Texas A&M continues its quest to make any potential TTech vet school irrelevant.

http://amarillo.com/local-news/news/2017-05-11/10-graduate-wt-s-initial-pre-vet-program

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West Texas A&M University on Friday announced the first class that is part of its veterinary school "pipeline."

Ten pre-veterinary majors including one from Amarillo, Taylor Williams have been accepted to veterinary schools. Of them, nine are set to study at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science at Texas A&M University, and one was accepted at the University of Missouri.

The pipeline, announced in early 2016, reserves seats at Texas A&M University System's flagship in College Station for students at regional campuses. The university system has said the program will help solve a shortage of rural veterinarians in the state....


Below is the inaugural class for Texas A&M University System's veterinary school "pipeline." Unless otherwise noted, all have been accepted to the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Amarillo
Taylor Williams
Austin
Kimberly Ussery
Bryan
Charity Scroggs
Coal Valley, Ill.
Sawyer Shattuck (University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine)
Crowley
Madison Burns
Holliday
Larissa Dillard
Houston
Meghan Hager
Olton
Kristen White
San Antonio
Emily Howard
Steph Moore

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http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2017-05-26/update-vet-school-may-be-future-amarillo

Posted May 27, 2017 07:49 pm - Updated May 27, 2017 10:22 pm

UPDATE: Vet school may be in the future for Amarillo

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State lawmakers threw support behind a decades-old push for a second vet school in Texas, finalizing nearly $4.2 million in funding for a Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo.



The money came in the state's two-year budget, which passed through both chambers of the Texas Legislature on Saturday and now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk.

"It's the end of a 30-year dream, and it's a major accomplishment for not only Amarillo but also the South Plains," said state Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo.
"This cements our position as the epicenter of the livestock, large-animal industry in the United States."
The number, a compromise between the House and Senate, is down about $1.5 million from the House's initial proposal. It's also well short of the $16.75 million that the Texas Tech University System initially requested from lawmakers to build the school.
"This was basically the commitment from the state of Texas that we will establish a veterinary college in Amarillo," Smithee said.
Tech System officials have estimated the total cost at $80 to $90 million.
A system spokesman was unable to elaborate further on how the funding amount might affect the scope or timeline of the plan.
Previously, the university system was aiming to open by the fall of 2019.
"We appreciate the legislature's support for the Texas Tech University System," said spokesman Brett Ashworth. "They recognized significant medical and agricultural needs in our state with a dental school in El Paso and a vet school in Amaril

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Seriously do not understand why the tards think this is a coup? It's not like someone is going to want a tard educated vet over an Aggie. Or anyone would want to stay out there just because they went to school there.

Aggie said:

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State lawmakers threw support behind a decades-old push for a second vet school in Texas, finalizing nearly $4.2 million in funding for a Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo.


The number, a compromise between the House and Senate, is down about $1.5 million from the House's initial proposal. It's also well short of the $16.75 million that the Texas Tech University System initially requested from lawmakers to build the school.

Tech System officials have estimated the total cost at $80 to $90 million.

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Amarillo buys a lot of head space for tceh tards

TBAT Luvz animulz

whoever wrote this piece of crap has no idea what she is talking about...

http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/texas-techs-proposed-vet-school-to-get-state-funding/

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In a joint statement, as reported by the Texas Tribune, State Sen. Charles Perry, Rep. Dustin Burrows, Rep. John Frullo and Rep. John Smithee said, "Rural Texas depends on agriculture as an economic driver, and the lack of large-animal veterinarians in Texas can have a devastating effect on our communities. The inclusion of $4.1 million in the state budget to establish a veterinary school at Texas Tech University will go a long way in addressing this need."

Lawmakers, for now, are on Texas Tech's side. "The overwhelming support for the funding of a veterinary school at Texas Tech University goes to show that both chambers and both political parties understand how important this is to rural Texas. This school will ensure students receive high-quality veterinary skills and education for large animal practice in high-need areas," they said in their statement.

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This tiny bit of pork barrel was added at the very last minute by a state senator before a vote by the entire legislature - never vetted by the house side - or anyone else for that matter - and was buried in the final bill with no opportunity for anyone to have time to read or comment. It was "overwhelming supported" because it was buried as a last minute gamble and no one even knew it was included except the person who stuck it in at the last minute.

Kent Hance confirmed today that Tech is starting the vet school. This isn't bad for A&M. A&M will take the elite students and Tech will take the rest.

In all fairness, A&M has fostered a philosophical and literal shift towards small animal practice over the last 20 years. We've got the metro dog and cat market sewed up.

CanyonAg77 said:

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We've fostered it or the market fostered it? The increased number of women vets and the higher salaries for small animal practice is what moves the supply of vets. Not whether the vets are produced by A&M or ttech

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I would say both....

Isn't A&M spending more on its satellite vet program at WTA&M than Tech is on their entire program?

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I would say both....

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Concur

http://amarillo.com/local-news/news/politics/2017-06-12/abbott-approves-state-budget-funding-texas-tech-vet-school

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Gov. Greg Abbott has signed into law a 2018-2019 state budget worth around $217 billion, vetoing about $120 million in planned expenditures but keeping $4.2 million in funding for a Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo.


State Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, confirmed Monday that the funding was not among the $120 million of line item vetoes whittled by Abbott from the budget.

Both chambers signed off on the funding on May 27.

SEE ALSO
Vet school may be in the future for Amarillo
Governor signs Texas' $217B budget, cuts $120M with vetoes

"For everyone in the Panhandle, this is a big victory," Smithee said. "The establishment of a vet college here has been a dream goal for some for at least 30 years, most thought it was unreachable within our lifetimes, but now it looks like it will be a reality."
The amount of funding is down about $1.5 million from the House's initial proposal and well short of the $16.75 million that the Texas Tech University System initially requested from lawmakers to build the school.
Smithee said previously that the more than $4 million was a commitment from the state of Texas that a veterinary college would be established in Amarillo.
"It's important to the Panhandle because this is the livestock center of the United States, and arguably the world, and this solidifies that," Smithee said Monday. "This opens up a lot of opportunities, it can be a real economic engine, and in this case that's true because of the relationship it will have with the Texas Tech pharmacy school. it will bring it a lot of research money and jobs to the region."
Tech System officials have estimated the total cost of the school at $80 to $90 million. Previously, the university system was aiming to open by the fall of 2019 and has been praised by many as a future economic boon for Amarillo.
"We are grateful for legislative support for both a dental school and veterinary medicine in our state and recognizing the Texas Tech University System's ability to meet these vital needs," Tech System Vice Chancellor Brett Ashworth said in an email Monday.

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http://amarillo.com/local-news/news/politics/2017-07-15/texas-tech-vet-school-amarillo-will-be-product-political

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Lubbock and Amarillo lawmakers say the state's $4.2-million appropriation for a Texas Tech University veterinary school in Amarillo was the best they could do in a year when sluggish economic forecasts have left state agencies facing cuts. A Texas Tech vet school in Amarillo will be a product of political wrangling, 45-year journey

The money represents a start-up investment from the state and marks a commitment from the Texas Legislature that the project will receive backing in the future, they said. The funds are supposed to at least cover planning costs and help Texas Tech raise private funds for the estimated $80- to $90-million school it wants to build near the current Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center here.
But the Texas Tech University System has said little aside from praising the appropriation, which is less than one-third of the start-up capital originally requested of the legislature, leaving questions about timing and accreditation unanswered.

University System Chancellor Robert Duncan is expected to visit Amarillo on Tuesday, shedding some light on the vet school's future.

"The timeline is a big unknown,"

n January, State Comptroller Glenn Hegar seemed to dash the Tech System's dream of a veterinary school. At the beginning of the legislative session, Hegar gave lawmakers a $104.9 billion revenue estimate for 2018-19, down 2.7 percent from his estimate for the previous biennium.

Tech had initially requested $16.75 million to build the vet school, but that mark was clearly not achievable, said state Rep. Four Price, R-Amarillo

The vote added to speculation that Texas A&M University, which has the only vet school in the state, had derailed Texas Tech's plans.

Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp knows his way around Austin. His resume includes two terms in the House, one in the Senate and eight years as comptroller.

The A&M System quickly fired back after A&M's Sharp traveled to Amarillo in January 2016 to announce partnerships between its vet school in College Station and other system schools - including one in nearby Canyon at WTA&M.

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http://lubbockonline.com/news/education/local-news/2017-08-10/texas-tech-regents-go-pause-stay-tuned-proposed-amarillo-vet

Texas Tech regents go from 'pause' to 'stay tuned' on proposed Amarillo vet school

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If the message from the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents in February was "Pause" on the initiative to bring a school of veterinary medicine to Amarillo, it is now, "Stay tuned."


Despite a multimillion-dollar financial commitment from the Texas Legislature this spring to explore creating a vet school, Tech's regents have no official opinion on the proposal, board Chairman Rick Francis told A-J Media on Thursday as the regents met in Lubbock.
Instead, he said, what could be the second vet school in the state is one of many options the university system believes could have a positive impact on the state.
"We have a number of priorities that we're looking at for the communities that are part of the Texas Tech system," Francis said. "There might be two or three projects that we have to judge, and until we have all the data, we don't know how to prioritize."

SEE ALSO
Texas Tech vet school in Amarillo will be a product of political wrangling, 45-year journey
Amarillo vet school: Tech may need to amend deal with AEDC


But he said Tech leaders were excited to get a $4.17 million allocation from state lawmakers in May that will be used to complete a comprehensive study and to evaluate the feasibility of having a school of veterinary medicine in Amarillo.
"It's in our strategic plan going forward," Francis said of the vet school. "We'll be gathering data and looking at a business model and the impact on the Amarillo community and the Texas Tech system, of offering those educational opportunities. And so, stay tuned. But we are absolutely going to pursue it."
A meeting of the regents' Academic, Clinical and Student Affairs Committee on Thursday included a proposal to add two items to a list of the strategic priorities for the Tech system. The full board will reconvene Friday to consider the addition.
Chancellor Robert Duncan said one of the new items is a collaborative initiative among the Tech system institutions to evaluate a multi-disciplinary center of excellence supporting mental health education, research, policy and patient care. The other new item is the school of veterinary medicine.
According to a draft document given to all regents during the committee meeting Thursday, Tech will use the legislative funds to evaluate the financial and academic feasibility of a vet school in Amarillo. Collaboratively working with the Tech Health Sciences Center, the planning initiative "will examine appropriate models for veterinary medical education to address industry, regulatory and public needs along with the academic and financial requirements to establish an accredited professional program."
Findings and proposals will be shared in a comprehensive report to the board of regents, according to the draft document on the strategic priorities.
Francis said the board voted in February to pause the process of asking the state Legislature for funding of a vet school because it wanted to send a message to the lawmakers that Tech is a good steward of money.
"We looked at what our components were telling us were their top priorities, and that was to preserve the special line items in their budgets. And so, we took that vote so that we were sending a message to Austin," Francis said. "We did that respectfully, because it was such a tough budget year."
Francis said it could help if Texas Tech finds more funding for the project.
The Amarillo Economic Development Corp. offered a $15 million incentive to Tech if construction on a vet school begins by September 2018 and if Tech pays at least $50 million in payroll and benefits to employees.
Francis said that is a great start. He pointed out what Amarillo did for the pharmacy school there, what Abilene did for a school of public health and what El Paso has done in terms of raising $30 million to bring a dental school there.
"So it's a start, but we'll evaluate. What are the operating costs? How many students does it impact? What local resources can we leverage? And then we'll go back to the state. And the state will be looking at those same things when they decide whether they're going to fund this, as we do," Francis said.
Asked to elaborate on a possible need for even more resources from Amarillo, Francis said, "I can't speak to that. Generally speaking, the more money you have, the more positive impact you'll have when you're walking the halls of the Legislature, and telling them, 'If you'll give X, the community of Amarillo is going to leverage that.' So it's a good use of state resources. You can tell a better story. But without the study, I can't tell you how much is needed at this point."
The regents will meet Friday morning for a vote on the additions to the strategic priorities, as well as other items approved in committees on Thursday.

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Gee, I thought that "planning" was already done? I guess they have to spend the funds on something...

http://amarillo.com/local-news/news/2017-10-20/texas-tech-regents-discuss-veterinary-school-slain-officer-during-board

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LUBBOCK The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents approved the authorization of President Lawrence Schovanec to execute consulting contracts related to analyzing the feasibility and overall planning for a School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo during a board meeting Friday.


The regents voted in August to use a $4.17 million allocation from state lawmakers to complete a comprehensive study on the vet school. Chairman Rick Francis said the vet school is one of many options the university system believes could have a positive impact on the state.
On Friday, Regents approved contracts for Alistair Cribb and John U. Thomson, both veterinarians and educators in the field.
Cribb served as the dean of the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for 10 years. The Calgary school has an innovative model of teaching veterinary medicine that Tech leaders have been interested in implementing in West Texas, where more veterinarians are needed for large animals.

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I ask again, do they have a plan to get this school accredited?

Chicken Ranch: I don't know. I assume it is discussed. How else could it be a viable program?


http://lubbockonline.com/news/2017-11-08/area-mayors-talk-amarillo-vet-school-advocating-west-texas

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Mayors from across West Texas and the Panhandle gathered in Lubbock again on Wednesday to continue their talks as a "coalition."

Coming back together for the first time since their inaugural meeting in July, mayors from Lubbock, Amarillo Abilene, Big Spring, Midland and Odessa said they believe many of the cities and towns in West Texas share similar goals and issues.
Among those issues are pursuing opportunities like a proposed Texas Tech school of veterinary medicine in Amarillo, or better advocacy for West Texas in the state Legislature.

Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson said much of the discussion was about the economic impact and the role the vet school will have in the region.
"It's exciting to think about the prospect of what (the vet school) will mean for the entire West Texas region," Nelson said. "The economic development opportunities, the research opportunities, and there are many areas of industry we need to be proactive on such as food safety the overall goal is to support the partnership across the region to meet what we know is a regional need, but has a national impact with regard to supplying vets to cover a shortage."

Asked about a timeline, Nelson offered few details but said the university is talking to a potential donor about land, adding that may soon be the next development in the process to be announced.

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Not a vet school, but Tech just got a 10 mill donation for a stand alone basketball building. Total cost is set at 23 mill. Seems like a good deal.

DVM97 said:

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how does one teach veterinarians without duplicating what is already being taught at TAMU??

If the state needs more large animal vets, let A&M focus on recruiting that type of student.

DVM

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Numerous universities around the nation and the world (EVEN MOST OF THEM!!) teach all kinds of subjects that DUPLICATE THE EXACT SAME EFFORTS AT A&M. I know! Isn't that dreadful? How dare ANOTHER university teach students in a similar manner? The next thing you know they will dare to teach things such as engineering, science, math, etc.. Oh the horror! This should ONLY be done at A&M!!!

Lubbock and Tech working to screw Amarillo. Gee, that never happens.

Their problem is still "how you gonna keep 'em down on the farm" after they've had a chance to experience life out of that area. I guess they think that if they graduate from out there, they'll actually stay out there?

http://lubbockonline.com/education/local-news/news/2017-12-14/texas-tech-regents-consider-feasibility-studies-amarillo-vet-el

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Texas Tech regents consider feasibility studies for Amarillo vet, El Paso dental schools
Studies on the feasibility of buildings for both a school of dentistry in El Paso and a school of veterinary medicine in Amarillo were approved by the facilities committee of the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents on Thursday morning.


The entire board of regents will meet Friday to vote on the studies and other issues approved by the regents committees on Thursday.
These feasibility studies will only investigate the design of facilities for both schools being considered by the Tech System regents.

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jamaggie06 said:

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Does tech really teach any of te same things as A&M? I mean, you don't need a four year degree from tech to deliver pizzas...

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They learned it takes at least 4 years of heavy alcohol consumption to kill all STDs.

Amarillo Globe-News information added to the Lubbock Avalance Journal article above....

http://amarillo.com/local-news/news/2017-12-14/texas-tech-seeks-funding-second-site-vet-school-amarillo

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The vet school would largely be located just northwest of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy in Amarillo, Molina said, but the university system would like to locate a proposed off-site large animal facility about two miles away.

SEE ALSO
Regents approve Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center tuition and fees hike
Texas Tech regents discuss veterinary school, slain officer during board meeting

The university does not own land for the second facility, but Walker said regents are making progress between meetings.
"There is progress in raising money," he said.
The veterinary medicine study would cost $242,300 to provide a planning and a probable cost budget for the project, with an anticipated cost of $89.82 million.
Regent John Steinmetz said System Chancellor Robert Duncan has been committed to raising $90 million for the veterinary school privately.
Duncan said Tech has been successful in supporting facilities with philanthropic gifts.
He said that after January, he believes regents will see more financial commitments.
When the commitments are in, he said he believes the board will be satisfied that Tech has a business plan that works.
The board will require a five-year business plan on projects like the vet school, Walker said. So far, he said the university has not worked out long-term financials, including operating revenue and operating costs.
According to information presented to the regents, a new vet school would include the teaching of medicine, as well as clinical research.
A four-year vet school would serve approximately 240 students, with an additional 150-200 graduate students who are not seeking a doctorate of veterinary medicine and an estimated academic staff of 90.

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Sharp ain't backing down.

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CANYON - The Texas A&M University System on Thursday announced plans for a new, $22.8 million veterinary education and research building at West Texas A&M University in Canyon.

The announcement comes as the university system, which has the only college of veterinary medicine in Texas, seeks to prove it is meeting the state's veterinary needs amid a push by the Texas Tech University System to break that monopoly with its own school in Amarillo.

The building will see veterinary students come to Canyon from Texas A&M in College Station to take courses, conduct research and get work experience supporting the Texas Panhandle's livestock industry. The new facilities will be open to students from both schools.

The A&M System has said there is no need for the Tech System's efforts since it has already addressed the problem by developing partnerships with regional schools like WT and expanding its enrollment capacity in College Station with a $120 million academic complex that opened in 2016.

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http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2018-03-08/tamu-unveils-vet-education-plan-wt-texas-tech-continues-push-amarillo

There's too many university systems in Texas duplicating efforts. If West Texas needs a vet school A&M should start it. There's no reason for tech to be involved.

Also, It's important to note that Tech's big ally in the Ledge that got the money to "explore" creating a vet school, Rep. Joe Straus, was censured and is not seeking re-election. Sharp's announcement today probably killed Tech's vet school fantasy.

of course TT's reply:

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"...we welcome the opportunity to collaborate with others on this important matter."

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hahaha

http://www.myhighplains.com/news/texas-am-system-regents-plan-a-new-veterinary-building-for-west-texas-ams-agricultural-sciences-c/1021227764?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KAMR_Local_4_News

http://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/texas-am-system-board-of-regents-announces-new-228m-veterinary-facility-at-wt

Fantastic!! WT has been the logical choice all along!!

http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/texas-a-m-flagship-campus-to-build-veterinary-complex-at/article_def53c12-1e08-5d0b-90ee-a0edb54a3fd9.html

Yet another twist. Each reference has a few more and different bits of information...

http://www.kbtx.com/content/news/Texas-AM-System-bringing-Veterinary-Medicine-to-West-Texas-476418653.html

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Texas A&M University said they can exclusively meet the needs of veterinary education in Texas as competition grows to offer classes in West Texas and bring more vets to rural areas.

This week, the Texas A&M University System announced an expansion of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences to West Texas A&M in Canyon. It's part of a $22.8 million facility expansion.
But, Texas Tech is also working on a plan to bring a future vet school to Amarillo. Texas A&M officials have said in the past their College Station campus is built to meet the needs for more veterinarians.
"This campus right here is going to become, along with the feed lots and the dairies and the agriculture production here, is going to become the number one agriculture and veterinary complex that exists anywhere in the country," said John Sharp, Texas A&M University System Chancellor.
"It's going to be, I would predict, the number one research facilities for large animals, feed lots, dairies and things like that that exist anywhere in the country," said Sharp.
"Because we're also putting our state agencies Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and some of our research labs in this complex together," he said.
"Our program here at West Texas A&M is actually the starting, a pipeline for students from the Panhandle and South Plains to getting them into veterinary school and we know that 60 percent of them will return home to serve the rural needs of Texas," said Dan Posey, who will oversee the program as an extension of what's offered in College Station. Posey is the West Texas A&M Academic Coordinator Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Center.
"This is actually an extension of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences into the Panhandle. This program will allow us to educate the future food animal and rural practitioners of Texas," he explained.
"I think it's great that they are able to expand into a new area of Texas. This will hopefully give the veterinary students a much more well-rounded education," said James Baggs, with West Villa Maria Veterinary Clinic in Bryan.
Dr. Baggs says there are challenges bringing vets to rural areas. Attending veterinarian school at Texas A&M can cost around $26,000 a year.
"Just because there's a need for a veterinarian in certain locations, it doesn't necessarily mean that those locations will be able to support a young veterinarian, with the level of loans and educational expenses that they've had to endure for four years," he said.
"Honestly, I think it's fantastic for the field. I know one of the greatest things about the West Texas campus was the exposure to the food animal side of veterinary medicine. A lot of people in College Station don't get exposed to that side,"

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and yet another...

http://www.feedstuffs.com/news/texas-am-system-regents-invest-panhandle-vet-center