Oregon State University maintains full accreditation

CORVALLIS,ORE. - 4/7/06 - Oregon State University?s (OSU) veterinary college remains fully accredited following the addition of a non-veterinarian as the program's dean, despite a published report in the March issue of DVM Newsmagazine.

In March, the accrediting arm of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) voted to continue full accreditation for the OSU program with "substantial compliance" for the standard that "the chief executive officer or dean must be a veterinarian." Council on Education (COE) leaders request OSU address the issue by spring 2007.

The decision contradicts DVM Newsmagazine's March article "Dean exits amid budget woes; OSU program downgraded." A published DVM Newsmagazine report inaccurately cites the college lost its full accreditation status.

At presstime, Dr. Don Simmons, director, AVMA Education and Research Division and COE staff liaison, deferred comment as to why OSU was granted an accreditation reprieve before speaking with university officials.

See DVM Newsmagazine's upcoming May issue for a complete story on the veterinary program's retained status.