Oregon State University maintains full accreditation

CORVALLIS, ORE. — 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. In a statement, OSU Interim Dean Rich Holdren explains the college avoided a downgrade: "The continuation of full accreditation by our peers is recognition of the continued excellence of our programs, and it doesn't come easy," he says. "A college may be granted full accreditation for up to seven years if it is in compliance with all accreditation standards or is in compliance with all but one or two standards and the council feels that students are minimally affected."

While the dean search ensues, OSU officials plan to continue working on the Large Animal Hospital Expansion Project, which will include an indoor arena, equine treadmill facility, upgraded intensive-care unit, additional equine stalls, an expanded radiology unit and isolation facilities. Last year, the college opened its $14-million Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital Small Animal Clinic and associated research and teaching facilities.