Page 47 - Clemson NCG

College of

Veterinary Medicine committee and retired South Carolina model of clinical teaching, in which
students learn their basic sciences,
State Veterinarian. Thirty-three percent
of South Carolina counties have fewer anatomy, pre-clinical skills, and
Clemson University just took a leap forward in its
than five veterinarians. communication skills during their first
distinguished history. Long recognized as a respected, three years on campus. Students will
“We are thrilled that Clemson University
nationally ranked university, Clemson’s Board of Trustees then move on to clinical learning in
has received landmark funding to distributed learning sites throughout
recently approved the institution’s first professional school,
establish the state of South Carolina’s
the state.
Clemson University College of Veterinary Medicine. first college of veterinary medicine,”
said Clemson University President “Veterinarians today play an
This is the first school of veterinary The creation of a veterinary college
Jim Clements. “Clemson University increasingly important role, in addition
medicine in South Carolina. at Clemson couldn’t come at a more is continuing its mission of positively to caring for both companion and
opportune time. A recent Pew study impacting the lives of our students farm animals, protecting public health,
The approval follows the completion of found that 62% of Americans own and the citizens of South Carolina. The playing an essential role in food safety
the FY24 state budget, which includes
at least one pet. As pet ownership new college will continue as well as in detection and control of
significant support for the new college continues to increase in the United to elevate the state zoonotic diseases,” said Parr. “This
from Governor Henry McMaster and States, there is a growing shortage of of South Carolina by new veterinary college can produce
the South Carolina General Assembly. veterinarians. According to a report meeting the needs of our the veterinarians and research that
by Mars Veterinary Health, the nation communities, retaining will contribute to a better future for
Clemson, a public university, was
will need as many as 55,000 additional top talent, supporting our citizens and our animals.”
founded in 1889. Its undergraduate
veterinarians by 2030. the state’s economy
enrollment is nearly 23,000 and its
and protecting animal
graduate enrollment is more than South Carolina is not immune to this
and human health.”
5,000. University officials plan to shortage. The Palmetto State ranks
enroll its first class of veterinary 46 out of 50 states in the number of The new college will
students in fall 2026. The new College veterinarians per thousand people use a distributed
of Veterinary Medicine will leverage in population, according to Dr. Boyd
the University’s existing animal health Parr, co-chair of the Clemson College
programs and infrastructure. of Veterinary Medicine steering

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