AVMA delegates reject changes to veterinary school accreditation process

At the annual meeting of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) House of Delegates in July, the house voted against four resolutions related to the accreditation of veterinary schools by the AVMA Council on Education (COE). Here are the resolutions:

> Resolution 11 called for a one-year moratorium on all new accreditation-related actions.

> Resolution 12 recommended the creation of an accreditation review board that would determine the structure of a new, autonomous Council on Education independent from the AVMA.

> Resolution 13 also called for an accrediting body that operated independently from the AVMA-with its own bylaws, budget, board and staff-however, this independent agency would remain under the umbrella of the AVMA.

> Resolution 14 was created by a House of Delegates reference committee on site after discussion of the previous three resolutions in detail. Resolution 14 recommended that the AVMA Board of Directors create a task force to evaluate options regarding the COE.

The House of Delegates voted down all four COE resolutions, with the majority vote ranging from 71 percent to 95 percent. Discussion in the house preceding the vote indicated that veterinary schools as currently accredited did not have a “product problem,” that veterinary education in North America is considered the best in the world, that too much time had been spent discussing accreditation unproductively, and that the profession should be focusing on other issues, including student debt and the mental and emotional health of veterinarians.

Other AVMA news

The AVMA also unveiled a new branding initiative titled “Our Passion. Our Profession” during the annual convention in Boston. The initiative, which includes a new logo, was developed after the association solicited input from what members want from the AVMA.

Feedback included greater communication about advocacy work and current issues being addressed, more digestible and “bite-size” information that delivers a clear message, a more diverse representation of veterinarians, not just small-animal practitioners, and a more personalized experience.

“The purpose of this new initiative is to make members aware of their active role in the efforts of the AVMA, as well as engaging with them in a more collaborative manner that lets them know we're listening and evolving with their needs,” says Mark Lenhart, AVMA chief marketing officer, in a statement from the association. For more, visit visit newavma.avma.org.