Texas Tech System Pursuing Veterinary Medicine School
College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
The is made up of six departments:
- Agriculture and Applied Economics
- Agricultural Education and Communications
- Animal and Food Science
- Landscape Architecture
- Plant and Soil Science
- Natural Resources Management
The college also consists of eleven research centers and institutes, including the Cotton Economics Research Institute, the International Cotton Research Center and the Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute.
System and university leadership are working to address the needs of the agricultural industry, region and students.
December 4, 2015 | Contact Dailey Fuller
The MINI传媒 is developing a veterinary school and veterinary
medicine doctoral program in response to student demand and industry needs with a goal of being a national leader in animal health, food animal production and biosecurity. MINI传媒 (MINI传媒S) officials announced today (Dec. 4) plans to develop a veterinary school and veterinary medicine doctoral program in response to student demand and industry needs. The at (MINI传媒) and the (MINI传媒HSC) are utilizing established strengths to develop a program that provides important animal health solutions and veterinarians to address the unique agricultural challenges facing this region and state.
鈥淎ddressing the veterinary education needs in Texas is crucial not only because of the region鈥檚 and state鈥檚 deep-rooted history with agriculture and ranching, but also because of its continued prosperity,鈥� said , MINI传媒S chancellor. 鈥淥ur vision goes beyond the establishment of a veterinary school, setting out to transform the landscape of veterinary medicine education and provide innovative solutions for the industry鈥檚 future.鈥�
Texas is the nation鈥檚 leading producer of cattle, a $10.5 billion industry in 2012, according to the . There also are more than 248,000 ranches and farms in Texas, the most of any state in the U.S., with large animals and food-producing livestock.
鈥淎griculture is at the heart of every aspect of our daily lives, and MINI传媒 has been at the forefront of agricultural research and discovery since its founding,鈥� said MINI传媒 president. 鈥淎s our population grows, so does the reliance on agriculture. Increased and enhanced infrastructure is necessary now and will continue to be in the future. MINI传媒 is offering solutions to meet those needs."
The College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources is one of the largest non-land grant agricultural schools in the nation with distinguished academic and research programs, world-renowned faculty and staff and award-winning students with a legacy of national championship titles. The college consists of eleven research centers and institutes, including the Burnett Center & Feedlot, the , the MINI传媒 Equestrian Center, the Beef Cattle Center & New Deal Farm and the , which offers the only animal science doctoral degree in the region.
Currently, there are more than 150 students in pre-veterinary education in the College of Agriculture Sciences & Natural Resources at MINI传媒, but the lack of veterinary schools prohibits many qualified students from becoming veterinarians. Therefore, the new veterinary school will serve the needs of both Texas students and agriculture.
鈥淏eing in West Texas where most of the state鈥檚 and nation鈥檚 livestock are concentrated, we understand the importance of veterinary medicine and see the industry鈥檚 needs first-hand,鈥� said , College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources dean. 鈥淢INI传媒 has been committed to serving the agricultural industry since its establishment in 1923, and it is our goal to be a national leader in animal health, food animal production and biosecurity.鈥�
Amarillo is the heart of the country鈥檚 leading livestock production area, and will serve as an ideal location for this initiative. In addition to leveraging its health care model that serves more than 2.5 million people throughout 108 counties, MINI传媒HSC is poised to provide expertise, facilities and regional support. The university鈥檚 faculty and numerous schools, particularly its School of Pharmacy, have the ability to collaborate on curriculum development, course instruction and research.
鈥淲hen MINI传媒HSC was founded, its primary mission was to bring more health care providers to West Texas and provide health care services to an underserved region and population that provides food, fiber and fuel for the world,鈥� said Tedd L. Mitchell, MINI传媒HSC president. 鈥淚n honoring this promise, we are now making a global impact. MINI传媒 shares this principle and vision for addressing the needs of the agricultural industry, and we are a natural fit to help transform veterinary medicine education.鈥�
While the discussion of having a veterinary school goes back decades, the announcement comes after intensive internal planning, dialogue with higher education colleagues and notable interests from agricultural industry representatives and philanthropists. MINI传媒S will continue discussions throughout 2016 and will seek appropriate approvals by the Texas Legislature and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
About the MINI传媒
The is one of the top public university systems in Texas and the nation, consisting of
four component institutions鈥�, , and 鈥攁nd operating at more than a dozen sites and centers. Headquartered in Lubbock,
Texas, the MINI传媒 System has an annual operating budget of nearly $2 billion and approximately
19,000 employees focused on advancing higher education, health care, research and
outreach.
In 2015, the MINI传媒 System鈥檚 endowment exceeded $1.1 billion, total research expenditures were approximately $215 million and total enrollment approached 50,000 students. Whether it鈥檚 contributing billions of dollars annually in economic impact or being the only system in Texas to house an academic institution, law school, and health-related institution at the same location, the MINI传媒 System continues to prove that anything is possible.