https://www.mrt.com/opinion/article/Texas-does-not-need-another-veterinary-school-13661305.php

Texas does not need another veterinary school
Eleanor Green Texas A&M University
Updated 10:54 am CST, Monday, March 4, 2019

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A Texas Tech veterinary school is not needed and would be a duplication of effort and a waste of money all at the expense of the quality.
Let's look at the facts. The Texas A&M University System has invested $90 million in the Panhandle, with more to come, all in support of veterinary medicine, the livestock industries, local youth pursuing veterinary careers, and the region's economic development.

A&M just broke ground on a $22 million, Veterinary Education, Research, and Outreach Facility (VERO) on the West Texas A&M campus, just 17 miles south of where Tech wants to locate its school.
Related Stories

M Chancellor Sharp said Tech vet school is not needed

And in 2016, A&M opened a $125 million teaching facility in College Station with enough capacity to increase enrollment by at least the equivalent of Texas Tech's proposed school.

To justify its cause, TTU cites a 48-year-old report of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Perhaps they don't want to be reminded of what THECB's 2016 report concluded:
"The high cost of establishing a new veterinary school would outweigh the potential benefits to the state, given the small to moderate workforce demand and the issue that building a new school would not guarantee that any of the graduates would practice on livestock, which is the state's principal area of need "
Maybe that conclusion is why TTU chose to bypass the THECB and go straight to the Legislature.
TTU also chooses to overlook the 2016 report's finding that A&M graduates "make up about 60 percent of the state's veterinary workforce" not the 25 percent cited by TTU.

Once Texas A&M's new teaching facility opened in 2016, Aggies began increasing class size. Today, A&M has the largest entering class in the nation with 162 students.
A&M boasts the largest number of food animal, rural, and mixed animal veterinarians in the nation, with 33 percent of the 2017 class and 40 percent of the 2018 class choosing these paths.
Simply increasing class size does not guarantee more rural and food animal veterinarians. That's why A&M and WTAMU began a targeted pipeline program that already has doubled the number of Panhandle-area students entering A&M's veterinary college. Their numbers will increase with the A&M System's ongoing investment in the Panhandle.
The pipeline program is a model for statewide implementation. It can be ramped up and down, as needed. Agreements with three other A&M System schools will expand that pipeline into other rural areas.
TTU's proposed veterinary school is neither innovative, nor cost efficient, and duplicates A&M's efforts. It proposes a distributed model of veterinary education, a model created by off-shore, for-profit universities without access to clinical training.
TTU uses a Canadian veterinary school, Calgary, as its "affordable" model. This comparison is flawed. Calgary is heavily government subsidized. Distributed models are the most expensive models resulting in the highest student debt.
Conversely, A&M, which is ranked fourth in the nation, is one of the most affordable veterinary colleges with student debt that is the second-lowest in the nation.
TTU claims a teaching hospital is not needed. In fact, teaching hospitals provide students opportunities to work alongside some of the best veterinarians. They learn not only what is practical, but also what is possible with the latest, state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment methods.
TTU's estimated costs for a veterinary school are misrepresented. A&M has invested nearly $400 million for veterinary facilities and infrastructure since 2009. The costs are ongoing. TTU's request for state funds is a fraction of the support they will request over time.
Based on Texas A&M's quality, wouldn't it more effective and more cost efficient to invest more in A&M than to build an new veterinary school?
A&M can clearly meet all of the veterinary needs in Texas.

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https://www.myhighplains.com/news/top-stories/amarillo-matters-to-kickoff-grassroot-effort-for-texas-tech-vet-school/1860800557

Amarillo Matters to Kickoff Grassroot Effort for Texas Tech Vet School

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"There is so much support for this project and we felt it was important to give all of the supporters a voice, a way for them to say we support this project and our state needs it," Amarillo Matters President Jason Herrick said.
The effort will include a robust digital and social media campaign with opportunities to stay engaged and share support for the Texas Tech veterinary school. Amarillo Matters is also working to assemble a broad coalition as big as Texas and beyond of supporters, communities, and organizations who believe in the vision of Texas Tech's veterinary school.
Numerous agricultural organizations and businesses throughout Texas are supporting the establishment of Texas Tech's School of Veterinary Medicine. This statewide support includes chambers of commerce, regional communities, cattle feeders, dairymen and ranchers, along with rural veterinary practitioners. Texas Tech's veterinary school has established partnerships with more than 20 rural veterinary practices throughout the state to support its innovative approach to veterinary education.
"Texas is home to more than 240,000 farms and ranches and leads the nation in cattle production yet we're importing the majority of our veterinarians," Herrick said.
Statistics show that less than 25 percent of the state's newly licensed veterinary workforce graduate from the state's only veterinary program.
"Our state also leads the nation in population growth," Herrick added. "Over the years we've added new law schools, medical schools, and nursing programs and now it's time to add a second veterinary school to help meet both the educational demands and the needs of the ag industry, one of our nation's largest economic drivers."
"We also can't say enough about our West Texas leadership in both the Texas House and Senate," Herrick added. "Senators Kel Seliger and Charles Perry, along with House Representatives Four Price, John Smithee, Dustin Burrows, John Frullo and many others have been so supportive of this project and are working so hard to push it through the legislative process."
"It's exciting to see West Texas and many of our rural communities come together to support such a worthy cause and this historic opportunity, not just for the region but for the entire state," Herrick added. "We are grateful for these partnerships throughout Texas and are proud so many are standing with us."
Supporters can learn more about the efforts and sign a petition to voice their support www.unmetvetdemand.com.

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Wonder what kind of riot they have planned on the 1000 to 1 chance the Vet School is approved?

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2019/04/07/texas-tech-lubbock-students-crowd-take-streets-police-tear-gas

https://www.hpj.com/livestock/texas-tech-to-establish-a-new-vet-school-in-amarillo/article_a83f8a88-6dde-11e9-8cac-6fe947d33c9e.html

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Fundraising for the program has already begun. According to Texas Tech, $17.4 million was requested from the Texas Legislature with an additional $13.2 million in appropriations, along with $4.2 million in current base funding for appropriation.
"Another $1.75 million has been committed to support scholarships, but we need to continue to work to raise scholarship support and to raise funds to help attract some of the best faculty to the program," Loneragan said.
Moreover, the university has raised $90 million in non-state funds for infrastructure costs.
"The support of Amarillo has been absolutely critical in this regard," Schovanec said. "Others have contributed, but the city of Amarillo and the Amarillo Development Corporation stepped up in a big way and we couldn't be more appreciative of what they have done."
Schovanec says Texas Tech will still have to get approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. He says the proposal has been submitted and it is under review.

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It's always been up to the HECB

I understand... It's nice to see the supporters of this boondoggle acknowledging same...

Finally hits Amarillo newspaper

https://www.amarillo.com/news/20190517/more-than-17m-in-texas-tech-vet-school-funding-advances-in-legislature/1?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GHM_Daily_Newsletter&utm_content=GMPG_AGN&utm_term=051819

More than $17M in Texas Tech vet school funding advances in Legislature

$17M over two years for a school that would cost $40M a year...if it had already been built. Need $100M for the buildings

CanyonAg77 said:

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$17M over two years for a school that would cost $40M a year...if it had already been built. Need $100M for the buildings

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What does it matter?

It's not happening according to you

CanyonAg77 said:

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Wonder what kind of riot they have planned on the 1000 to 1 chance the Vet School is approved?

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2019/04/07/texas-tech-lubbock-students-crowd-take-streets-police-tear-gas

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A grand down and you'd have won $a million

Captain Pablo said:

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CanyonAg77 said:

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$17M over two years for a school that would cost $40M a year...if it had already been built. Need $100M for the buildings

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What does it matter?
It's not happening according to you

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As a taxpayer, I'm plenty pissed that our government is giving $17,000,000 to Kent Hance's conies so they can do "studies" about a Vet school that won't be built.

CanyonAg77 said:

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Captain Pablo said:

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CanyonAg77 said:

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$17M over two years for a school that would cost $40M a year...if it had already been built. Need $100M for the buildings

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What does it matter?
It's not happening according to you

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As a taxpayer, I'm plenty pissed that our government is giving $17,000,000 to Kent Hance's conies so they can do "studies" about a Vet school that won't be built.

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Haha

So you're doubling down

Still saying it will never be built?

So, as a taxpayer, I get to pay for a third rate vet school so the tards can feel loved?

Never, no.

Within five years? Almost no chance.

CanyonAg77 said:

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Never, no.

Within five years? Almost no chance.

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Ok so now we think it will be built at some point?

$17 million. Big deal. That's like a penny per week per Texan

Of all the hills to die on

Captain Pablo said:

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CanyonAg77 said:

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Never, no.

Within five years? Almost no chance.

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so now we think it will be built at some point?

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Never is a long time.

Captain Pablo said:

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$17 million. Big deal. That's like a penny per week per Texan

Of all the hills to die on

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$17M here, $17M there, after a while, it adds up to real money.

CanyonAg77 said:

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Captain Pablo said:

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$17 million. Big deal. That's like a penny per week per Texan

Of all the hills to die on

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$17M here, $17M there, after a while, it adds up to real money.

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The legislature is giving TAMU 71.5 million this session!

(https://www.theeagle.com/news/local/texas-a-m-could-see-million-funding-bump-in-next/article_b2806bde-792d-11e9-9a89-8fada282a274.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share)

$71 million for a school with 56,000 students vs. $17m for one with zero students for years to come.

CanyonAg77 said:

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$71 million for a school with 56,000 students vs. $17m for one with zero students for years to come.

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Poor Canyon Ag! Politics is some nasty business. Some of us are waiting to see how you respond on the myriad of related TexAg threads if the Tech Vet School comes to fruition.

Cholula Verde said:

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CanyonAg77 said:

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$71 million for a school with 56,000 students vs. $17m for one with zero students for years to come.

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Poor Canyon Ag! Politics is some nasty business. Some of us are waiting to see how you respond on the myriad of related TexAg threads if the Tech Vet School comes to fruition.

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Congrats for living to be 100.

And tell me, exactly how many Tech alums/supporters are current members of the HECB?

CanyonAg77 said:

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Cholula Verde said:

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CanyonAg77 said:

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$71 million for a school with 56,000 students vs. $17m for one with zero students for years to come.

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Poor Canyon Ag! Politics is some nasty business. Some of us are waiting to see how you respond on the myriad of related TexAg threads if the Tech Vet School comes to fruition.

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Congrats for living to be 100.

And tell me, exactly how many Tech alums/supporters are current members of the HECB?

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Yes, we all understand your point. I would also remind you that there was a significant reshuffle in the Aggie contingency during this session! As I said, politics is ugly business.

Geez Canyon. It really isn't that bad of a situation

You are totally overreacting

So Tech gets a vet school

Big fuggin deal

God forbid if it actually turns out to be a good thing

Again, what a hill to die on

And I can't wait to pull this thread up when Canyon, alive and kicking, watches this thing being built every time he has to make a trip to Amarillo

I do not understand the glee from fellow Aggies over a waste of time and taxpayer money.

CanyonAg77 said:

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I do not understand the glee from fellow Aggies over a waste of time and taxpayer money.

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Because we don't think it's all that horrible, think it could
Be a good thing, and are not bothered by another vet school.

We think A&M's behavior at trying to thwart the effort is repugnant. It's none of A&M's business and is a product of nothing more than Aggies wanting to be the only game in town

And you don't know that it will be a waste, and even if it is, it's pretty small change. The outrage over taxpayer waste is disingenuous. There is more at work here

Aggies just need to shut up about it. It's not their dog in the fight. Another University having a vet school does not hurt A&M in the least, and if it does, that's A&Ms fault

I'm sure plenty of tax dollars have passed through College station on the way to the septic tank

At 70,000 students, I'm sure have a few unneeded degree plans ourselves

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We think A&M's behavior at trying to thwart the effort is repugnant.

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Ah, you don't know the back story, do you?

https://www.texastribune.org/2015/12/04/texas-tech-planning-open-vet-school/

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After Tech's announcement, A&M System Chancellor John Sharp seemed to hint in a statement that A&M was considering expanding its school to other areas in the state.

"As a courtesy, last weekend I informed Chancellor Robert Duncan that the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine would soon announce a presence in several Texas A&M System schools," Sharp said. "In response, Mr. Duncan comes up with this long-rejected claim we should fund a vet school at Texas Tech. The Coordinating Board has specifically rejected the notion. The Legislature has rejected this for 40 years. We will proceed with our announcement as planned."

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In other words, A&M had long been working toward making WTAMU a feeder school for the Vet program at the main campus. Sharp gave Duncan a courtesy call before making an announcement. Duncan then pulled the Tech Vet School proposal out of his backside, and called a press conference that was held before Sharp's planned announcement.

It's not A&M that's acting like a spoiled child here.

Captain Pablo said:

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CanyonAg77 said:

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I do not understand the glee from fellow Aggies over a waste of time and taxpayer money.

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Because we don't think it's all that horrible, think it could
Be a good thing, and are not bothered by another vet school.

We think A&M's behavior at trying to thwart the effort is repugnant. It's none of A&M's business and is a product of nothing more than Aggies wanting to be the only game in town

And you don't know that it will be a waste, and even if it is, it's pretty small change. The outrage over taxpayer waste is disingenuous. There is more at work here

Aggies just need to shut up about it. It's not their dog in the fight. Another University having a vet school does not hurt A&M in the least, and if it does, that's A&Ms fault

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Every single school with skin in the game does this whenever any professional school is proposed.

Flexbone said:

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Captain Pablo said:

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CanyonAg77 said:

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I do not understand the glee from fellow Aggies over a waste of time and taxpayer money.

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Because we don't think it's all that horrible, think it could
Be a good thing, and are not bothered by another vet school.

We think A&M's behavior at trying to thwart the effort is repugnant. It's none of A&M's business and is a product of nothing more than Aggies wanting to be the only game in town

And you don't know that it will be a waste, and even if it is, it's pretty small change. The outrage over taxpayer waste is disingenuous. There is more at work here

Aggies just need to shut up about it. It's not their dog in the fight. Another University having a vet school does not hurt A&M in the least, and if it does, that's A&Ms fault

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Every single school with skin in the game does this whenever any professional school is proposed.

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Yeah. I don't listen to them either

When we got a law school, I'm sure there was squawking. Who cares? We wanted a law school and got one

(And we damn sure didn't need more lawyers)

CanyonAg77 said:

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We think A&M's behavior at trying to thwart the effort is repugnant.

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Ah, you don't know the back story, do you?

https://www.texastribune.org/2015/12/04/texas-tech-planning-open-vet-school/

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After Tech's announcement, A&M System Chancellor John Sharp seemed to hint in a statement that A&M was considering expanding its school to other areas in the state.

"As a courtesy, last weekend I informed Chancellor Robert Duncan that the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine would soon announce a presence in several Texas A&M System schools," Sharp said. "In response, Mr. Duncan comes up with this long-rejected claim we should fund a vet school at Texas Tech. The Coordinating Board has specifically rejected the notion. The Legislature has rejected this for 40 years. We will proceed with our announcement as planned."

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In other words, A&M had long been working toward making WTAMU a feeder school for the Vet program at the main campus. Sharp gave Duncan a courtesy call before making an announcement. Duncan then pulled the Tech Vet School proposal out of his backside, and called a press conference that was held before Sharp's planned announcement.

It's not A&M that's acting like a spoiled child here.

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So basically Sharp acknowledged a need for a West Texas. vet presence, despite Tech being told for 40'years it wasn't needed

Duncan pounced

Good for him