Sen. Doc. No. 19-074 SPECIAL REPORT of the ACADEMIC

Sen. Doc. No. 19-074

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SPECIAL REPORT of the

ACADEMIC MATTERS, ACADEMIC PRIORITIES, AND PROGRAM AND BUDGET COUNCILS

concerning

CREATION OF A NEW DEGREE PROGRAM IN VETERINARY AND ANIMAL

SCIENCES (B.S.) (#5456)

Presented at the

787th Regular Meeting of the Faculty Senate April 25, 2019

COUNCIL MEMBERSHIPS

ACADEMIC MATTERS COUNCIL

Wesley Autio, Carol Barr, Carolyn Bassett, Bryan Beck, William Brown, Allison Butler, D. Anthony Butterfield, Marcy Clark, Colleen Coakley, Elizabeth Connor, Hayley Cotter, Sharon Domier, Morgan Donovan-Hall, Wei Fan, Diane Flaherty, Laura Francis, Mark Guerber, Jennifer Heuer, Maeve Howett, Chair, Patrick Kelly, Matthew Komer, Kathryn Lachman, Meredith Lind, Linda Lowry, Roberta Marvin, Ruthanne Paradise, Sarah Pfatteicher, Jennifer Randall, MJ Peterson, Patrick Sullivan, Jack Wileden, Rebecca Woodland, Kate Woodmansee

RECOMMENDATION

The Academic Matters Council recommends approval of this proposal.

ACADEMIC PRIORITIES COUNCIL Faune Albert, Richard Bogartz (Chair), Leslie Button, Justin Burch, Kathleen Debevec, Kourosh Danai, Jean DeMartinis, Elizabeth Donoghue, Piper Gaubatz, Steve Goodwin, Bryan Harvey, Deborah Henson, Shaw Ling Hsu, A Yęmisi Jimoh, Sangeeta Kamat, Stephen Magner, Roberta Marvin, John McCarthy, Joya Misra, David Morin, MJ Peterson, Catherine Tudor-Locke, Jack Wileden

RECOMMENDATION The Academic Priorities Council recommends approval of this proposal.

PROGRAM AND BUDGET COUNCIL

Sumera Ahsan, Joseph Bartolomeo, Jacob Binnall, Nikki Bosco, William Brown, D. Anthony Butterfield, Elizabeth Chang, Nancy Cohen, Patricia Galvis y Assmus, Deborah Gould, Mark Guerber, Eddie Hull, Moira Inghilleri, Arpit Jain, Michael Leto, Lisa Liebowitz, Andrew Mangels, Ernest May, Anthony Paik, Chair, MJ Peterson, Alex Phillips, Margaret Riley, Stephen Schreiber, Anurag Sharma, Donna Zucker

RECOMMENDATION

The Program and Budget Council recommends approval of this proposal.

Institution: UMass Amherst Proposed Degree: B.S. in Veterinary Technology

UMass New Academic Program - Submission Template

Replace blue text with requested information Proposed Degree(s) Title: B.S. in Veterinary Technology Proposed CIP Code: (provided by campus OIR) Date of Board of Trustees Vote: (leave blank; AASAIR will fill in) Date Letter of Intent submitted to Commissioner (leave blank; AASAIR will fill in)

A. Alignment with Institution Mission Priorities. How does the proposed program align with the institution’s mission priorities? The UMass mission, as approved by the Board of Trustees in T05-024, is the following:

To provide an affordable and accessible education of high quality and to conduct programs of research and public service that advance knowledge and improve the lives of the people of the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world.

In 2008, the Board of Trustees voted to designate Amherst as the System’s flagship campus, acknowledging that “a strong and nationally recognized flagship is essential to the success of the system as a whole”, committing “to moving UMass Amherst into the top tier of public universities in the country”. UMass Amherst has a proud tradition in animal medicine and in serving the citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a Land Grant university. The standard curriculum for accredited Vet Tech programs nationally was developed at another Land Grant university, Purdue. Currently, 11 Land Grant universities offer accredited Vet Tech degrees. Addition of a BS-Veterinary Technology degree to our nationally ranked BS-Pre-Veterinary Science and BS-Animal Science degree programs will help advance UMass Amherst further by attracting even more academically talented students interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine, from across the nation.

B. Alignment with System Priorities 1. Will this proposed program address a regional/local/state workforce shortage? Explain. There is significant need for this program because of the closing of the Mount Ida College Veterinary Technology program. The latter produced more than half of the yearly crop of certified Vet Techs in the Commonwealth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of veterinary technicians in Massachusetts is expected to grow by 18.6% during the period 2016-2026. There is only one other American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)-accredited Vet Tech BS degree program offered in the state, at Becker College. The proposed UMass Amherst program is poised to continue the pipeline of certified Vet Techs beyond the completion of the teach-out of the legacy Mount Ida College students, and it would make this career path available to students through training in the setting of a nationally-ranked public research university. The acquisition of the Newton facility offers a unique opportunity to serve our students and help them achieve their career goals. UMass Amherst is uniquely qualified to

Institution: UMass Amherst Proposed Degree: BS in Veterinary Technology

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offer the combination of a well-rounded science-based rigorous curriculum and a credentialed bachelor’s degree program in Veterinary Technology with an emphasis on preparing students to work in veterinary clinics, academic research, and the biotech industry. Graduates of this program will have a unique set of skills, from the intense hands-on management of all production animals available at our farms, to the knowledge of compliance and management of laboratory animals acquired at our research facilities, to superb general education and basic-science knowledge obtained at the flagship campus. They will complete their education with clinical experience learned through internships and coursework offered at the Newton campus. This combination of knowledge and skills in large, small and research animals will make the graduates highly sought-after for positions at Veterinary Practices, Universities and Biotech firms. A number of stakeholders, including the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight, have stated the need for the continued production of certified Vet Techs and urged UMass Amherst to seek to run an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology program beyond the teach-out period. 2. For undergraduate programs only - With what, if any, other institutions have articulation agreements been arranged for this program? (attach agreements) None presently. In the future, we would like to explore the establishment of agreements with Veterinary Technician Associate Degree (AD) granting institutions in the state such as Holyoke Community College, North Shore Community College, and Massasoit Community college so that students who have completed the AD requirements at those institutions can enter our program and obtain a BS in Veterinary Technology in two/three additional years depending on the course work prior to arriving to UMass. This would be consistent with the MassTransfer program, a collaboration between the University of Massachusetts and the Commonwealth’s community and state colleges. 3. How will the proposed new academic program broaden participation and completion at the institution by underrepresented and underserved groups? The Veterinary Technology profession has a very high female representation. The National Association of Veterinary Technician (NAVTA) 2016 demographic survey results showed that 94.7% of the veterinary technician respondents were female. (https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.navta.net/resource/resmgr/docs/2016_demographic_results.pdf ) This is similar to our current female: male ratio in Dept of Vet and Animal Science major, in veterinary medical schools, and in human nursing, which has a female:male ratio of 91%:9% (US Census Bureau, 2016). The proposed program will continue to support female entry in this STEM discipline. We will also work to leverage various efforts in the College and the University to increase diversity in STEM disciplines (e.g., the CNS office of student success and diversity and CMASS) to attract students from underrepresented groups. In addition, with establishment of agreements within the framework of the MassTransfer program with community colleges currently granting AD degrees in Veterinary Technology, we will broaden diversity and have a positive impact on underserved, first generation, and low-and moderate-income groups. The University is deeply committed to providing an affordable college education to its students and allocates significant funds for need-based financial aid (approximately $55 million per year) to make that possible. For undergraduate students, the University provides, on average, financial aid resulting in a tuition discount of approximately 30%, in addition to any federal or state aid the student receives.

C. Overview of Proposed Program


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1. Context. Describe the program’s development, as well as its proposed administrative and operational organizational structure. The Department of Veterinary and Animal Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst first seriously considered proposing an AVMA-accredited Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Technology in 2008. At that time, we did not pursue it because a significant additional investment in facilities would have been required to give students all of the clinical skills required to meet AVMA accreditation standards. However, the recent acquisition of the former Mt. Ida College campus, with an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology program and a fully equipped Veterinary Technology facility, gives UMass Amherst the unique opportunity to craft a Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Technology. This will enhance the profile of UMass Amherst as a destination of choice for students pursuing a career in veterinary medicine, biomedical research, or biotechnology, and will help meet the workforce needs of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Further, in the last few years the department has developed laboratory courses and invested heavily in equipment to expose students to the majority of the routine laboratory techniques used in veterinary practices. Therefore, we are well prepared in terms of equipment and faculty for the development of this new BS-Vet Tech major. The Department of Veterinary and Animal Science currently offers two majors: BS-Pre-Veterinary Science and BS-Animal Science. The BS-Animal Science degree has three concentrations: Animal Management, Biotechnology, and Equine Science. Entry to our nationally ranked BS-Pre-Veterinary Science degree program is governed by earning a minimum 2.700 GPA in 10 UMass Amherst science courses; thus, all of our majors start as BS-Animal Science majors, and many switch to the BS-Pre-Vet major at the end of their sophomore year. Approximately 90 percent of students entering this department as freshmen arrive on campus with the declared intention to apply to veterinary medical school; at the end of their junior year, approximately 30% apply to veterinary medical school, with 95-100% of the latter group gaining admission to at least one school. We are thus very experienced in career counseling and training for students who have changed their mind as to their career plans, and recognize that a BS-Vet Tech degree program with a unique emphasis on the research animal models used in biotechnology would give our graduates a competitive advantage in the workforce. The department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences will hire a veterinarian who will be the Director of the new major, as required by the AVMA. This veterinarian will be based in Amherst and will be responsible for supervising the whole program, and achieving and maintaining AVMA-accredited status. S/he will develop and teach the two major-specific, introductory courses that will be taught in at the Amherst Campus. S/he will travel twice a month to the Newton Campus to meet with faculty and students and oversee the needs of the program there. The AVMA also requires that a full-time Certified Veterinary Technologist (CVT) be hired; this person will also be based in Amherst. The program on the Newton campus will require the hiring of an Attending Veterinarian (AV), animal care staff and sufficient CVTs/instructors to teach the rest of the curriculum and maintain the AVMA-mandated ratio of a minimum of 1:8 instructor:student ratio in labs using animals. Once the program is operating for 3 years and students start moving to the Newton campus, additional hires, most likely another veterinarian and an additional Certified Veterinary Technologist (CVT), will be needed in Newton. Administratively, the business office and the department’s office for the undergraduate program , which are currently staffed with 3 and 2 administrative assistants, respectively, are equipped to handle the demands that the new major will impose both in terms of handling accounting and expenditures as well as registrations of new students. We will need a part-time administrate assistant at the Newton campus to assist students and faculty there.


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2. Description. What is the intent /purpose of the program? What knowledge and skills will students acquire? For what careers will graduates be prepared? The intent of the program is to prepare our students for a career in veterinary medicine or biomedical research and to meet the workforce needs of the Commonwealth. A Certified Veterinary Technologist (CVT) has graduated from an AVMA-accredited bachelor’s degree program and passed the Veterinary Technology National Exam (VTNE). Veterinary Technologists are educated to be veterinary nurses, laboratory technicians, radiography technicians, anesthetists, surgical nurses and client educators. Many Veterinary Technologists are placed in a supervisory role in veterinary practices, research institutions and other employment options. The proposed Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Technology would provide its graduates with a thorough grounding in biomedical science and the essential veterinary skills required by the AVMA, which accredits Veterinary Technology programs. We have received continuing AVMA accreditation for the program based at the Newton campus; we will seek approval of the new UMass Amherst BS-Vet Tech program from AVMA, so that our graduates can take the National Veterinary Technician Licensing Exam (VTNE), access to which is usually limited to graduates of AVMA-accredited programs by most state veterinary medical boards, including the veterinary medical board of Massachusetts. Passing the VTNE is required to become a certified Veterinary Technologist (CVT). In the future, Massachusetts may require that veterinarians can only use Certified Veterinary Technicians/Technologists, rather than unlicensed personnel to perform most veterinary medical duties. New York State already has such laws. Provision of the opportunity to earn this certification, combined with our already strong program in the scientific foundations and applications of biomedicine and biotechnology, would make our program even more a destination of choice for prospective students and their parents, and help meet the workforce needs of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 3. Curriculum, Requirements. Attach curriculum outline (Templates) and course descriptions (use provided template). Provide a complete description of the curriculum. Describe procedures and arrangements for independent work, internship or clinical placement arrangements, if applicable. Describe role and membership of external advisory committee, if any. University General Education requirements MATH 104 or MATH 101/102 or waiver with minimum score of 20 on part A of math placement exam- (Gen Ed R1) 3-4 cr STAT 111, 240 or RESEC 112 (Gen Ed R2) 3-4 cr Diversity DU or DG General Education class (AL/AT, HS, SB) 4 cr 2 additional General Education classes (AL/AT, HS, SB) 8 cr ANIMLSCI 260 Animal Care and Welfare (Gen Ed SI) 4 cr ENGLWRIT 112 College Writing (Gen Ed CW) 3 cr *ANIMLSCI 390V Jr Year Writing (or NATSCI 387, Gen Ed JW) 3 cr *ANIMLSCI 494V Integrative Experience: Veterinary Medical Practice and Ethics (Gen Ed IE) 3 cr First Year seminar 1 cr Total University Gen Ed requirements 32-34 credits Science core BIOLOGY 151 Intro Biology I 4 cr


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BIOLOGY 152 Intro Biology II 3 cr BIOLOGY 153 Intro Biology Lab 2 cr CHEM 111- General Chemistry with lab I 4 cr CHEM 112- General Chemistry with lab II 4 cr Total Science core requirements 17 credits Vet Tech core *ANIMLSCI 105 Intro to Veterinary Technology 4 cr *ANIMLSCI 115 Clinical Nursing I 4 cr ANIMLSCI 220 Anatomy & Physiology 4 cr ANIMLSCI 200 Cellular & Molecular Biology 4 cr *,1 ANIMLSCI 333 Equine, Cattle and Companion Animal Nutrition 4 cr *ANIMLSCI 365 Fundamentals in Veterinary & Biomedical Techniques Lab 3 cr *ANIMLSCI 375 Veterinary Microbiology 3 cr *,2 ANIMLSCI 455V Research Animal Management I 4 cr *,2 ANIMLSCI 456V Research Animal Management II 3 cr 1ANIMLSCI 472 Infection & Immunity 3 cr *,2 ANIMLSCI 425 Parasitology 3 cr *,2 ANIMLSCI 415 Clinical Nursing II 3 cr *,2 ANIMLSCI 435 Pharmacology 3 cr *,2 ANIMLSCI 405 Veterinary Practice Management 3 cr *,2 ANIMLSCI 465 Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging 3 cr *,2 ANIMLSCI 485 Small Animal Anesthesia and Surgery 4 cr ANIMLSCI 498V Veterinary Technology Internships 12 cr 2 ANIMLSCI 492V Senior seminar 1 cr Total Vet Tech core requirements 68 credits Elective 1-3 credits Total credits required to graduate 120 credits

• *Course proposals need to be submitted for experimental, minor or major changes. ANIMLSCI 425, 415 , 435, 405, 465, and 485 courses will be modified from existing Mt. Ida teach-out syllabi.

• 1Classes that will be taught at UMass Amherst and live-streamed to students at the Newton campus (ANIMLSCI 333, ANIMLSCI 472) or taught at both the Amherst and Newton campuses (ANIMLSCI 455).

• 2Classes that will be taught at the Newton campus. Suggested Sequence of courses- some courses will need to be offered both semesters to meet AVMA-required instructor:student ratios and the limitation of space in classes involving surgery.

Freshman Year- UMass Amherst campus ANIMLSCI 105 – Introduction to Veterinary Technology 4 ANIMLSCI 115 Clinical Nursing I 4

BIOLOGY 151 - Intro Biology I 4 BIOLOGY 152/153 - Intro Biology II/lab 5 MATH 104 - Pre-Calculus (waived with minimum 20 on part A of math placement exam) (Gen Ed R1)

3 CHEM 111 - General Chemistry I * 4


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General Education Class #1 – DG or DU +AL/AT,HS, or SB 4 ENGLWRIT 112 - College Writing 3

First Year Freshmen Seminar/RAP 1 Total 16 Total 16 Sophomore Year- UMass Amherst campus

ANIMLSCI 220 - Anatomy & Physiology 4 ANIMLSCI 200 - Cellular & Molecular Biol 4

ANIMLSCI 260 - Animal Welfare -GenEd SI 4 General Education Class # 2 AL/AT,HS,

or SB 4

CHEM 112 - General Chemistry II 4 STAT 240 or STAT 111 Statistics or RESEC 212 GenEd R2 3/4

ANIMLSCI 365 – Fundamentals in Veterinary & Biomedical Techniques Lab 3 ANIMLSCI 375 Veterinary Microbiology 3

Elective 1-3 Total 16-18 Total 15 Junior Year- UMass Newton campus ANIMLSCI 333- Equine, Cattle and Companion Animal Nutrition (Cisco teleconferencing from UMass Amherst)

4 General Education Class # 3 AL/AT,HS, or SB (available online at no additional cost)

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ANIMLSCI 415 Clinical Nursing II 3 ANIMLSCI 390V or NATSCI 387- Junior Year Writing 3

ANIMLSCI 455 - Research Animal Management I 4 ANIMLSCI 456 Research Animal

Management II 3

ANIMLSCI 472- Infection & Immunity (Cisco teleconferencing from UMass Amherst)

3 ANIMLSCI 425 Parasitology 3

ANIMLSCI 435 Pharmacology 3 Total 14 Total 16 Senior Year- UMass Newton campus ANIMLSCI 494V - IE: Veterinary Medical Practice, Law, and Ethics 3 ANIMLSCI 498V Internships at veterinary

clinic or research animal facilities 12

ANIMLSCI 405 Veterinary Practice Management 3 ANIMLSCI 492V Senior seminar 1

ANIMLSCI 465 Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging 3

ANIMLSCI 485 Small Animal Anesthesia and Surgery 4

Total 14 Total 13 * To enroll in CHEM 111 students must complete Math 104 or score 20 on Part A of Math placement test ANIMLSCI 498V: AVMA accreditation standards requires practical experience, of a minimum of 240 contact hours for the purpose of honing skills learned in the classroom. 12 credits represents 36 hours of work per week. Internship placements will be made through the legacy Mt. Ida College Vet Tech program or the UMass Amherst Dept of Veterinary and Animal Science veterinary and biotech internship network. To meet AVMA accreditation requirements, internships will be documented by the internship coordinator.


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AVMA-CVTEA required curriculum (see Appendix A for AVMA-CVTEA required essential skills) GENERAL COURSE MATERIAL: Applied mathematics- MATH 104, STAT 111, ANIMLSCI 200, ANIMLSCI 365 Biological science- BIOL 151, BIOL 152, ANIMLSCI 200 Communication skills- ENGLWRIT 112, ANIMLSCI 390V/NATSCI 387 Jr Year Writing, ANIMLSCI 494V Integrative Experience: Veterinary Medical Practice and Ethics, ANIMLSCI 498V, ANIMLSCI 392V Fundamentals of chemistry- CHEM 111, CHEM 112

SPECIFIC COURSE MATERIAL: Anatomy and physiology- ANIMLSCI 220 Anesthesia, including induction, monitoring, and instrumentation- ANIMLSCI 485 Animal husbandry, including restraint, behavior, species and breed identification, reproduction, sex determination, and human-animal bonding- ANIMLSCI 105, ANIMLSCI 260, ANIMLSCI 115 Biosecurity-safety and security issues- ANIMLSCI 105, ANIMLSCI 260, ANIMLSCI 115, ANIMLSCI 365, ANIMLSCI 375, ANIMLSCI 455V Clinical pathology and parasitology- ANIMLSCI 365, ANIMLSCI 375, ANIMLSCI 425 Parasitology, ANIMLSCI 415 Clinical Nursing II Communication/Interaction skills with clients and colleagues- ANIMLSCI 260, ANIMLSCI 405 Diseases, preventive medicine (including dentistry), and nursing of companion animals, food-producing animals, horses, exotic species, and laboratory animals- ANIMLSCI 472, ANIMLSCI 115, ANIMLSCI 415 Economics in veterinary practice- ANIMLSCI 405 Ethics, professionalism, and legal applications in veterinary medicine- ANIMLSCI 494 IE: Veterinary Medical Practice, Law, and Ethics Humane animal care and management- ANIMLSCI 260, ANIMLSCI 494V - IE: Veterinary Medical Practice, Law, and Ethics Introduction to laboratory animal medicine- ANIMLSCI 455, ANIMLSCI 456 Life-long learning concepts- UMass General Education courses Medical terminology-ANIMLSCI 105, ANIMLSCI 115, ANIMLSCI 415 Microbiology and immunology- ANIMLSCI 375, ANIMLSCI 472 Necropsy techniques- ANIMLSCI 455 Nutrition and principles of feeding- ANIMLSCI 333 Orientation to the profession of veterinary technology- ANIMLSCI 105 Pharmacology for veterinary technicians- ANIMLSCI 435 Principles of imaging, including radiography and ultrasonography- ANIMLSCI 465 Safety Issues, consistent with the CVTEA Statement on Safety with course work emphasis on zoonoses and occupational safety (see below, Appendix A).- ANIMLSCI 105, ANIMLSCI 115, ANIMLSCI 455, ANIMLSCI 456 Surgical nursing and assisting, including instrumentation- ANIMLSCI 485 Technician utilization and team concepts of health care delivery- ANIMLSCI 405 Value of professional organizations- ANIMLSCI 105, ANIMLSCI 405, ANIMLSCI 498V, ANIMLSCI 392V Veterinary office management and elementary computer skills- ANIMLSCI 105, ANIMLSCI 390V, ANIMLSCI 405, ANIMLSCI 498V, ANIMLSCI 392V


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4. Students. For first year and transfer students, outline requirements for admission and graduation, expected time from admission to graduation, projected degree completion rates, and transferability of program participants’ credits to other institutions. Describe the proposed program’s alignment to students emerging from the K-12 system. How will the program be connected to public secondary education in the region? Are there dual enrollment or early college opportunities being planned for the proposed program?

Admissions for the B.S. degree will be handled through the University of Massachusetts Amherst Admissions Office using the same criteria as for other students who are admitted to the University for the BS-Animal Science degree.

The expected time from admission to graduation for first year students is 4 years, or eight semesters. The expected time from admission to graduation for transfer students is 3 years, or six semesters, depending on the students’ previous preparation in math and science courses. This is based on our previous experience with the BS-Animal Science and BS-Pre-Veterinary Science majors who entered UMass as BS-Animal Science majors or who transferred, either from another major at UMass or from the outside. Previous experience and/or completion of essential skills will also determine time to degree completion.

First year and transfer students will be advised individually by departmental advisors to ensure that they are progressing towards their degree in a timely fashion, to promote student success, and to ensure that they are meeting the criteria for an AVMA-accredited program. The program has a built-in component for summer courses to be offered so as to facilitate the path of students who switch into the major from other majors or transfer from other universities. The program also includes the provision of availability of a number of online or blended (hybrid) classes in order to make sure that during the time when students are resident at the Mount Ida campus, they can still take advantage of those courses being offered at the Amherst campus and remain on schedule for on-time graduation. The Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences has a history of student retention and degree completion rates that are higher than the College of Natural Sciences average, and we expect to continue this with students in proposed BS-Vet Tech major. We also expect that the course credits will transfer to other institutions, as they will be of UMass Amherst standard. In addition to admission of students from high schools from across the Commonwealth, there will be significant opportunities for program alignment with agricultural high schools. We have already started discussions with agricultural high schools with veterinary medical programs to generate innovative approaches for more opportunities for their students. We already offer a summer program in veterinary medicine for high school students at the Amherst campus that attracts students from across the nation; we would like to expand this to the Newton campus. We note that, as can be seen in the budget projections, 80% of the students entering the program are expected to be Massachusetts residents. 5. Feasibility. Complete the Faculty Form that follows item C-7. Attach vitae for current faculty using vita form. Describe faculty, staffing, library and information technologies, facility (including lab and equipment), fiscal and or other resources required to implement the proposed program. Distinguish between resources needed and on-hand. Display positions to be filled with qualifications. Faculty and staffing resources on hand


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For AVMA accreditation, “Program personnel to student ratios shall not exceed 1:12 for laboratory courses without animals present and 1:8 for laboratory courses with animals present.” We currently reach this ratio at the Amherst campus for existing courses by supplementing instructors with undergraduate and graduate teaching assistants. If the AVMA mandates that we can’t use undergraduate and graduate teaching assistants, we will have to hire certified veterinary technicians. Faculty and staffing resources needed

• Program director- licensed veterinarian, full-time equivalent position, must be in place at the time of the initial application for accreditation and 3 months prior to the enrollment of students to allow adequate time for curriculum development and preparation. We anticipate that the program director will be based in Amherst and teach courses at the Amherst campus as well as overseeing the program and certifying essential skill acquisition at both campuses

• Minimum one full-time credentialed veterinary technician who is a graduate of an AVMA-CVTEA-accredited program, must be on staff 3 months prior to the enrollment of students. This CVT will be based in Amherst.

• Additional instructors with D.V.M., Ph.D. degrees or credentialed veterinary technicians/technologists (CVT) to meet teaching ratio and internship administration needs at the Amherst and Newton campuses.

• Office manager for the Newton campus • Animal care staff for the Newton campus

Library and information technologies on hand

• Email and internet access to UMass resources, including the library Library and information technologies needed

• Capability to have textbooks on reserve at Newton campus and to access online recommended textbooks for all taught subjects at the Newton Campus

• Ability to stream classes between the Amherst and Newton (e.g. Cisco Teleconferencing)

Facilities resources on hand

All of the laboratories, equipment, and library resources used for the Veterinary Technology program run by the former Mount Ida College have been retained at the Newton campus. This includes a state-of-the-art building dedicated exclusively to the Veterinary Technology program, which as of September 1, 2018 is being used by the university to educate the approximately 150 students in the Vet Tech teach-out. The Veterinary Technology Center was built in 2009. The VTC consists of one lecture classroom seating 24 students and office space for faculty, staff, and adjuncts. There is one microscopy lab with a prep/storage room which can be used for microbiology, clinical pathology, parasitology, and anatomy & physiology labs. The animal housing space and clinical labs are located off a locked key card accessed “U” shaped hall. There are two flex rooms for visiting animals (birds, goats, turtles, snakes etc.) and a large dog run area leading out to an indoor and outdoor “play” space. There are “cat condos”, a rabbit room, rodent room, and two recovery rooms. There are also two clinical classrooms and a surgical suite. The facilities in Newton are primarily designed for small animal care.


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The Amherst campus, by contrast, has multiple facilities for working with large animals. Two farms located close to the Amherst campus, Hadley Farm (2 miles) and South Deerfield Farm (10 miles), offer excellent accommodation and natural grazing for sheep, goats, poultry, horses and cattle. Besides barns and fields, these facilities have pens, indoor arenas, individual animal isolation areas and modern teaching classrooms with projection systems. Currently, our students routinely work with these species at these facilities. Moreover, the laboratory courses are taught in recently built laboratory space in the main campus in the same building that houses the majority of the department’s faculty and their research laboratories. These teaching laboratories are equipped with a variety of state-of-the-art laboratory equipment to perform a wide range of blood tests and biochemical analysis, chemical analyzers, and microscopes. The UMass Amherst campus has extensive research animal facilities that house rodents, rabbits, fish and frogs, and our students currently have access to these spaces and their management. Some of the facilities that house rodents and frogs are located in the basement of the same building that houses faculty offices and teaching laboratories and others are in located in adjacent buildings that are within walking distance.

Facilities resources needed Future investments will be used to further improve our farms to facilitate the use of animals by our students, to acquire new diagnostic equipment and to purchase demonstration life-size animal models, organs and limbs for both Amherst and Newton campuses. The AVMA recommends that models be substituted for live animals whenever possible. 6. Licensure and Accreditation. Is this program intended to prepare students for licensure? If yes, name licensure organization and licensing exam. Project student passing rates. What professional or specialized accreditation will be pursued for the program? Project accreditation timelines.

The proposed BS-Veterinary Technology program is intended to prepare students for licensure as Certified Veterinary Technologists. Licensure is governed by state veterinary boards or certified veterinary technician associations, and a passing grade in the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) is usually required. Permission to take the VTNE is governed by state veterinary boards and is usually limited to students graduating from an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program. National VTNE passing rates for 2016-17 were 70%. The CVTEA requires that a program's three-year mean rolling VTNE pass percentage for first-time test takers must be 50 percent or higher. Compliance is expected by Sept. 1, 2020. Programs not in compliance at that time may be subject to an adverse accreditation status. Thus, our goal is to meet or exceed a pass rate of 70% by preparation reinforced by review in the senior seminar and by strongly encouraging all graduates of the program to take the test. We plan to apply to the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) for initial and then full accreditation by submitting an application and self-study report, forming an Evaluation team for the site visit, and conducting a site visit. The CVTEA then provides the program a draft Report of Evaluation for review and comment. The program presents a final draft Report of Evaluation to the CVTEA for consideration of accreditation. 7. Program Effectiveness Goals, Objectives, and Assessment. Complete the Program Goals table. (Please note that this section is intended to focus on overall effectiveness, not student learning, which is addressed elsewhere.)


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Linked to each goal should be measurable objectives – such as job placement rates, faculty additions, facility or programmatic enhancements, etc. – timetable, and, if applicable, strategies for achieving them.

PROGRAM GOALS

Goal Measurable Objective Strategy for Achievement

Timetable

Critical mass of BS-Vet Tech faculty members

Have enough faculty members in VASCI dept. to teach all Vet Tech courses

Hire licensed veterinarian as program director, certified veterinary technician or technologist, other instructors and teaching assistants need to maintain AVMA ratios.

Hiring schedule: Summer and Fall 2019

Critical mass of BS-Vet Tech students

Have sufficient number of students at the Newton campus to sustain program financially

Admit students to BS-Vet Tech program, advertise program on website and through monthly info sessions and open houses

Fall 2019: advising current and prospective students about their options so as soon as the new major is available, they can choose it. Spring 2020: admit first class as BS-Vet Tech for Fall 2020

Maintain high quality BS-Vet Tech students

Maintain or exceed quality of students at current level in BS-Animal Science and BS-Pre-Vet majors

Brief admissions on science and math requirements for BS-Vet Tech majors, as we currently do for BS-Animal Science and BS-Pre-Vet. Monitor average SAT score of our majors- it is now comparable with that of other life science majors.

Students with be admitted as usual for Fall 2019; the first class that will have BS-Vet Tech listed on the application will be in Fall 2020

High quality education of certified veterinary technologists

Achieve AVMA- CVTEA accreditation

Submit application, site visit, submit self-study

Spring 2019 start application process


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Successful career start for students

VTNE pass rate and job placement rates

Strongly encourage taking the VTNE so that we can achieve a pass rate above 70%. Maintain and expand student internship opportunities in diverse areas of veterinary medicine. Track student job placement though survey.

Spring 2020. Work with prospective employers.

Describe program assessment strategies that will be used to ensure continuing quality, relevance and effectiveness. Include plans for program review including timetable, use of assessment outcomes, etc. To gain initial accreditation and remain an accredited program, the AVMA requires continued assessment and improvement, with a self-study submitted during the accreditation process and annual reports required after initial accreditation. Further, the CVTEA monitors the VTNE passing percentage for first-time test takers and therefore, assessment of these passing rates and efforts to improve them will serve as annual reminder to ensure quality and effectiveness. We will also form an external advisory board with members from the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association, CVTs practicing in Massachusetts, and private practice veterinarians to provide external input regarding the skills needed to succeed in practice as well as suggestions for new training.

Faculty Form Summary of Faculty who will teach in the proposed program. Please list full-time faculty first, alphabetically by last name. Add additional rows as necessary.

Name of faculty member (Name, Degree and Field, Title)

Ten-ured Y/N

Courses Taught Put (C) to indicate core course. Put (OL) next to any course currently taught online.

# of sect-ions

Division or College of Employment

Full- or Part- time in Program

Full- or part- time in other department or program (Please specify)

Sites where individual will teach program courses

Example: Apple, Thomas Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Assistant Professor

Y • Intro to Bus (C,OL)

• Management (C)

• Research Methods (C)

(2) (3) (3)

Evening College of Engineering

Full-time No • Main Campus

• Quincy campus

•

Cousin, Helene, Ph.D., Developmental

N • ANIMLSCI 220 (C)

(1) College of Natural Sciences

Full-time No

• UMass Amherst

•


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Biology Research Assistant Professor & Lecturer Marston, Susan, Ph.D., Dairy Nutrition and Management Lecturer



Full-time No

• UMass Amherst

•

Telfer, Janice, Ph.D., Immunology & Infectious Disease Professor, Undergraduate Program Director and Director of Pre-Vet Advising

Y • ANIMLSCI 200 (C) and (OL)

(1 C) (1 OL)

College of Natural Sciences

Full-time No

• UMass Amherst

•

Minter, Lisa Ph.D., Immunology, Associate Professor

Y • ANIMLSCI 365 (C)


Full-time No

• UMass Amherst

•

Uricchio, Cassandra Ph.D., Nutrition and Certified Equine Rehabilitation Practitioner, Lecturer



Full-time No

• UMass Amherst

•

Baldwin, Cynthia, Ph.D., Immunology and Infectious Disease, Professor

Y • ANIMLSCI 472 (C)


Full-time No • UMass Amherst

•

Dunphy, Karen Ph.D., Genetics of Cancer, Research Assistant Professor & Lecturer



Part-time No • UMass Amherst

•

•

Instructors not currently in staff will be hired during the Fall of 2019 and Spring of 2020. Instructors to be determined for (1) ANIMLSCI 105 Introduction to Veterinary Technology (Amherst), (2) ANIMLSCI 115 Clinical Nursing I (Amherst), (3) ANIMLSCI 455V/456V Research Animal Management I /II (Newton), (4) ANIMLSCI 494 IE: Veterinary Medical Practice, Law, and Ethics (Newton), (5) ANIMLSCI 390V/NATSCI 387 Junior Year Writing (Newton), (6) ANIMLSCI 425 Parasitology (Newton), (7) ANIMLSCI 415 Clinical Nursing II (Newton), (7) ANIMLSCI 405 Veterinary Practice Management (Newton), (8) ANIMLSCI 465 Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (Newton), (9) ANIMLSCI 485 Small Animal Anesthesia and Surgery (Newton), (11) ANIMLSCI 435 Pharmacology (Newton), (12) ANIMLSCI 498V Veterinary Technology Internships, (13) ANIMLSCI 492V Senior seminar

D. External Review.


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Achieving initial and full accreditation of the UMass Amherst Vet Tech program by the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) is critical to the success of the program. The outline of the procedure is as follows:

• Initial program application- certification of institutional accreditation, rationale for program, membership roster and charge of advisory committee, certification of hire of full-time veterinarian director and full-time CVT, $3000 application fee, submission of Steps 1 and 2 of the Initial Application Material and Feedback document

• AVMA confirms receipt of initial program application within 10 days • Initial review (site visit date set after approval of materials requested below):

Step 1 - Prior to student enrollment in veterinary technology specific coursework, the program must submit the following information: § Date students were first enrolled and anticipated date of first graduating class § List of program faculty with date of hire and credentials § Program curriculum outline with suggested course sequence and descriptions § Description of facility to be used for primary clinical instruction § An example of standardized criteria used for evaluation of student acquisition of

essential skills § A description of how student acquisition of essential skills will be evaluated and

documented § A description of clinical resources available to the program (Standard V) Step 2 - Prior to animal use in program coursework, the program must submit the following: § Membership of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), § Example of an IACUC-approved animal care and use protocol, and § Copy of recent IACUC meeting minutes.

• After approval of initial review materials, a site visit date is set when courses are in session and the initial class has completed approximately 2/3 of the curriculum. The AVMA cautions that approval of initial review materials does not guarantee the granting of initial accreditation.

• A self-study review is due exactly 8 weeks before the date of the site review. AVMA will provide a draft Report on Evaluation based on the self-study review provided by the program.

• After the site visit, AVMA will provide a draft Report on Evaluation to the Vet Tech program director. The program will have 10 days to respond to any critical and major deficiencies that would result in an adverse judgement (withholding initial accreditation). The program will have the opportunity to respond to any newly identified critical and major deficiencies during this process.

• A final Report on Evaluation is prepared and the CVTEA votes on whether to grant initial accreditation.

• If initial accreditation is granted, the program must submit annual evaluation reports until the program has been accredited for 5 years, at which point the program will reach the status of full accreditation.

The first formal review of the UMass-Veterinary Technologist program by the AVMA CVTEA will take place the year prior to the expected graduation of the first class. This therefore will be approximately in the Fall of 2022. Until then, we will continue operating under the major change accreditation agreement granted to the Mt Ida program.


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E. Market Analysis Provide enrollment projections for Years 1-4.

PROGRAM ENROLLMENT PROJECTION – SAMPLE FORMAT

# of

Students Year 1

# of Students Year 2

# of Students Year 3

# of Students Year 4*

New Full Time 35 60 60

60

Continuing Full Time 33 87

140

New Part Time

Continuing Part Time

Totals

35 93 147

200

1. Need for graduates. What is the local/regional/state labor market outlook for graduates of the proposed program? What occupations are students being prepared for after graduation? Name the common entry-level job titles. Are there enough economic opportunities in these fields to support the scale of program you intend to build? At present, how many students graduate with this credential in the region you serve compared to the number of relevant job postings? Which local employers are hiring the most entry-level people in these fields? Use real time labor market information for the proposed program. How will you give students experience with the information technology tools in use in their field? Include data and data sources that form the basis for need assessment. Include data and data sources that form the basis for need assessment. e.g. Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (http://www.mass.gov/lwd/economic-data/projections/) or US Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov) The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development projects an 18.61% growth in Veterinary Technologist and Technician positions in Massachusetts by 2026. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 20% increase, significantly more than the average for other professions, which is 7%. The annual mean wage of Veterinary Technicians and Technologists in Massachusetts is $40,950; Massachusetts is the fourth highest paying state for this occupation. A BS degree in Veterinary Technology from an AVMA-accredited program, and passing the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), would qualify the student for a job as a certified Veterinary Technologist (in contrast, an Associate degree and passing the VTNE would qualify them to be a certified Veterinary Technician). Veterinary Technologists are hired by veterinary clinics and emergency hospitals, as well as by academic and biotechnology companies. Because Veterinary Technologists can specialize and enter management positions, they generally earn more than Veterinary Technicians. If Massachusetts restricts the veterinary medical duties now performed by uncertified personnel to CVTs, as New York State has already done, this will further increase the demand for CVTs. Because the Mt. Ida College Vet Tech program has already been graduating approximately 75 students per year, the UMass Amherst Vet Tech major would be replacing these students. An 18.6-20% growth rate would provide room for expansion.


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Students will practice the information technology tools in use in their field during their course work and in their internships. 2. Student Demand / Target Market. What is the student market for the proposed program? Discuss demographics, location, proposed market share, etc. Provide data, e.g., survey results, etc., that form the basis for enrollment projections. The student market for the proposed program is students admitted to UMass Amherst with an interest in veterinary medicine. Currently, ~90% of the students entering the BS-Animal Science major plan to switch to the BS-Pre-Vet major at the end of their sophomore year and apply to veterinary medical school at the end of their junior year. However, 60-70% of the graduating class either do not apply to veterinary medical school or defer their application. Many of these students go on to work in veterinary clinics, research, education, or in animal care. If they want to gain status as a credentialed veterinary technician to increase their salary, they currently can only take the VTNE by application to the veterinary state board of 3 states, which can change their criteria at any time. The Massachusetts veterinary state board does not allow students graduating from UMass Amherst with a BS-Animal Science or BS-Pre-Vet to take the VTNE. Our alumni often go to 2-year programs at community colleges to earn the right to take the VTNE, incurring additional expense. In a survey in Spring of 2019 with 79 sophomore student respondents, 53 or 67% responded that they were interested in pursuing a BS-Vet Tech degree at the UMass Amherst Newton campus. This roughly tracks the percent of students in the graduating class who decide to work in veterinary clinics veterinary clinics, research, education, or in animal care. Besides the students already in our programs, we expect to attract additional students whose primary career plan in certified veterinary technologist, expanding the baseline of our major. 3. Duplication. Identify existing public and private programs/institutions in the region or state that offer the same or similar programs. Discuss size / enrollment trends for these programs. There is only one other 4-year bachelor’s program in Veterinary Technology in Massachusetts, other than the teach-out underway at the UMass Amherst Newton campus: Becker College. The other programs are 2-year Associate degree programs, offered at community colleges: Holyoke, North Shore, and Massasoit. There are ten AVMA-accredited distance education programs. 4. Competitive advantage. Apart from the obvious pricing advantage of public institutions, what will distinguish the proposed program in the academic marketplace? Regional and National Recognition: The new degree program will be part of the well-recognized College of Natural Sciences on UMass’ flagship campus. Further, the hosting department, Veterinary and Animal Sciences, is a nationally ranked program, recognized for the success of alumni in gaining admission to veterinary medical colleges, and is among the elite Animal Sciences programs in the country regarding extramural research support and research output. We expect that the proposed BS-Vet Tech major will be nationally ranked. Full On-Campus Experience: The degree program is a full degree program that provides students with the complete on-campus experience provided by UMass Amherst, including general education experiences, integrative experiences, basic science courses, opportunities to engage in discovery-based research, hands on animal experience, and supportive advising to ensure student success. In addition, the Newton campus, where students will spend the last two years, will offer additional educational opportunities, including access to diverse internships in veterinary clinics, research laboratories, Biotech companies, and shelters in the Boston area. Further, students will be enrolled on a series of advanced clinical courses that will fulfill the AVMA essential skill requirements as well as providing an unparalleled exposure to the research animal model


17

experience expressly designed to meet Massachusetts Biotech industry workforce needs. These courses will be developed for this program and taught by PhD, DVM, and CVT faculty with a record of teaching experience and professional success. State-of-the-Art Research: We expect that our students will have additional training in research methodologies. The availability of state-of the-art facilities, such as in the Institute of Applied Life Sciences (IALS), can provide students with research experiences (e.g., summer REU) that can distinguish this degree program from others. Further, the expansive research focus of the department on topics ranging from cancer and cancer diagnosis, developmental biology, reproductive biology and infertility, infectious diseases, immunology and vaccines, and toxicology, will give our students the opportunity to gain advanced knowledge on research procedures and methodologies. Further, our research relies heavily on the use of animal models from mice to ruminants, which will make possible for students to gain experience with a variety of species while learning experimental design and cellular and molecular procedures, all of which will open for them a host of opportunities in the burgeoning Boston-based Biotech industry. 5. Marketing Plan. Describe the institution's marketing plan, including time lines, for the proposed program?

We plan to advertise this program (pending approval of this proposal) starting Fall 2019 to potential freshmen who plan to join UMass in Fall 2020. The marketing will be done as part of the College of Natural Sciences advertising efforts, as well as with targeted ads announcing the new program through the College of Natural Sciences Communications Office and our own website.

E. Budget Projection a. Budget Narrative. Explain assumptions underlying expense and income projections, e.g., instructor status, enrollment projections, field and clinical resources, etc. Describe additional cost/revenue impacts within the broader departmental/institutional budget. To win initial accreditation and successfully establish this program, enough faculty members with the necessary expertise in Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Technology will need to be hired. We assume the following hiring schedule:

• Year -1 (FY 2019): 1 Lecturer- DVM- Founding Director-Amherst campus. • Year 1 (FY 2020): Newton campus: 1- Lecturer-Attending Veterinarian, 2-CVTs, ½-

administrative staff hire, 2- Technicians, 1-Part-time instructor; Amherst Campus: 1-CVT.

• Year 2 and/or 3 (FY 2021/2022): Newton campus: 1- Lecturer- Veterinarian, 1-CVTs. Personnel hiring completed.

Space for these new hires is available both on the UMass Amherst campus, as well as at the Newton campus. In steady state, we plan to enroll 50 new students per year in this degree program (40 students in-state, 10 students out-of-state). The tuition and fee revenues are sufficient to offset the costs of implementing this program.

b. Program Budget. Complete and attach the line item budget for the proposed program for the first four years.

(use “UMass New Program Budget Template- BOT and DHE Approval Final.xlsx” and fill out both income and expense sheets)


18

Budget categories include facilities, library, faculty, staff, field/clinical experiences, revenues from grants, tuition or other sources, etc. Reallocated funds should specify reallocations from existing campus resources to support the proposed program, including funds reallocated from discontinued or downsized programs. Indicate one-time/start-up costs and revenues. Please include the following as Attachments :

(please send .docx files not pdfs) UMass New Program Budget Template- BOT and DHE Approval Final.xlsx Curriculum outline (templates below) 2-5 page course descriptions (use template)

External review team report Institutional response to external review

2-4 page Vitae for current faculty (use template)

Please do not attach additional appendices.


19

Undergraduate Program Curriculum Outline

(Insert additional rows as necessary.)

Major Required (Core) Courses (# Total courses required = 21) Course Number Course Title Credit Hours ANIMLSCI 105 Intro to Veterinary Technology 4 ANIMLSCI 115 Clinical Nursing I 4 ANIMLSCI 220 Anatomy & Physiology 4 ANIMLSCI 260 Animal Welfare (Gen Ed SI) 4 ANIMLSCI 200 Animal Cellular & Molecular Biology 4 ANIMLSCI 365 Fundamentals in Veterinary & Biomedical Techniques

Lab 3

ANIMLSCI 375 Veterinary Microbiology 3 ANIMLSCI 333 Equine, Cattle and Companion Animal Nutrition 4 ANIMLSCI 390V Jr. Year Writing (or NATSCI 387, Gen Ed JW) 3 ANIMLSCI 455V Research Animal Management I 4 ANIMLSCI 456V Research Animal Management II 3 ANIMLSCI 472 Infection & Immunity 3 ANIMLSCI 425 Parasitology 3 ANIMLSCI 415 Clinical Nursing II 3 ANIMLSCI 435 Pharmacology 3 ANIMLSCI 405 Veterinary Practice Management 3 ANIMLSCI 465 Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging 3 ANIMLSCI 485 Small Anesthesia and Surgery 4 ANIMLSCI 498V Veterinary Technology Internships 12 ANIMLSCI 492V Senior seminar 1 ANIMLSCI 494V Integrative Experience: Veterinary Medical Practice and

Ethics (Gen Ed IE) 3

Sub Total Core Credits 78 Other Required Courses in Related Subject Areas (# Total courses required = 5)

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours BIOL 151 Intro Biology I 4 BIOL 152 Intro Biology II 3 BIOL 153 Intro Biology Lab 2 CHEM 111 General Chemistry I with lab 4 CHEM 112 General Chemistry II with lab 4 Sub Total Related Credits 17


20

Elective Courses (# Total courses required =2) Course Number Course Title Credit Hours

First year seminar, can be fulfilled with ANIMLSCI RAP seminar

1

Elective 1-3 Sub Total Elective Credits 2-4 Distribution of General Education Requirements Attach List of General Education Offerings (Course Numbers, Titles, and Credits)

# of Credits

Arts and Humanities, including Literature and Foreign Languages 1) 1 AL/AT Gen Ed, 4 cr (2 Gen Ed in combination with DU or DG designation) 2) 1 HS Gen Ed, 4 cr (2 Gen Ed in combination with DU or DG designation) 3) ENGLWRIT 112, 3 cr (unless waived, Gen Ed CW)

11

Mathematics and the Natural and Physical Sciences 4) MATH 104 or MATH 101/102 or waiver with minimum score of 20 on part A of math placement exam- Pre-calculus, 3-4 cr (Gen Ed R1) 5) STAT 111, 240 or RESEC 112 Statistics, 3-4 cr (Gen Ed R2)

6-8

Social Sciences 6) 1 SB Gen Ed (2 Gen Ed in combination with DU or DG designation)

4

Sub Total General Education Credits 21-23

Curriculum Summary Total number of courses required for the degree 34

Total credit hours required for degree 120

Prerequisite or Other Additional Requirements:

APPENDIX A Veterinary Technology Student Essential and Recommended Skills List

The Essential and Recommended Skills List (Skills List) is a resource for veterinary technology programs to utilize for curriculum development and instruction as well as an accreditation monitoring tool for CVTEA. The Skills List represents the complex role of the veterinary technician and encourages instruction in motor, critical thinking and clinical application skills at the entry veterinary technician level. A veterinary technician student, having completed the curriculum, will have gained the prerequisite knowledge and perspective to enable him/her to carry out the following decision making abilities.

The program must provide documentation of standard criteria for evaluating each student's completion of every essential skill. These criteria must be consistent with standards that reflect contemporary veterinary medicine.

Although the Skills List will serve as a foundation on which to build each program's curriculum, Veterinary Technology instructors are encouraged to expand the list with additional skills


21

representing current trends in veterinary medicine including each observable step necessary for completion of skill.

Required tasks are denoted by an asterisk (*). Italicized text denotes hands-on (psychomotor) skills; all other text denotes didactic

(knowledge-based) skills. The term "demonstrate" along with a didactic (knowledge-based) skill means that the

instructor is free to determine the best method(s) for the student to demonstrate mastery or understanding of that particular skill to the instructor. The term "demonstrate" is not

synonymous with "hands-on".

Skills indicated by the designation [GROUP] may be performed by a group of program students. The appropriate size of the group will be determined by the task being performed

taking into account humane treatment of the subject animal. Each member of the group must play an active role in the completion of the task.

Students are expected to physically perform skills that are italicized. Skill assessment is expected to be performed on live animals.

(a) 1. OFFICE AND HOSPITAL PROCEDURES, CLIENT RELATIONS, and COMMUNICATION

Management

Skill: Participate in facility management utilizing traditional and electronic media and appropriate veterinary medical terminology and abbreviations.

Tasks:

§ Schedule appointments, admit, discharge and triage according to client, patient and facility needs through phone and in-person contact*

o Recognize and respond to veterinary medical emergencies* § Create and maintain individual client records, vaccination certificates, and other

appropriate forms*: o develop computer skills* o be able to utilize veterinary practice management software* o be familiar with veterinary on-line services* (e.g. laboratory submissions, client

financing plans, continuing education, discussion groups) § Perform basic filing of medical records, radiographs, lab reports, etc.* § Create and maintain all appropriate facility records and logs in compliance with

regulatory guidelines (e.g., radiography, surgery, anesthesia, laboratory, controlled substance)*

§ Manage inventory control* § Recognize roles of appropriate regulatory agencies* § Maintain appropriate disposal protocols for hazardous materials* § Establish and maintain appropriate sanitation and infection control protocols for a

veterinary facility, including patient and laboratory area* § Handle daily client-based financial transactions*


22

Decision-making abilities: Taking into account the characteristics of the facility, patients and clients, the veterinary technician will effectively contribute to the professional and efficient operation of the facility in order to provide maximum benefits to clients, patients, and the facility.

Communication

Skill: Communicate in a professional manner in all formats - written, oral, non-verbal, and electronic.

Tasks:

§ Demonstrate an understanding of interpersonal skills and team dynamics* § Utilize appropriate interpersonal and public relations skills* § Demonstrate telephone etiquette* (e.g. through role playing, educational resources, etc.) § Recognize the legality of the veterinary-client-patient relationship* § Develop and provide client education in a clear and accurate manner at a level the client

understands (i.e., oral and written form, including educational handouts)* § Apply crisis intervention/grief management skills with clients* Decision-making abilities: Taking into account the patient, client, staff and circumstances, the veterinary technician will effectively and accurately acquire and convey information utilizing an appropriate communication mode.

Laws and Ethics

Skill: Follow and uphold applicable laws and the veterinary technology profession's ethical codes to provide high quality care to patients.

Tasks:

§ Understand and observe legal boundaries of veterinary health care team members* § Interact professionally with clients and fellow staff members* § Demonstrate a commitment to high quality patient care* § Respect and protect the confidentiality of client and patient information* Decision-making abilities: Given knowledge of legal limitations and applicable ethical standards, the veterinary technician will carry out her/his duties within appropriate legal boundaries and maintain high ethical standards to provide high quality service to clients, patients, employers and the veterinary profession.

(b) 2. PHARMACY and PHARMACOLOGY Administration

Skill: Safely and effectively administer prescribed drugs to patients.

Tasks:

§ Read and follow veterinarian's pharmacy orders*


23

§ Recognize groups of drugs, their mechanisms, and clinically relevant side effects* § Recognize the safe and effective manner in which vaccines must be administered;

recognize and explain common side effects* § Accurately perform appropriate calculations; use weights and measures correctly* § Safely and effectively administer drugs by common parenteral and enteral routes; explain

appropriate routes and methods and when used* § Monitor therapeutic responses* § Demonstrate the ability to accurately record medical information* § Demonstrate understanding of controlled substance regulations* § Demonstrate compliance with all federal regulatory guidelines for drug purchase, storage,

administration, withdrawal, dispensing, disposal, and inventory control (e.g., biologics and therapeutic agents, pesticides, and hazardous wastes)*

Decision-making abilities: Given the characteristics of the patient, the instructions of the veterinarian and the medication to be used, the veterinary technician will calculate the correct amount of medication in the prescribed form and administer it by the prescribed route to maximize therapeutic benefits and minimize the potential for adverse effects. The veterinary technician shall also be able to differentiate between abnormal and normal responses to medication.

Dispensing

Skill: Accurately dispense and explain prescribed drugs to clients.

Tasks:

§ Given a drug order, properly prepare medications for dispensing, including performing accurate calculations*

§ Demonstrate compliance with regulations governing prescription drugs versus over-the-counter drugs*

§ Demonstrate understanding of regulations governing maintenance of controlled substances log book*

§ Demonstrate compliance with all federal regulatory guidelines for drug purchase, storage, administration, withdrawal, dispensing, disposal, and inventory control (e.g., biologics and therapeutic agents, pesticides, and hazardous wastes)*

§ Relay drug information to clients (e.g., handling, storage, administration, side-effects, drug interactions, safety, reasons for use of drug)*

Decision-making abilities: Given the characteristics of the patient, the instructions of the veterinarian and the medication to be used, the veterinary technician will (1) accurately calculate and dispense the correct form and dose of medication and (2) communicate necessary client information in order to maximize safety, compliance with prescribed therapy and successful treatment of the patient. The veterinary technician should also be proficient at performing inventory control procedures.

(c) 3. NURSING Patient assessment


24

Skill: Demonstrate and perform patient assessment techniques in a variety of animal species.

Tasks:

§ Recognize common domestic animal species and breeds* § Describe and use common animal identification methods* § Demonstrate effective and appropriate humane restraint techniques for various animal

species: o properly restrain dogs and cats for procedures* o encage and remove dogs or cats from cages* o apply dog muzzle safely* o apply Elizabethan collar* o use restraint pole and other restraint aids*[GROUP] o halter, tie, and lead horses/ponies/donkeys/mules* o restrain pocket pets and exotics o restrain cattle and horses/ponies/donkeys/mules*

o apply twitch (horses/ponies/donkeys/mules)*[GROUP] o apply bovine tail restraint* o apply bovine halter*

o restrain sheep and pigs o load large animals o safely operate cattle chute*[GROUP]

§ Obtain a thorough patient history* § Demonstrate the ability to obtain objective patient data:

o temperature (dog, cat, horse/pony/donkey/mule, cow)* o pulse (dog, cat, horse/pony/donkey/mule, cow)* o respiration (dog, cat, horse/pony/donkey/mule, cow)* o auscultate heart/lungs* (dog, cat, horse/pony/donkey/mule, cow) o assess hydration status

§ Properly collect diagnostic specimens for analysis (ex: urine, blood, feces, specimens for cytology)* • Perform venipuncture:

o cephalic (dog, cat)* o jugular (dog, cat, horse/pony/donkey/mule, ruminant)* o saphenous (dog, cat)* o sublingual (dog) o ear (pig) o coccygeal (cow) o anterior vena cava (pig)

• Collect urine sample: o catheterize male dog* [GROUP] o catheterize female dog


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o catheterize female cat o catheterize male cat o collect voided urine sample (dog or cat)* o perform cystocentesis (dog or cat)*[GROUP] o catheterize large animal

§ Prepare diagnostic specimens for shipment* Decision-making abilities: Given the characteristics of the patient, the veterinary technician will safely and efficiently obtain subjective and objective patient data that will allow accurate evaluation of the patient's physical status with minimum stress and maximum safety.

Patient care

Skill: Understand and demonstrate husbandry, nutrition, therapeutic and dentistry techniques appropriate to various animal species.

Tasks: Husbandry

§ Grooming: o Demonstrate understanding of therapeutic bathing, basic grooming, and dipping

of dogs or cats* o trim nails (dog, cat)* o trim hooves (ruminant, horse/pony/donkey/mule) o apply equine tail and leg wraps* o express canine anal sacs* o clean and medicate ears (dog, cat)* o clean sheath (horse/pony/donkey/mule)

§ Perform microchip scanning and implantation § Environmental conditions: implement sanitation procedures for animal holding and

housing areas* § Demonstrate understanding of permanent identification* § Demonstrate understanding of breeding/reproduction techniques* § Demonstrate understanding of care of orphan animals § Demonstrate understanding of nursing care of newborns* Decision-making abilities: Given the characteristics of the patient, the veterinary technician will implement appropriate husbandry techniques to enhance wellness and reduce risk of disease, injury and stress.

Tasks: Nutrition

§ Understand life stage energy and nutrient requirements of well animals (dog, cat, horse/pony/donkey/mule, cow)*

§ Identify common grains and forages § Understand key nutritional factors in disease conditions*

o be familiar with therapeutic foods*


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§ Understand current developments in nutritional supplements and additives including benefits and potential toxicities*

§ Understand and identify substances that when ingested result in toxicity: o identify common poisonous plants* o be familiar with substances (organic and inorganic) that cause toxicity*

§ Develop and communicate hospital nutrition protocols* Decision-making abilities: Given the characteristics of the patient, the veterinary technician will understand appropriate and inappropriate dietary components for various life stages and therapeutic regimens (e.g., therapeutic foods) in order to promote optimal health, enhance recovery and manage chronic disease conditions. The veterinary technician will also explain nutritional recommendations to clients and reinforce owner compliance.

Tasks: Therapeutics

§ Administer parenteral medications: o subcutaneous (dog, cat, ruminant)* o intramuscular (dog, cat, horse/pony/donkey/mule)* o intradermal (ruminant, dog) o intramammary (mastitis therapy only) (ruminant) o intravenous (dog, cat, ruminant, equine)*

§ Administer enteral medications: o balling gun (ruminant)* o dose syringe (ruminant, horse/pony/donkey/mule)* o gastric intubation (dog or cat)*[GROUP] o hand pilling (dog, cat)* o gastric lavage (dog) o dose syringe (pig) o oral speculum and stomach tube (ruminant) o nasogastric intubation (dog or cat, horse/pony/donkey/mule)

§ Administer topical medications (including ophthalmic)* § Perform ocular diagnostic tests (including tonometry, fluorescein staining and Schirmer

tear test)* § Administer enemas*[GROUP] § Collect/evaluate skin scrapings* § Fluid therapy:

o administer subcutaneous fluids* o place intravenous catheters (cephalic*, saphenous*, jugular) o maintain and care for catheters* o determine/maintain fluid infusion rate* o monitor patient hydration status* o develop familiarity with fluid delivery systems*

§ Apply and remove bandages and splints* § Remove casts


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§ Develop understanding of wound management and abscess care* § Perform physical therapy:

o hydrotherapy o post-operative o orthopedic o neurological o explain care of recumbent patient*

§ Perform critical care: o maintain chest, tracheostomy, esophagostomy tubes o collect and crossmatch blood for transfusion*[GROUP] o blood typing o perform blood transfusions (autotransfusions may be considered)

§ Apply established emergency protocols (simulation acceptable): o maintain emergency medical supplies/crash cart* o perform first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation* o use resuscitation bag* o apply emergency splints and bandages*

Decision-making abilities: Given the directions of the veterinarian and the characteristics of the patient, the veterinary technician will carry out appropriate therapeutic techniques in order to achieve maximum health benefits for the patient.

Tasks: Dentistry

§ Perform routine dental prophylaxis (manual and machine)* § Understand client education regarding home care* § Float teeth § Clip teeth Decision-making abilities: Given the characteristics of the patient, the veterinary technician will recognize a patient's dental health status and perform techniques, as prescribed by a veterinarian, appropriate to the species and its condition in order to promote and maintain dental health.

(d) 4. ANESTHESIA Patient management

Skill: Safely and effectively manage and maintain patients in all phases of anesthesia.

Tasks:

§ Calculate dosages of appropriate anesthetic-related drugs* § Administer anesthetic-related drugs (injection, endotracheal tube, mask)* § Place endotracheal tubes in patients* § Utilize clinical signs and appropriate equipment to monitor patient status during

anesthetic procedures* (e.g., esophageal stethoscope, blood pressure monitor, capnometer, electrocardiogram, pulse oximeter)*


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§ Evaluate patient and implement pain management protocols as directed* § Recognize and respond appropriately to patients in compromised states* § Perform appropriate resuscitation procedures as needed (e.g., calculate and administer

appropriate anesthetic antagonists and emergency drugs as directed)* § Complete controlled substance log* (does not need to be official controlled substance

log; mock logs may be utilized) Decision-making abilities: Given the characteristics of the anesthetized patient and the procedure being performed, the veterinary technician will work with the veterinarian to:

1. Assess the patient's risk status and determine appropriate anesthetic and perianesthetic protocols to provide effective pain management and maximum anesthetic safety and effectiveness.

2. Choose and utilize appropriate techniques and equipment to accurately and effectively monitor the patient's ongoing status before, during and after anesthesia to provide for adequate anesthesia, analgesia and a safe recovery.

Equipment/facility management

Skill: Safely and effectively select, utilize and maintain anesthetic delivery and monitoring instruments and equipment.

Tasks:

§ Maintain and operate anesthetic delivery and monitoring equipment: o pulse oximeter* o capnometer* o esophageal stethoscope* o electrocardiograph (e.g., recognize abnormal rhythms/audible sounds, properly

apply leads)* o anesthetic machines, including rebreathing systems, non-rebreathing systems and

masks* o endotracheal tubes* o resuscitation bag* o scavenging systems* o oxygen sources* o blood pressure monitoring devices* o laryngoscopes* o ventilator o defibrillator o temperature monitoring device* (e.g. thermometer, etc.)

Decision-making abilities:

1. Given the characteristics of the anesthetic instruments and equipment being used, the veterinary technician will recognize and respond appropriately to equipment malfunctions or inappropriate equipment setup to ensure proper function and provide maximum benefit to ensure safety of the patient and staff.


29

2. Given the requirements of the anesthetic protocol, the veterinary technician will select, evaluate and adjust equipment to ensure proper function and provide maximum benefit to ensure safety of the patient and staff.

(e) 5. SURGICAL NURSING It is essential that technicians have knowledge of routine surgical procedures and related equipment, including surgeries in these categories:

o ovariohysterectomy - dog and cat* o cesarean section - all common species* o orthopedic procedures* o orchiectomy - all common species* o tail docking* o onychectomy - dog and cat* o laparotomies - all common species* o dystocias in common species* o dehorning - cattle and goats* o prolapsed organs - common types, species, and incidence*

Students must have participated in surgeries in these categories:

o ovariohysterectomy - dog*, cat* o orchiectomy - dog*, cat* and other common species

Patient management

Skill: Understand and integrate all aspects of patient management for common surgical procedures in a variety of animal species.

Task:

§ Properly identify patients and surgical procedures* Decision-making abilities: Given the characteristics of the patient and the surgical procedure to be performed, the veterinary technician will use medical records and patient identification methods to assure that the patient and scheduled procedures are correct.

Task:

§ Patient assessment o organize medical records/consent forms* o review pre-operative evaluation* o evaluate current patient status* o organize and implement anesthesia*

Decision-making abilities: Given the characteristics of the patient and the surgical procedure to be performed, the veterinary technician will obtain the patient's vital signs, note any specific physical abnormalities, ensure pre-surgical tests have been completed and report the patient assessment to the veterinarian.


30

Task:

§ Palpate the urinary bladder and express it if needed* § Prepare surgical site using appropriate aseptic techniques* Decision-making abilities: Given the characteristics of the patient and the surgical procedure to be performed, the veterinary technician will identify the appropriate area of hair to be removed and select appropriate methods to reduce microbial flora on the skin in the area of surgical site in order to decrease the chance of surgical wound contamination.

Task:

§ Position patient for common procedures* Decision-making abilities: Given the characteristics of the patient and the surgical procedure to be performed, the veterinary technician will position the patient appropriately to provide maximum convenience for the surgeon and maximum safety and benefit for the patient.

Task:

§ Provide surgical assistance: o demonstrate proper operating room conduct and asepsis* o assist with care of exposed tissues and organs* o properly handle and pass instruments and supplies* o operate and maintain suction and cautery machines* o understand the principles of operation and maintenance of fiber optic equipment* o record and maintain operative/surgical records* o perform basic suturing techniques

Decision-making abilities: Given the characteristics of the patient and the surgical procedure to be performed, the veterinary technician will understand and utilize appropriate aseptic techniques to assist operative personnel in order to provide maximum safety and benefit to the patient.

Task:

§ Coordinate pain management with the anesthesia/surgical team* Decision-making abilities: Given the characteristics of the patient and the surgical procedure to be performed, the veterinary technician will assure that anesthetic and post-operative pain management protocols are appropriate to provide maximum safety and benefit to the patient.

Task:

§ Provide post-operative care: o pain management* o fluid therapy* o adequate nutrition* o wound management* o bandaging*


31

o discharge instructions* o suture removal*

Decision-making abilities: Given the characteristics of the patient and the surgical procedure to be performed, the veterinary technician will understand and administer the appropriate methods of post-operative care to assure maximum safety and benefit to the patient.

Procedural management

Skill: Understand and provide the appropriate instruments, supplies and environment to maintain asepsis during surgical procedures.

Tasks:

§ Prepare surgical instruments and supplies* § Prepare gowns, masks, gloves, and drapes* § Operate and maintain autoclaves* § Sterilize instruments and supplies using appropriate methods* § Perform pre-surgical set-up* § Identify and know proper use for instruments* § Identify common suture materials, types, and sizes* § Provide operating room sanitation and care* § Maintain proper operating room conduct and asepsis* § Perform post-surgical clean-up (e.g., equipment, instruments, room, proper disposal of

hazardous medical waste)* Decision-making abilities: Given the characteristics of the patient and the surgical procedure to be performed, the veterinary technician will properly select, wrap and sterilize appropriate instruments and supplies and prepare and maintain the surgical environment to ensure maximum safety and benefit to the patient.

(f) 6. LABORATORY PROCEDURES Specimen management

Skill: Demonstrate knowledge of proper handling, packaging and storage of specimens for laboratory analysis to ensure safety of patients, clients, and staff.

Tasks:

§ Select and maintain laboratory equipment* § Implement quality control measures*[GROUP] § Understand how to ensure safety of patients, clients, and staff in the collection and

handling of samples* § Prepare, label, package, and store specimens for laboratory analysis* Decision-making abilities:


32

1. Given the characteristics of the patient and the requested analysis, the veterinary technician will properly prepare, handle and submit appropriate samples for diagnostic analysis in order to ensure maximum accuracy of results.

2. Given the characteristics of laboratory instruments and equipment, the veterinary technician will determine proper maintenance and quality control procedures necessary to ensure accurate results.

Specimen analysis

Skill: Properly perform analysis of laboratory specimens.

Tasks:

§ Perform urinalysis: o determine physical properties (e.g., color, clarity, specific gravity)* o test chemical properties* o examine and identify sediment*

§ Perform CBC to include: o hemoglobin* o packed cell volume* o total protein* o white cell count* o red cell count*

§ Perform microscopic exam of blood film: o prepare film and stain using a variety of techniques* o perform leukocyte differential – normal vs abnormal* o evaluate erythrocyte morphology – normal vs abnormal* o estimate platelet numbers* o calculate absolute values* o correct white blood cell counts for nucleated cells*

§ Calculate hematolgic indices* § Coagulation tests – perform one of the following*:[GROUP]

o buccal mucosal bleeding time o activated clotting time (ACT) o prothrombin time (PT) o partial thromboplastin time (PTT) o fibrinogen assay

§ Perform blood chemistry tests (BUN, glucose, common enzymes)* § Perform serologic test (ELISA, slide/card agglutinations)* § Identify blood parasites:

o Dirofilaria sp/Acanthocheilonema sp (formerly Dipetalonema sp)* o Hemotropic Mycoplasma sp (Hemoplasmas)* (formerly Haemobartonella sp and

Eperythrozoon sp) o Anaplasma sp


33

o Babesia sp o Trypanosoma sp o Eperythrozoan sp o Ehrlichia sp

§ Perform parasitologic procedures for external parasites and identify: o mites* o lice* o ticks* o fleas* o flies*

§ Perform diagnostics procedures for parasites: o Antigen kit*, direct*, filter, Knotts* [GROUP] o flotation solution preparation o fecal flotations* o fecal sedimentation* o direct smears* o centrifugation with flotation* o adhesive tape retrieval of pinworm ova o perform fecal egg count using McMaster method

§ Identify common parasitic forms: o nematodes* o trematodes* o cestodes* o protozoa*

§ Perform coprologic tests § Perform microbiologic procedures/evaluations:

o collect representative samples* o culture bacteria and perform sensitivity tests* o identify common animal pathogens using commercially available media and

reagents*[GROUP] o collect milk samples and conduct mastitis testing (e.g., CMT, bacterial

culture)*[GROUP] o perform common biochemical tests*[GROUP] o perform staining procedures* o culture and identify common dermatophytes*

§ Perform cytologic evaluation o assist in collecting, preparing and evaluating transudate, exudate and cytologic

specimens (joint, cerebrospinal, airway, body cavity) o perform fine needle tissue aspirates and impression smear preparation

(differentiate benign vs. malignant) o prepare and stain bone marrow specimens o collect, prepare, and evaluate ear cytology*


34

o collect, prepare, and evaluate canine vaginal smears*[GROUP] o evaluate semen o understand timing and types of pregnancy testing o assist with artificial insemination

§ Perform necropsy procedures: o perform a postmortem examination or dissection on non-preserved

animal*[GROUP] o collect samples, store and ship according to laboratory protocols*[GROUP] o explain how to handle rabies suspects and samples safely* o handle disposal of dead animals o perform humane euthanasia procedures

Decision-making abilities:

1. Given the characteristics of the patient, the specimen submitted and the results of the analysis, the veterinary technician will be able to recognize accurate vs. erroneous results in order to provide maximum diagnostic benefit.

2. Given the laboratory specimen collected and characteristics of the patient, the veterinary technician will determine appropriate methodology and carry out analytical procedures necessary to provide accurate and precise diagnostic information.

3. Having determined the accuracy of analytical results, the veterinary technician will work with the veterinarian to determine if a need exists for additional laboratory tests that will provide useful diagnostic information.

(g) 7. IMAGING Skill: Safely and effectively produce diagnostic radiographic and non-radiographic images.

Tasks:

§ Implement and observe recommended radiation safety measures* § Implement radiographic quality control measures* § Properly utilize radiographic technique charts* § Position dogs*, cats*, horses/ponies/donkeys/mules*, and birds to create diagnostic

radiographic images § Demonstrate an understanding of the modifications of diagnostic imaging techniques as

they apply to mice or rats, guinea pigs, lizards, and amphibians* § Utilize radiographic equipment to properly radiograph live animals (fixed and portable)* § Create diagnostic intra-oral dental radiographic images* § Appropriately label, file, and store images* § Demonstrate an understanding of completing a radiographic log for systems, reports,

files, and records* § Perform radiographic contrast studies — perform one of the following*:[GROUP]

o GI Series o Pneumocystogram o Intravenous pyelogram o Other


35

§ Perform on a sedated canine radiographic techniques utilized in screening for canine hip dysplasia*[GROUP]

§ Demonstrate proper maintenance of radiographic equipment, including recognition of faulty equipment operation*

§ Use and care of ultrasonography equipment § Use and care of endoscopic equipment Decision-making abilities:

1. Given the characteristic of the patient and the radiographic study that has been requested, the veterinary technician will properly (1) prepare radiographic equipment, (2) measure and position animals using topographic landmarks, (3) choose an appropriate radiographic technique to minimize the need for repeat exposures (4) produce the latent image, (5) analyze the final radiograph for quality in order to provide maximum diagnostic benefit.

2. Given a radiograph, the veterinary technician will be able to determine if the image is of diagnostic quality. If the image is not diagnostic, the veterinary technician will be able to offer options to correct deficiencies in order to provide maximum diagnostic benefit and minimize personnel radiation exposure from unnecessary repeat exposures.

3. Given knowledge of the health risks associated with radiographic procedures and effective safety procedures, the veterinary technician will exercise professional judgment to minimize risks to personnel and patients during radiographic procedures to ensure safety.

4. Given the characteristics of the patient and the non-radiographic imaging study that has been requested, the veterinary technician will properly (1) prepare the imaging site and equipment and (2) position patients appropriately for the study being conducted.

(h) 8. LABORATORY ANIMAL PROCEDURES Skill: Safely and effectively handle common laboratory animals used in animal research.

Tasks: Mice or rats, and rabbits

§ Recognize and restrain (mouse/rat, rabbit)* § Determine sex and understand reproduction (mouse/rat, rabbit)* § Perform and/or supervise basic care procedures:

o handling (mouse/rat, rabbit)* o nutritional needs/diet* o provide food, water, and enrichment in a species-appropriate manner (mouse/rat,

rabbit)* o trim nails o identification*

§ Perform methods of injection: o subcutaneous (mouse/rat, rabbit)* o intramuscular (rabbit) o intradermal (rabbit) o intraperitoneal (mouse/rat*) [GROUP] o intravenous

§ Collect blood samples


36

o Retro-orbital (mice/rats) [GROUP] o Intravenous (mouse/rat [GROUP], rabbit)*

§ Perform oral dosing (mouse/rat)* [GROUP] § Have working knowledge of anesthetic and recovery procedures* § Identify and describe clinical signs of common diseases* § Perform necropsy and collect specimens § Clean and medicate ears (rabbit) § Anesthetize mouse/rat, and rabbit Tasks: Non-human primates

§ Understand restraint of non-human primates § Demonstrate knowledge of zoonotic diseases and modes of transmission Decision-making abilities: The veterinary technician will be familiar with the basic principles of animal research and understand the utilization of laboratory animals in animal research. The veterinary technician will also have knowledge of federal, state, and local animal welfare regulations.

(i) 9. AVIAN, EXOTIC & SMALL MAMMALS PROCEDURES Skill: Understand the approach to providing safe and effective care for birds, reptiles, amphibians, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, and ferrets.

Tasks:

§ Recognize, understand, and perform restraint techniques of birds*, reptiles, amphibians, and ferrets

§ Understand unique husbandry issues for each species (birds, reptiles, amphibians, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, and ferrets) and provide client education*:

o nutritional needs/diet o watering o caging (temperature, humidity, light) o aquarium care o understand reproduction o basic grooming (beak, wing, and nail clipping) o appropriate transportation methods

§ Demonstrate the ability to obtain objective data: birds*, reptiles, amphibians, and ferrets § Perform nail trim (bird*, exotic, small mammal) § Perform injections using appropriate sites

o subcutaneous o intramuscular o intradermal o intraperitoneal o intravenous

§ Perform oral dosing


37

§ Administer drugs or medicaments using appropriate sites and routes § Understand appropriate sites for intravenous catheter placement § Understand tube feeding in birds § Perform laboratory procedures § Anesthetize birds and exotic animals § Recognize normal and abnormal behavior patterns § Explain inadvisability of keeping wildlife as pets § Collect blood samples Decision-making abilities: Given the unique requirements of these species, the veterinary technician will safely obtain subjective and objective data that will allow evaluation of the patient. The veterinary technician will be able to: 1) identify husbandry issues, 2) discern appropriate from inappropriate nutritional support, and 3) recognize normal from abnormal behavior patterns.

UMass New Program Approval Budget

Campus: Amherst

Program: B.S. in Veterinary Technology (Vet Tech)

Template - Page 2

New Expenditures

required for

Program

Expenditures

from current

resources

New Expenditures

required for

Program

Expenditures

from current

resources

New Expenditures

required for

Program

Expenditures

from current

resources

New Expenditures

required for

Program

Expenditures

from current

resources

New Expenditures

required for

Program

Expenditures

from current

resources

Personnel Services

Faculty $150,000 $256,000 $153,750 $262,400 $426,554 $0 $582,218 $0 $596,773 $0

Administrators $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Support Staff $0 $125,000 $0 $128,125 $131,328 $0 $134,611 $0 $137,977 $0

Others $0 $0 $0 $0 $20,000 $0 $40,000 $0 $40,000 $0

Fringe Benefits 36.92% $55,380 $140,665 $56,765 $144,182 $205,970 $0 $264,653 $0 $271,270 $0

Total Personnel $205,380 $521,665 $210,515 $534,707 $783,852 $0 $1,021,482 $0 $1,046,019 $0

Operating Expenses

Supplies $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $20,000 $0 $65,000 $0 $100,000 $0

Library Resources $0 $0 $0 $5,000 $50,000 $0 $50,000 $0 $50,000 $0

Marketing/Promotional Expenses $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Laboratory Expenses $0 $0 $0 $4,000 $10,000 $0 $35,000 $0 $60,000 $0

General Administrative Overhead $0 $0 $0 $4,000 $10,000 $0 $35,000 $0 $60,000 $0

Other (specify): $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Total Operating Expenses $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $23,000 $90,000 $0 $185,000 $0 $270,000 $0

Net Student Assistance

Assistantships $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Fellowships $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Stipends/Scholarships $0 $96,641 $295,814 $99,057 $606,418 $101,534 $932,368 $104,072 $1,274,236 $106,674

Total Student Assistance $0 $96,641 $295,814 $99,057 $606,418 $101,534 $932,368 $104,072 $1,274,236 $106,674

Capital

Facilities / Campus recharges $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Equipment $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Total Capital $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Total Expenditures $215,380 $628,306 $516,328 $656,764 $1,480,270 $101,534 $2,138,850 $104,072 $2,590,255 $106,674

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

Total of newly generated revenue $0 $1,056,477 $2,165,778 $3,329,884 $4,550,842

Total of additional resources required for program $215,380 $516,328 $1,480,270 $2,138,850 $2,590,255

Excess/ (Deficiency) ($215,380) $540,149 $685,509 $1,191,034 $1,960,587

EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES

Justification of Financial Projections: In Year 1, the salary for a Lecturer who will act as Director of the Vet Tech program is budgeted at $90,000. We have added the salary for a CVT needed in Amherst year

1 to help teach the courses that will be offered twice each year including summers to increase the number of students that can transfer to the program and move to the Newton campus. Salaries are

adjusted at 2.5% yearly COLA. In year 1, 16 students are projected to switch from Animal Science or Pre-Vet to Vet Tech BS. The expenditures from current resources listed for those students in Years 1 and 2

are for the faculty salaries at the Mount Ida campus for the current teach-out continuation of the Mount Ida program as relates to the minimum requirements for an AVMA-accredited Vet Tech program

(Director, Attending Vet, Certified Vet Tech, Internship Coordinator). In Year 3, when the first cohort of students arrive in Newton, the same expenditures move to the New Expenditures column. In Year 4,

when the program reaches full capacity in Newton, another Lecturer is budgeted at $65,000 and a second veterinarian is budgeted at $80,000. A second veterinarian will be needed as we plan to offer

program reaches full capacity in Newton, another Lecturer is budgeted at $65,000 and a second veterinarian is budgeted at $80,000. A second veterinarian will be needed as we plan to offer reduced costs clinics to low income populations and we plan to assist local shelters with free-labor. Notice that by doing this we should be able to reduce the cost of purchasing and housing animals in our own hopsital, which we will decrease the cost of supplies, staff time, etc.

BUDGET SUMMARY OF NEW PROGRAM ONLY

Year 5

2024

Year 1 Year 2

2020 2021 2022 2023

Year 3 Year 4

UMass New Program Approval Budget

Campus: Amherst

Program: B.S. in Veterinary Technology (Vet Tech)

Row Notes

Full-Time Tuition Rate: In-State $15,791 $16,186 $16,591 $17,005 $17,430

Full-Time Tuition Rate: Out-State $34,941 $35,815 $36,710 $37,628 $38,569

Mandatory Fees per Student (In-state) $993 $1,018 $1,043 $1,069 $1,096

Mandatory Fees per Student (out-state) $993 $1,018 $1,043 $1,069 $1,096

FTE # of New Students: In-State 0 40 40 40 40

FTE # of New Students: Out-State 0 10 10 10 10

# of In-State FTE Students transferring in

from the institution's existing programs 12

# of Out-State FTE Students transferring in

from the institution's existing programs 4

Tuition and FeesNewly Generated

Revenue

Revenue

from

existing

programs

Newly Generated

Revenue

Revenue

from

existing

programs

Newly Generated

Revenue

Revenue

from

existing

programs

Newly Generated

Revenue

Revenue

from

existing

programs

Newly Generated

Revenue

Revenue

from

existing

programs

First Year Students

Tuition

In-State $0 $189,494 $647,437 $0 $663,623 $0 $680,214 $0 $697,219 $0 cells will update automatically

Out-of-State $0 $139,765 $358,148 $0 $367,101 $0 $376,279 $0 $385,686 $0 cells will update automatically

Mandatory Fees $0 $15,888 $50,893 $0 $52,165 $0 $53,469 $0 $54,806 $0 cells will update automatically

Second Year Students

Tuition

In-State $0 $194,231 $663,623 $0 $680,214 $0 $697,219 $0 cells will update automatically

Out-of-State $0 $143,259 $367,101 $0 $376,279 $0 $385,686 $0 cells will update automatically

Mandatory Fees $0 $16,286 $52,165 $0 $53,469 $0 $54,806 $0 cells will update automatically

Third Year Students

Tuition

In-State $0 $199,087 $680,214 $0 $697,219 $0 cells will update automatically

Out-of-State $0 $146,840 $376,279 $0 $385,686 $0 cells will update automatically

Mandatory Fees $0 $16,693 $53,469 $0 $54,806 $0 cells will update automatically

Fourth Year Students

Tuition

In-State $0 $204,064 $697,219 $0 cells will update automatically

Out-of-State $0 $150,512 $385,686 $0 cells will update automatically

Mandatory Fees $0 $17,110 $54,806 $0 cells will update automatically

Fifth Year Students

Tuition

In-State $0 $209,166 cells will update automatically

Out-of-State $0 $154,274 cells will update automatically

Mandatory Fees $0 $17,538 cells will update automatically

Gross Tuition and Fees $0 $345,147 $1,056,477 $353,776 $2,165,778 $362,620 $3,329,884 $371,686 $4,550,842 $380,978 cells will update automatically

Grants $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Contracts $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Campus budget allocation $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Other Revenues (specify in cell 54) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 state appropriations, etc.

Total $0 $345,147 $1,056,477 $353,776 $2,165,778 $362,620 $3,329,884 $371,686 $4,550,842 $380,978 cells will update automatically

REVENUE ESTIMATES

Year 5

2024

Year 1 Year 2

2020 2021 2022 2023

Year 3 Year 4

Documents

Sen. Doc. No. 19-074 SPECIAL REPORT of the ACADEMIC