Although fall semester at Colorado State University doesn’t officially begin until the first day of classes on Aug. 20, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences kicks off its student activities on Monday, Aug. 13, with nearly a week of orientations, luncheons and ceremonies.
This fall, the College will welcome 138 students into the Professional Veterinary Medical Program, six students into the MBA/DVM combined program, five students into the MSPH/DVM combined program, two students into the DVM/PhD program, and eight students into VetPrep. As of Aug. 1, the College has 206 confirmed students, with 180 of those registered, for CVMBS undergraduate programs in the Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences; Department of Biomedical Sciences; and Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology. At Colorado State University, the incoming freshmen class totals 4,337 confirmed students for the fall semester.
One of the biggest changes for the College welcoming activities this year comes in the form of the new week-long orientation for students in the Professional Veterinary Medical Program. The College has expanded the orientation to include three days of activities at Colorado State’s Pingree Park mountain campus. The three-day retreat is designed to introduce and reinforce ideas of communication, leadership, and team building among the PVM students.
“This time also provides a great opportunity for the entering students to get to know classmates, other students in the PVM program, faculty, staff, and members of the veterinary medical community,” said Dr. Peter Hellyer, Associate Dean for the PVM Program. “The format, environment, and activities have been selected to set the stage for future professional skills training pertinent to the success of veterinarians and to enhance the academic experience of veterinary students.”
Highlights of the PVM week include a welcome on Tuesday from Dr. Lance Perryman, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and the Oath and Passages Ceremony which takes place on Wednesday. During the ceremony, in-coming freshman PVM students receive their lab coats and participate in a non-binding recitation of the Veterinarian’s Oath, signifying their membership in the PVM Class of 2011. The students also will be treated to lunches provided by SCAVMA and Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., and by Nestle Purina, before heading to Pingree Park on Thursday.
On Monday afternoon, the College will have an orientation for students in the MBA/DVM program, with a welcome by Dr. Perryman, who will also welcome students in the MSPH/DVM program during their orientation on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the College is hosting an orientation and luncheon for its five Vet Start students. The students, all incoming freshman at Colorado State University, come from diverse backgrounds and engage in an undergraduate program tailored to prepare them for veterinary school. Vet Start, now in its 19th year, is an undergraduate pre-veterinary preparation program that provides guidance through mentoring, peer support, in-depth advising, and other specialized programs to ensure the success of its participants.
On Thursday, the College hosts a Vet Prep breakfast welcome. The Vet Prep program is designed to assist disadvantaged students in obtaining the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. The program offers coursework and mentoring to selected students who, upon successful completion of the program, will be admitted to the Professional Veterinary Medical Program (PVM) at Colorado State University. Each year, seven students are admitted into Vet Prep based on their admissions ranking, as well as economic, educational, cultural and environmental factors. Thursday also marks the move-in day for the Prevet Living and Learning Community at Edwards Hall.
On Friday, the College will welcome its entering freshman class with CVMBS RamWelcome. The day is comprised of directed informational meetings and orientation activities plus personal introduction of all new students to key advising and guidance personnel in the College. Students also are invited to attend an all-University barbeque for the freshmen and their families on the lawn near the Clark Building, and an afternoon outdoor fair featuring student organizations, departments, colleges and other student services offices. The event helps the almost 4,000 new freshmen begin to know and appreciate all the opportunities offered by Colorado State.
