Plan for Delivering 4th Year Instruction to the Class of 2021

Dear Students of the Class of 2021,

I hope you are well, staying safe, and enjoying the sunny weather!

This e-mail provides some general information regarding the transition from the VM3 year into 4th year rotations as shared during today’s noon town hall meeting. A more detailed announcement will be shared next week.

  1. Senior rotations will resume on-line, as currently scheduled, May 11, 2020. Students who are currently living outside of Ames are asked to return to Ames on or shortly after May 11th, in order to ensure sufficient time to self-quarantine for 14 days prior to entering clinics.
  2. Core and option requirements will not change, however, the total credit hours required for graduation will be reduced from 44 to 40.
  3. You will be permitted to participate in approved preceptorship experiences (both in and out of state) on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the College’s Preceptorship Risk Assessment Guidelines (under development). More detail will follow.
  4. Each student will have two VM4 schedules, a “Normal Schedule”, and an “Adapted Schedule”. The Normal schedule is the full 52-week schedule that would be followed under normal conditions. An Adapted Schedule for each student will be created for Blocks 1-8, and will be followed for as long as the Veterinary College is closed to normal face-to-face instruction. Rotations offered during the Adapted Schedule period will be different from those offered under normal conditions. Available courses will be announced next week, and you will work with scheduling staff to adapt your schedules per your preferences and course availability.
  5. Prior to May 11th, each student will work with scheduling staff to maximize their schedules such that
    • Where possible, vacation weeks are scheduled during the first several blocks of clinical instruction.
    • Core requirements in each student’s chosen option are scheduled later in the academic year.
    • Preference is given for students to participate in rotations meeting their option requirements later in the year. For example, students in the Equine option will have preference for scheduling their equine rotations later in the year, when they are more likely to have a hands-on experience. 
  6. Students’ Adapted Schedules can include approved preceptorships, vacation/unscheduled time, and the reduced set of clinical rotations available for on-line instruction
  7. At the beginning of the first odd-numbered block following resumption of normal face-to-face instruction, each student will resume their Normal Schedule. 

Again, more detail will be made available next week.

Kind regards, and have a wonderful weekend.

Jared Danielson, PhD
Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs