Tuskegee, 5 other schools lock up full accreditation from AVMA's Council on Education

SCHAUMBURG, ILL. — Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine moved from limited to full accreditation following a recent evaluation by the AVMA's Council on Education (COE).

Tuskegee, which was placed on limited accreditation in 2008, completed an annual interim report, standard for all veterinary colleges, that addressed its previous shortcomings.

The report led to its receiving full accreditation, says David Granstrom, director of the AVMA Education and Research Division.

"Accreditation can change without a site visit," Granstrom adds.

"In the interim report, we ask them to comment on any changes in activity on what was put in the site review. Tuskegee had done exactly what they were asked to do."

The COE commended Tuskegee for increasing small-animal and equine caseloads to improve student learning; for implementing year-round clinical rotations to provide more hands-on clinical case exposure; higher pass-rate scores for the national licensing examination; and the school's commitment to diversity in the student body , according to a prepared statement from the school. "I am proud of our faculty, staff and especially our students. The attainment of full accreditation ... would not have been possible without their dedication," said Dr. Tsegaye Habtemariam, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health.

Other schools granted full accreditation were:

• Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences

• University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

• University of Guelph Veterinary College (Guelph, Ontario, Canada)

• University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine

• University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine

The University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine will be assessed in 2009.