AVMA Center for Veterinary Education Accreditation

To save time for all concerned during the evaluation visit, and to ensure accuracy of the records of AVMA, please see Appendix F for submission guidelines. If an index or table of contents can be provided with the material submitted, it will greatly enhance the review process.

Administration, faculty, and students should be fully involved in the self-study, and any active advisory committees should have an opportunity for input before the final report is sent to CVTEA. Self-evaluation should be an ongoing activity of the program. This form is offered as a general outline for the report. Please discuss each major section in detail in narrative form.

Principal Administrative Officers (if titles are not applicable, please provide appropriate terms)

President or Chief Executive__________________________________________
Officer of College or School
Dean of Academic Affairs____________________________________________
Dean of Student Affairs______________________________________________
Director of Financial Affairs___________________________________________
Department Head/Division Dean___________________________________________
Director of Program for_______________________________________________
Educating Veterinary Technicians

Introduction

Please provide a brief history of the program.
Note the strengths and challenges of the program.
Do any critical, major, or minor recommendations from your last accreditation evaluation remain unmet? If so, please describe.

I.	*Institutional Accreditation*

A.	Which agency recognized by the United States Department of Education accredits the parent institution?

II.

Finances

A.	Please fill out the following financial page.

	Two Years Past	Prior Year	Current Year (Budgeted)
TOTAL INSTITUTIONAL OPERATING BUDGET:

PROGRAM REVENUE:
State appropriated funds
Federal funds
Student tuition and fees
Grants
Other (specify)
Total Revenue of Program

PROGRAM EXPENDITURES:
Personnel (include numbers/category)
Veterinarians ( )
Credentialed Veterinary Technicians ( )
Other Technical Personnel ( )
Other Instructional Personnel ( )
Non-academic Personnel ( )
Benefits on salaries ( )
Equipment
Supplies
Other (specify)
Total Expenditures of Program

FOR PROPRIETARY SCHOOLS:
Total Assets of Institution
Total Liabilities of Institution

B.	What would be the theoretical total cost for student who is a resident of the state (if applicable) to complete the program, based on current tuition, fees, and equipment, books, and related costs.
C.	Are program-specific scholarships or grants available?
D.	Is the present budget adequate for program needs?
E.	Are changes in the present budget needed? If so, what?
F.	What provisions are made for emergency needs outside the established budget?

III.

Organization and Communications

A.	What is the primary focus (mission) of the program (companion animals, equine, food-producing animals, laboratory animal medicine)?
B.	Communications

1.	Indicate organizational placement of the program within the institution and describe the line of communication between the program and the institution's administration.
2.	Provide membership of the advisory committee and copies of the minutes of the last two advisory committee meetings.
3.	Are improvements in communications needed? If so, what improvements are planned?

IV.

Physical Facilities and Equipment

A.	Provide photographic or video picture of your facilities. Give a narrative description of facilities used by the program.
B.	Classrooms, laboratories, animal holding areas, and clinical facilities:

1.	Discuss the adequacy of rooms and areas, including adequacy of lighting and ventilation.
2.	What changes are needed, if any?
3.	Is the program registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)? If so, include a copy of the latest USDA inspection report and responses to deficiencies noted.

C.	Equipment for classrooms, laboratories, and clinics:

1.	What required equipment is not available, if any? (refer to Appendix H Instructional Resources and Equipment List as a guide; do not submit table)
2.	What non-essential equipment is desired?

D.	Office and program storage space:

1.	Is office space adequate for needs, including privacy of student counseling?
2.	Is adequate storage space provided for program needs?
3.	What changes are needed, if any?

E.	Off-campus clinical sites for primary instruction of student skills (other than externships/practicums), if used:

1.	List and describe sites used.
2.	Are memoranda of understanding in place with off-campus providers of instructional support that clearly indicate the responsibilities of the sites, the program, and program students?
3.	How are these sites used in the delivery of instruction?
4.	How many students are at each site at a given time?
5.	Who is responsible for validating the acquisition of requisite competencies at these sites, and how is that validation verified?
6.	How are student learning activities at these sites monitored by program personnel?

F.	Briefly describe any emergency preparedness or disaster plans in place. (see Apendix A)

V.	*Resources for Clinical Instruction*

A.	List species of animals and numbers of each available for teaching purposes.

*Species preceded by an asterisk are required. All others are recommended.

	OWNED BY THE PROGRAM	AVAILABLE
COMPANION ANIMALS
*Cats
*Dogs
*Horses/ponies
FOOD ANIMALS
*Cattle
Goats
Poultry
Sheep
Swine
LABORATORY & EXOTIC ANIMALS
Gerbils
Guinea pigs
Hamsters
*Mice
Non-human primates
*Rabbits
*Rats
*Birds
Fish
Reptiles
Other - please specify

B.	How does the program ensure that adequate numbers of animals are available to provide sufficient hands-on experience for each student?
C.	What is the student to animal ratio for clinical labs?
D.	From where are animals that are used in the program procured? If using sources such as animal shelters, do you have memoranda of understanding with these sources?
E.	How are animals transported from the sources to the program?
F.	Provide membership of the required institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC) and copies of the minutes of the last two meetings.
G.	Who is in charge of animal care?
H.	How are teaching models used in program instruction?
I.	If clinical services are provided to the public, how are these used to enhance program student educational experiences?

VI.

Library and Informational Resource

A.	Library operations:

1.	How many hours per week is the library open? Provide daily hours.
2.	What is the seating capacity?
3.	How is the library staffed? What are the credentials of library personnel?
4.	Where is the library located in relation to the Program facilities?

B.	Library veterinary technology-specific holdings:

1.	How many books specifically relate to veterinary technology?
2.	How many periodicals specifically relate to veterinary technology?
3.	What databases are available that pertain to veterinary technology?
4.	What autotutorial and/or other learning resources are available to the veterinary technology students, including space, materials, personnel, computers and other equipment?

C.	How much money is allocated to veterinary technology-related acquisitions?

D.	Evaluation:

1.	Are library facilities adequate?
2.	Are library holdings of reference books and periodicals current and adequate?
3.	What changes in library services would benefit the program?
4.	What methods are used to encourage students to use the library?

VII.

Admissions

A.	Maximum number of students to be admitted to program in each enrollment period.
B.	Number of enrollments per year.
C.	Number of qualified applicants for each enrollment period for the current first year of the program.
D.	Number of students entering each enrollment period for the present first-year class.
E.	Describe procedure for selecting first-year students:

1.	Minimal scholastic requirements, tests used, interview system, documentation required, and special provisions for out-of-state students, if applicable.
2.	How are program personnel involved in the admissions process for program students?
3.	What changes in admission requirements would benefit the program?

VIII.

Students

A.	Institutional enrollment

1.	Total head count:
2.	Full-time equivalent:

B.	Number of students presently at each stage of the curriculum: (If the program offers more than one option, provide numbers for each program option separately)

1.	First year:
2.	Second year:
3.	Third Year (if applicable):
4.	Fourth Year (if applicable):

C.	What is the maximum capacity of your program per incoming class?

D.	Do you anticipate this number changing in the next two years? If yes, what is the anticipated maximum number in the next two years?

E.	What percentage of incoming students have previous college experience? Degrees?
F.	What is the approximate average age of program students?
G.	If enrollment takes place at more frequent intervals, please show current enrollment in each academic term.
H.	Provide attrition information for current and past two academic years by describing how many students entered the program, how many students were lost within the first year, and how many were lost from enrollment until graduation.
I.	Provide number of graduates for each of the past four years including, the current year to date. (If graduation occurs several times each year, show numbers of graduates in each academic term.) (Provide numbers for each program option separately)
J.	For new programs, when will the first class graduate?
K.	How are safety issues addressed? (see Statement on Safety, Appendix A)

1.	Provide program policy for student pregnancy.
2.	Provide program student rabies vaccination policy.

L.	Describe student support services, including academic and personal counseling.

M.	Describe the activities of the student veterinary technician organization.

1.	How do the organization's activities contribute to the quality of the program?
2.	Is the student organization an institutional member of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) and the state veterinary technician organization?
3.	What percentages of students are active in the organization?

N.	Through what channels do students have input to the program's policies and curriculum?

IX.

Faculty and Staff

A.	Number of faculty/staff and full-time equivalents (FTE) devoted to the veterinary technology program and salary information. Only include faculty/staff from other departments who teach core veterinary technology courses to program students:

RANK	HEAD COUNT	FTE	MAXIMUM SALARY	MINIMUM SALARY	AVERAGE PAID CURRENT YEAR	LENGTH OF CONTRACT (9-month, 10-month, 12-month)
Veterinarian Instructor
Non-Veterinarian Instructor
Credentialed Veterinary Technician
Other Program Instructors (specify)

B.	Provide the following information for each faculty/staff member assigned one-quarter time or more to the veterinary technology program:

Name	Credentials and Education, Dates and Degrees	Title or Rank	Date of Original Appointment	Full- or Part-Time or Adjunct	Average Teaching Load Per Semester / Quarter	Professional Association Memberships

C.	Is the program instructional staffing adequate for program needs? If not, what are those needs?

D.	Is clerical support sufficient for program needs?

E.	Are institutional policies for the following adequate, if not, explain: (Please do not include the faculty handbook)

1.	Attendance at scientific meetings, explaining financial arrangements
2.	Retirement plan
3.	Consultation or outside work by faculty
4.	College support and requirements for professional education and self-improvement of faculty and staff.

F.	Personnel issues:

1.	Are salaries adequate?
2.	Discuss faculty and staffing continuity and stability.
3.	Describe the policy and financial provision for part-time faculty, the number currently used in the program, and how they are used in the program.
4.	Who is responsible for hiring and dismissal of program faculty members and support personnel?
5.	How is teaching effectiveness evaluated?
6.	Describe any changes needed in personnel policies.

X.	*Curriculum*

A.	Total number of credit hours:

a.	Based on quarters or semesters?

B.	What degree(s) (or certificate) is/are granted?
C.	Provide the program curriculum showing suggested course sequencing.

D.	Student time involved in classes:

1.	Hours per week
2.	Weeks per term
3.	Terms per year
4.	Externship/preceptorship (hours required)

E.	College calendar:

1.	Date present academic year began:
2.	Date present academic year will end:

F.	Provide a brief catalog-style (outline) description for each core veterinary technology course. (Do not repeat student attendance, honesty, grading, conduct policies).

G.	Provide two examples of standardized criteria used for evaluating student acquisition of skills.

1.	Describe how standardized criteria are used to ensure that all students have completed all required tasks and have been assessed using the defined criteria.
2.	Who is responsible for evaluating skills acquisition in the program?

H.	Describe off-campus assignments (preceptorships, internships, externships, affiliations, practicums, field trips).

1.	Are memoranda of understanding used that delineate the expectations of all parties?
2.	Are there criteria in place for onsite supervisors to assess student performances?
3.	How are student learning activities at these sites monitored by program personnel?

I.	What changes in the curriculum, if any, are being considered?
J.	Describe use of distance learning (if any) or any anticipated use (if not a DLP). (See Guidelines for Off-Campus Clinical Instruction, Appendix C.)
K.	Describe efforts to instill habits of life-long learning, including continuing education offerings.

XI.

Outcomes Assessment

A.	Submit copies of summary sheets of VTNE information as provided by PES for the last five years.

B.	If a state veterinary technician examination is used, please report data for the past five years, including current year to date.

C.	Provide summaries of assessments of:

1.	Surveys of graduates indicating educational preparedness and employment satisfaction.
2.	Surveys of employers of graduates indicating satisfaction with graduates.
3.	Evaluation of faculty and staff related to adequacy of clinical resources, facilities and equipment, library resources, and preparedness of graduates.
4.	Any other method of assessment used.

D.	Provide numbers of surveys sent out and numbers received.
E.	Please have representative samples of surveys available for site team perusal at the site visit.
F.	How is collected data from graduates and employers used to improve the program?
G.	How is feedback from the advisory committee used for program improvement?
H.	How is data from VTNE results and applicable state examinations used for program improvement?
I.	Are Program graduates prepared with entry-level skills?

| | |

| | |

American Veterinary Medical Association

Accreditation Policies and Procedures of the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA)

Appendix G Self-study Report Accreditation Information and Self-Evaluation

Appendix G

Self-study Report
Accreditation Information and Self-Evaluation