Rejected – The Council studies the report, disagrees with the report, in part or full, and rejects the report. The Council notifies the submitter of the report stating its findings and its action.

5.12.1. Standing committees
The COE has four standing committees: Committee on Evaluation, Committee on Academic Affairs, Nominating Committee, and Executive Committee. The following procedure is used in forming committees:

The Chair of the COE, in consultation with the Executive Committee, appoints all committees and liaisons. To assure balance, the Chair considers the professional activity of each COE member in making appointments. The public members serve on committees as assigned. Chairs and members serve one-year terms with opportunity for reappointment.

The Chair of the Committee on Evaluation is appointed from COE membership.
The Committee is responsible for:

1. Recommending members for assignment to site visit teams.
2. Monitoring site visit protocol.

The Chair of the Committee on Academic Affairs is appointed from COE membership.
The Committee is responsible for:

1. Ongoing review of and recommendations for improvement to the standard requirements and Council policy and procedure.

The Nominating Committee consists of three members appointed from COE membership.
The Committee is responsible for:

1. Presenting a slate of nominees at each spring Council meeting for the offices of Chair, Vice Chair, Academic Affairs Committee Chair, Evaluation Committee Chair.

The Executive Committee is composed of the COE Chair, Vice Chair, the Chair of the Committee on Evaluation, and the Chair of the Committee on Academic Affairs.
The Committee is responsible for:

1. Providing counsel and assistance to the Chair in making executive decisions and acting for the Council between meetings.

Various ad hoc committees are appointed and disbursed by the Chair of the COE as needed.

All committee action is conducted according to established Council policy and procedure. Each committee reports on its activities at regular meetings of the Council. Terms of service begin and end at the close of the AVMA Annual Convention.

5.12.2. Associated committees, commissions, and boards:

1. Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) – One member appointed by the Chair of the Council to serve as a voting member for a one-year term.
2. Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) – One member of the Council appointed to ECFVG by the Executive Board for a six-year term, or until the end of the member's term on the Council. The Council submits a nomination to the Executive Board for this purpose.
3. American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) – One member appointed by the Chair of the Council each year to serve as a non-voting member for a one-year term.
4. National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (NBVME) – One member is appointed by the Chair of the Council annually

5.12.3. COE Observers:

1. Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) – A member of AAVMC serves a three-year term as an observer at all Council meetings. The observer is a non-voting member and appointed and funded by AAVMC.
2. AVMA Executive Board – A member of the AVMA Executive Board serves as an observer at all Council meetings. The observer is a non-voting member appointed and funded by the AVMA Executive Board.
   
   COE observers must sign confidentiality agreements at the beginning of their terms. Any written reports to the observers' respective entities will be approved by the COE Chair prior to submission to that entity and will contain no information on accreditation decisions

Liaison representatives report on the activities of the groups to which they are assigned at each regular Council meeting. Terms of appointment begin and end at the close of the AVMA Annual Convention.

5.13. Conduct of COE Meetings:
No member of the COE who has an identified conflict of interest shall participate in any way in accrediting decisions. The individual shall leave the room when the report in question is being discussed. In cases where the existence of a conflict of interest is less obvious, it is the responsibility of any Council member who feels a potential conflict of interest exists, to absent himself/herself from the room.

The conflict of interest policy shall be limited to decisions regarding accreditation and shall not infer conflict with other decision-making responsibilities.

¹ The terms "COE" and/or "Council" may be used when referring to the entire COE, the Executive Committee of the COE, a COE site visit team and/or any COE committee or subcommittee.