VM4 Curriculum Implementation Plan - Class of 2021

To: ISU CVM Class of 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic presents challenges in effectively planning for fourth year instruction for the Class of 2021. Uncertainty regarding exact timing or duration of the disease outbreak in Iowa or preceptor locations, potential government restrictions on movement or activities, and challenges inherent in providing on-line clinical instruction all complicate planning. The College of Veterinary Medicine remains committed to providing a high-quality learning experience for VM4 students, as well as doing everything possible to support their path to graduation in May of 2021. In order to support students’ academic progress while accounting for the inherent lack of certainty in scheduling for the next several months, the following implementation guidelines will be observed.

1. Senior rotations will resume, as currently scheduled, May 11, 2020, with instruction initially being offered on-line, at least through May 31, 2020. While we do not yet know when face-to-face instruction will resume, students returning from outside the state will be expected to self-quarantine for 14 days prior to beginning face-to-face instruction in the teaching hospital, and are asked to plan travel accordingly.

2. Students will continue to be held to current core and option requirements, as well as completion of the clinical skills checklist. However, to provide flexibility given current uncertainty, the total credit hours required for graduation will be reduced from 44 to 40. Students are not required to reduce the total number of rotations they complete, but may do so by eliminating up to 4 weeks of electives or selectives.

3. Students will be permitted to participate in approved preceptorship experiences on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the ISU CVM 4th year Extramural/Preceptorship Plan for COVID-19 Risk Assessment. The ability to participate in preceptorships is based on on-going approval by the Iowa State Board of Regents, and is subject to change without notice. Students may direct specific questions about preceptorship planning as it relates to COVID-19 to Dr. Alex Ramirez.

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. Any decision to extend the adapted schedule will be made 1 month in advance in order to allow students to modify their schedule accordingly. Rotation offerings during the Adapted Schedule are more limited than offerings under normal conditions. Currently, 24 courses are available during the Adapted Schedule period, including the following. Not all courses are available all blocks; you will see full availability when you make your schedules:

  • Anesthesia
  • Animal Welfare
  • Cardiology
  • Clinical Pathology/Necropsy
  • Dairy Production Medicine
  • Dermatology
  • Diagnostic Toxicology
  • Equine Medicine/Ambulatory
  • Equine Surgery/Farrier
  • Food Animal and Camelid Medicine and Surgery
  • Human-animal Bond in Literature
  • ICU
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Ophthalmolog
  • Orthopedic Surgery Rounds (Small Animal)
  • Primary Care/Dentistry
  • Public Health
  • Shelter Medicine/Community Outreach
  • Small Animal Internal Medicine
  • Soft Tissue Surgery
  • Swine Medical Education Center
  • Swine Production Medicine
  • Zoo Medicine

5. 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.

Students are assigned to scheduling staff alphabetically by last name as follows:

To schedule a time to meet with Melody, Sandy, or Megan, please click on the following link, which will be available 4/16/2020 at noon, using the login information you used to schedule PCAL experiences. Click on the down arrow at “Select Session” and choose “VM4 Reschedule Class 2021.” Choose your date (ALL dates are in April). Select your time listed under the appropriate staff person. Communication will follow from the staff person regarding contact method.

6. Students’ Adapted Schedules can include approved preceptorships, vacation/unscheduled time, and a reduced set of clinical rotations that best lend themselves to on-line instruction. In instances where students are not able to shift vacation time or preceptorships into earlier blocks, they will be scheduled into on-line clinical rotations. The college will seek to meet student preferences in scheduling on-line rotations, but cannot guarantee that preferences will be met. Rotations taken during the Adapted Schedule period will meet core or option requirements, though students may be required to practice and demonstrate selected hands-on skills once normal schedules have resumed before receiving course credit.

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. 

Jared Danielson, PhD
Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs