AVMA News

USDE allows COE to accredit distance-education programs

The AVMA Council on Education (COE) now has federal approval to include distance learning within its scope of recognition. The COE made the request on January 8 and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) approved it immediately.

Many veterinary colleges nationwide have already been using distance education, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon seeking guidance from the USDE on how to handle distance learning, the COE had two options: pursue expansion of COE’s scope of recognition to include distance education, or advise veterinary colleges to remove it from their curricula or risk having their accreditation withdrawn.

“The COE determined that the best pathway forward, and the one that will support programs, student learning, and minimize disruption was to request inclusion of distance education in its scope of recognition,” wrote Dr. Johanna Watson, COE chair, in a January 15 letter sent to stakeholders about the council’s recent change.

Man teaching an online lecture in a classroom
Upon AVMA Council on Education (COE) development and approval of new policies and procedures related to distance education, the COE will provide additional guidance on new requirements and expectations for the veterinary colleges that it accredits.

The council is still in the process of developing policies, procedures, and accreditation standards to guide the use and quality assessment of veterinary education delivered through distance learning, Dr. Watson wrote.

In preparation, the COE surveyed of all its accredited and provisionally accredited programs from November 2024 through January to understand how and why distance education is being used, what resources are available for support, and the outcomes.

The council had also requested comments on the potential use of distance education to deliver instruction, in whole or in part, to veterinary students.

The COE collected over 1,300 comments from veterinary faculty and students along with veterinarians, which will be used to inform the development of policies and procedures for the use of distance education in veterinary programs.

To speed up the development of policies and procedures, the COE is consulting with leading experts on the delivery and accreditation of distance education, Dr. Watson said in the letter. The COE expects to finalize and post new policies this spring.

In November 2024, the COE’s recognition was extended by the U.S. secretary of education. As part of the recognition, the U.S. secretary of education is requiring the COE to assure that it is fully set up to accredit distance learning. The council must submit a compliance report addressing distance education later this year.

Meanwhile, on January 3, the USDE published a final set of new rules into the Federal Register, some of which will relate to distance education.

“The COE will continue to support the educational community during this time of transition,” Dr. Watson said. “The COE views this time of change as an opportunity to optimize the quality of a widely used learning modality for the benefit of students and the profession.”