The board that oversees the state’s public universities has given the go-ahead to create a discount-priced degree program in Tucson for future veterinarians.
“Doctor of Veterinary Medicine” titles soon will be available for University of Arizona graduates under a plan approved Thursday by the Arizona Board of Regents that will see UA running the state’s only full-fledged veterinary medical school operation.
The school expects to cut in half the $250,000 tab Arizonans now face to become veterinarians because they now are forced to go out of state for education.
Ranchers, farmers and would-be student veterinarians pleaded with the regents to approve the new degree program, which is being created at no cost to taxpayers due to a recent $9 million donation to the UA from the Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation.
Supporters of the program said the state’s rural areas, home to many ranches, face a shortage of large-animal veterinarians.
“We stand behind this 100 percent,” said Jim Parks, a cattle rancher in the Flagstaff area, where the number of large-animal veterinarians has dwindled from three to a single one, he said.
The donation will be used as seed money to establish the program, with the annual operating cost to be covered by student tuition, a report to the regents said.
The UA intends to use the so-called “distributive model” of veterinary education, which will allow it to operate at first without building its own veterinary hospitals and facilities. For example, students could take part of their training at veterinary clinics in Douglas.
The UA expects to start enrolling future veterinarians next year.
