http://amarillo.com/local-news/news/2017-04-04/texas-house-approves-575m-tech-vet-school-amarillo

Posted April 7, 2017 04:01 pm - Updated April 8, 2017 12:33 am

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The Texas House on Friday approved a state budget that included millions in state funding for a new Texas Tech school of veterinary medicine in Amarillo, but the school's future still remains unclear.

The spending plan provides $5.75 million over the next two years. The number is short of the $16.75 million that the Texas Tech University System requested to build the school, which it has estimated to cost $80 to $90 million.

The university system announced the vet school project in December 2015, and has said it would use an innovative approach to solve a shortage of large-animal, rural veterinarians in the state. But a tough budget year for lawmakers in Austin stalled those efforts.

While providing a glimmer of hope that the project will get back on track, the funds still have to survive a reconciliation process with the Senate, which has passed a budget that doesn't include any money for the vet school.

Tech's plans have displeased Texas A&M University System, which has the only school of veterinary medicine in Texas.

The A&M System has told lawmakers there is no need for a second school because Texas A&M University is developing a "pipeline" to bring students from regional schools, like WT, to College Station where a massive new veterinary teaching complex has opened.

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Texas A&M continues its quest to make any potential TTech vet school irrelevant.

http://amarillo.com/local-news/news/2017-05-11/10-graduate-wt-s-initial-pre-vet-program

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West Texas A&M University on Friday announced the first class that is part of its veterinary school "pipeline."

Ten pre-veterinary majors including one from Amarillo, Taylor Williams have been accepted to veterinary schools. Of them, nine are set to study at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science at Texas A&M University, and one was accepted at the University of Missouri.

The pipeline, announced in early 2016, reserves seats at Texas A&M University System's flagship in College Station for students at regional campuses. The university system has said the program will help solve a shortage of rural veterinarians in the state....


Below is the inaugural class for Texas A&M University System's veterinary school "pipeline." Unless otherwise noted, all have been accepted to the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Amarillo
Taylor Williams
Austin
Kimberly Ussery
Bryan
Charity Scroggs
Coal Valley, Ill.
Sawyer Shattuck (University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine)
Crowley
Madison Burns
Holliday
Larissa Dillard
Houston
Meghan Hager
Olton
Kristen White
San Antonio
Emily Howard
Steph Moore

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Fantastic!!

http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2017-05-26/update-vet-school-may-be-future-amarillo

Posted May 27, 2017 07:49 pm - Updated May 27, 2017 10:22 pm

UPDATE: Vet school may be in the future for Amarillo

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State lawmakers threw support behind a decades-old push for a second vet school in Texas, finalizing nearly $4.2 million in funding for a Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo.



The money came in the state's two-year budget, which passed through both chambers of the Texas Legislature on Saturday and now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk.

"It's the end of a 30-year dream, and it's a major accomplishment for not only Amarillo but also the South Plains," said state Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo.
"This cements our position as the epicenter of the livestock, large-animal industry in the United States."
The number, a compromise between the House and Senate, is down about $1.5 million from the House's initial proposal. It's also well short of the $16.75 million that the Texas Tech University System initially requested from lawmakers to build the school.
"This was basically the commitment from the state of Texas that we will establish a veterinary college in Amarillo," Smithee said.
Tech System officials have estimated the total cost at $80 to $90 million.
A system spokesman was unable to elaborate further on how the funding amount might affect the scope or timeline of the plan.
Previously, the university system was aiming to open by the fall of 2019.
"We appreciate the legislature's support for the Texas Tech University System," said spokesman Brett Ashworth. "They recognized significant medical and agricultural needs in our state with a dental school in El Paso and a vet school in Amaril

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Still must get coordinating board approval, and they have given no indication their position has changed.

whoever wrote this piece of crap has no idea what she is talking about...

http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/texas-techs-proposed-vet-school-to-get-state-funding/

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In a joint statement, as reported by the Texas Tribune, State Sen. Charles Perry, Rep. Dustin Burrows, Rep. John Frullo and Rep. John Smithee said, "Rural Texas depends on agriculture as an economic driver, and the lack of large-animal veterinarians in Texas can have a devastating effect on our communities. The inclusion of $4.1 million in the state budget to establish a veterinary school at Texas Tech University will go a long way in addressing this need."

Lawmakers, for now, are on Texas Tech's side. "The overwhelming support for the funding of a veterinary school at Texas Tech University goes to show that both chambers and both political parties understand how important this is to rural Texas. This school will ensure students receive high-quality veterinary skills and education for large animal practice in high-need areas," they said in their statement.

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This tiny bit of pork barrel was added at the very last minute by a state senator before a vote by the entire legislature - never vetted by the house side - or anyone else for that matter - and was buried in the final bill with no opportunity for anyone to have time to read or comment. It was "overwhelming supported" because it was buried as a last minute gamble and no one even knew it was included except the person who stuck it in at the last minute.

And Smithee is trumpeting it as one of his big accomplishments of the sessions. The other two are getting highways named after Chris Kyle and Charles Goodnight. Also wastes of taxpayer money that accomplishes zilch.

Does anyone have an idea about what (if anything) happens next?

kismet82 said:

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Does anyone have an idea about what (if anything) happens next?

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Tech officials bloviate over the beginning of their vet school
$4 million goes into the pockets of friends of politicians
Coordinating Board rejects vet school
Rinse, repeat

http://amarillo.com/local-news/news/politics/2017-06-12/abbott-approves-state-budget-funding-texas-tech-vet-school

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Gov. Greg Abbott has signed into law a 2018-2019 state budget worth around $217 billion, vetoing about $120 million in planned expenditures but keeping $4.2 million in funding for a Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo.


State Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, confirmed Monday that the funding was not among the $120 million of line item vetoes whittled by Abbott from the budget.

Both chambers signed off on the funding on May 27.

SEE ALSO
Vet school may be in the future for Amarillo
Governor signs Texas' $217B budget, cuts $120M with vetoes

"For everyone in the Panhandle, this is a big victory," Smithee said. "The establishment of a vet college here has been a dream goal for some for at least 30 years, most thought it was unreachable within our lifetimes, but now it looks like it will be a reality."
The amount of funding is down about $1.5 million from the House's initial proposal and well short of the $16.75 million that the Texas Tech University System initially requested from lawmakers to build the school.
Smithee said previously that the more than $4 million was a commitment from the state of Texas that a veterinary college would be established in Amarillo.
"It's important to the Panhandle because this is the livestock center of the United States, and arguably the world, and this solidifies that," Smithee said Monday. "This opens up a lot of opportunities, it can be a real economic engine, and in this case that's true because of the relationship it will have with the Texas Tech pharmacy school. it will bring it a lot of research money and jobs to the region."
Tech System officials have estimated the total cost of the school at $80 to $90 million. Previously, the university system was aiming to open by the fall of 2019 and has been praised by many as a future economic boon for Amarillo.
"We are grateful for legislative support for both a dental school and veterinary medicine in our state and recognizing the Texas Tech University System's ability to meet these vital needs," Tech System Vice Chancellor Brett Ashworth said in an email Monday.

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The model Tech proposes is the same one A&M currently uses at some of its med school campuses!

Well, theyd better dig deep in their pockets to get it rolling and keep it. The best students will not choose them.

http://amarillo.com/local-news/news/politics/2017-07-15/texas-tech-vet-school-amarillo-will-be-product-political

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Lubbock and Amarillo lawmakers say the state's $4.2-million appropriation for a Texas Tech University veterinary school in Amarillo was the best they could do in a year when sluggish economic forecasts have left state agencies facing cuts. A Texas Tech vet school in Amarillo will be a product of political wrangling, 45-year journey

The money represents a start-up investment from the state and marks a commitment from the Texas Legislature that the project will receive backing in the future, they said. The funds are supposed to at least cover planning costs and help Texas Tech raise private funds for the estimated $80- to $90-million school it wants to build near the current Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center here.
But the Texas Tech University System has said little aside from praising the appropriation, which is less than one-third of the start-up capital originally requested of the legislature, leaving questions about timing and accreditation unanswered.

University System Chancellor Robert Duncan is expected to visit Amarillo on Tuesday, shedding some light on the vet school's future.

"The timeline is a big unknown,"

n January, State Comptroller Glenn Hegar seemed to dash the Tech System's dream of a veterinary school. At the beginning of the legislative session, Hegar gave lawmakers a $104.9 billion revenue estimate for 2018-19, down 2.7 percent from his estimate for the previous biennium.

Tech had initially requested $16.75 million to build the vet school, but that mark was clearly not achievable, said state Rep. Four Price, R-Amarillo

The vote added to speculation that Texas A&M University, which has the only vet school in the state, had derailed Texas Tech's plans.

Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp knows his way around Austin. His resume includes two terms in the House, one in the Senate and eight years as comptroller.

The A&M System quickly fired back after A&M's Sharp traveled to Amarillo in January 2016 to announce partnerships between its vet school in College Station and other system schools - including one in nearby Canyon at WTA&M.

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http://lubbockonline.com/news/education/local-news/2017-08-10/texas-tech-regents-go-pause-stay-tuned-proposed-amarillo-vet

Texas Tech regents go from 'pause' to 'stay tuned' on proposed Amarillo vet school

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If the message from the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents in February was "Pause" on the initiative to bring a school of veterinary medicine to Amarillo, it is now, "Stay tuned."


Despite a multimillion-dollar financial commitment from the Texas Legislature this spring to explore creating a vet school, Tech's regents have no official opinion on the proposal, board Chairman Rick Francis told A-J Media on Thursday as the regents met in Lubbock.
Instead, he said, what could be the second vet school in the state is one of many options the university system believes could have a positive impact on the state.
"We have a number of priorities that we're looking at for the communities that are part of the Texas Tech system," Francis said. "There might be two or three projects that we have to judge, and until we have all the data, we don't know how to prioritize."

SEE ALSO
Texas Tech vet school in Amarillo will be a product of political wrangling, 45-year journey
Amarillo vet school: Tech may need to amend deal with AEDC


But he said Tech leaders were excited to get a $4.17 million allocation from state lawmakers in May that will be used to complete a comprehensive study and to evaluate the feasibility of having a school of veterinary medicine in Amarillo.
"It's in our strategic plan going forward," Francis said of the vet school. "We'll be gathering data and looking at a business model and the impact on the Amarillo community and the Texas Tech system, of offering those educational opportunities. And so, stay tuned. But we are absolutely going to pursue it."
A meeting of the regents' Academic, Clinical and Student Affairs Committee on Thursday included a proposal to add two items to a list of the strategic priorities for the Tech system. The full board will reconvene Friday to consider the addition.
Chancellor Robert Duncan said one of the new items is a collaborative initiative among the Tech system institutions to evaluate a multi-disciplinary center of excellence supporting mental health education, research, policy and patient care. The other new item is the school of veterinary medicine.
According to a draft document given to all regents during the committee meeting Thursday, Tech will use the legislative funds to evaluate the financial and academic feasibility of a vet school in Amarillo. Collaboratively working with the Tech Health Sciences Center, the planning initiative "will examine appropriate models for veterinary medical education to address industry, regulatory and public needs along with the academic and financial requirements to establish an accredited professional program."
Findings and proposals will be shared in a comprehensive report to the board of regents, according to the draft document on the strategic priorities.
Francis said the board voted in February to pause the process of asking the state Legislature for funding of a vet school because it wanted to send a message to the lawmakers that Tech is a good steward of money.
"We looked at what our components were telling us were their top priorities, and that was to preserve the special line items in their budgets. And so, we took that vote so that we were sending a message to Austin," Francis said. "We did that respectfully, because it was such a tough budget year."
Francis said it could help if Texas Tech finds more funding for the project.
The Amarillo Economic Development Corp. offered a $15 million incentive to Tech if construction on a vet school begins by September 2018 and if Tech pays at least $50 million in payroll and benefits to employees.
Francis said that is a great start. He pointed out what Amarillo did for the pharmacy school there, what Abilene did for a school of public health and what El Paso has done in terms of raising $30 million to bring a dental school there.
"So it's a start, but we'll evaluate. What are the operating costs? How many students does it impact? What local resources can we leverage? And then we'll go back to the state. And the state will be looking at those same things when they decide whether they're going to fund this, as we do," Francis said.
Asked to elaborate on a possible need for even more resources from Amarillo, Francis said, "I can't speak to that. Generally speaking, the more money you have, the more positive impact you'll have when you're walking the halls of the Legislature, and telling them, 'If you'll give X, the community of Amarillo is going to leverage that.' So it's a good use of state resources. You can tell a better story. But without the study, I can't tell you how much is needed at this point."
The regents will meet Friday morning for a vote on the additions to the strategic priorities, as well as other items approved in committees on Thursday.

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Gee, I thought that "planning" was already done? I guess they have to spend the funds on something...

http://amarillo.com/local-news/news/2017-10-20/texas-tech-regents-discuss-veterinary-school-slain-officer-during-board

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LUBBOCK The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents approved the authorization of President Lawrence Schovanec to execute consulting contracts related to analyzing the feasibility and overall planning for a School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo during a board meeting Friday.


The regents voted in August to use a $4.17 million allocation from state lawmakers to complete a comprehensive study on the vet school. Chairman Rick Francis said the vet school is one of many options the university system believes could have a positive impact on the state.
On Friday, Regents approved contracts for Alistair Cribb and John U. Thomson, both veterinarians and educators in the field.
Cribb served as the dean of the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for 10 years. The Calgary school has an innovative model of teaching veterinary medicine that Tech leaders have been interested in implementing in West Texas, where more veterinarians are needed for large animals.

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http://lubbockonline.com/news/2017-11-08/area-mayors-talk-amarillo-vet-school-advocating-west-texas

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Mayors from across West Texas and the Panhandle gathered in Lubbock again on Wednesday to continue their talks as a "coalition."

Coming back together for the first time since their inaugural meeting in July, mayors from Lubbock, Amarillo Abilene, Big Spring, Midland and Odessa said they believe many of the cities and towns in West Texas share similar goals and issues.
Among those issues are pursuing opportunities like a proposed Texas Tech school of veterinary medicine in Amarillo, or better advocacy for West Texas in the state Legislature.

Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson said much of the discussion was about the economic impact and the role the vet school will have in the region.
"It's exciting to think about the prospect of what (the vet school) will mean for the entire West Texas region," Nelson said. "The economic development opportunities, the research opportunities, and there are many areas of industry we need to be proactive on such as food safety the overall goal is to support the partnership across the region to meet what we know is a regional need, but has a national impact with regard to supplying vets to cover a shortage."

Asked about a timeline, Nelson offered few details but said the university is talking to a potential donor about land, adding that may soon be the next development in the process to be announced.

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Aggie1 said:

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This tiny bit of pork barrel was added at the very last minute by a state senator before a vote by the entire legislature - never vetted by the house side - or anyone else for that matter - and was buried in the final bill with no opportunity for anyone to have time to read or comment. It was "overwhelming supported" because it was buried as a last minute gamble and no one even knew it was included except the person who stuck it in at the last minute.

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Your statement is completely false. The vet school proposal was in the original house budget (at over $5MM) and was not included in the original Senate budget.

There were multiple hearings on this issue and ultimately decided in the conference committee meeting at the reduced amount.

I didn't make the statement.
It's in the article I referenced - and others that I didn't.

http://lubbockonline.com/education/local-news/news/2017-12-14/texas-tech-regents-consider-feasibility-studies-amarillo-vet-el

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Texas Tech regents consider feasibility studies for Amarillo vet, El Paso dental schools
Studies on the feasibility of buildings for both a school of dentistry in El Paso and a school of veterinary medicine in Amarillo were approved by the facilities committee of the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents on Thursday morning.


The entire board of regents will meet Friday to vote on the studies and other issues approved by the regents committees on Thursday.
These feasibility studies will only investigate the design of facilities for both schools being considered by the Tech System regents.

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Amarillo Globe-News information added to the Lubbock Avalance Journal article above....

http://amarillo.com/local-news/news/2017-12-14/texas-tech-seeks-funding-second-site-vet-school-amarillo

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The vet school would largely be located just northwest of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy in Amarillo, Molina said, but the university system would like to locate a proposed off-site large animal facility about two miles away.

SEE ALSO
Regents approve Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center tuition and fees hike
Texas Tech regents discuss veterinary school, slain officer during board meeting

The university does not own land for the second facility, but Walker said regents are making progress between meetings.
"There is progress in raising money," he said.
The veterinary medicine study would cost $242,300 to provide a planning and a probable cost budget for the project, with an anticipated cost of $89.82 million.
Regent John Steinmetz said System Chancellor Robert Duncan has been committed to raising $90 million for the veterinary school privately.
Duncan said Tech has been successful in supporting facilities with philanthropic gifts.
He said that after January, he believes regents will see more financial commitments.
When the commitments are in, he said he believes the board will be satisfied that Tech has a business plan that works.
The board will require a five-year business plan on projects like the vet school, Walker said. So far, he said the university has not worked out long-term financials, including operating revenue and operating costs.
According to information presented to the regents, a new vet school would include the teaching of medicine, as well as clinical research.
A four-year vet school would serve approximately 240 students, with an additional 150-200 graduate students who are not seeking a doctorate of veterinary medicine and an estimated academic staff of 90.

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Vet building and collaboration announced between A&M Vet and WTAMU

http://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/texas-am-system-board-of-regents-announces-new-228m-veterinary-facility-at-wt

of course TT's reply:

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"...we welcome the opportunity to collaborate with others on this important matter."

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hahaha



http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2018-03-08/tamu-unveils-vet-education-plan-wt-texas-tech-continues-push-amarillo

http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/texas-a-m-flagship-campus-to-build-veterinary-complex-at/article_def53c12-1e08-5d0b-90ee-a0edb54a3fd9.html

Yet another twist. Each reference has a few more and different bits of information...

http://www.kbtx.com/content/news/Texas-AM-System-bringing-Veterinary-Medicine-to-West-Texas-476418653.html

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Texas A&M University said they can exclusively meet the needs of veterinary education in Texas as competition grows to offer classes in West Texas and bring more vets to rural areas.

This week, the Texas A&M University System announced an expansion of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences to West Texas A&M in Canyon. It's part of a $22.8 million facility expansion.
But, Texas Tech is also working on a plan to bring a future vet school to Amarillo. Texas A&M officials have said in the past their College Station campus is built to meet the needs for more veterinarians.
"This campus right here is going to become, along with the feed lots and the dairies and the agriculture production here, is going to become the number one agriculture and veterinary complex that exists anywhere in the country," said John Sharp, Texas A&M University System Chancellor.
"It's going to be, I would predict, the number one research facilities for large animals, feed lots, dairies and things like that that exist anywhere in the country," said Sharp.
"Because we're also putting our state agencies Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and some of our research labs in this complex together," he said.
"Our program here at West Texas A&M is actually the starting, a pipeline for students from the Panhandle and South Plains to getting them into veterinary school and we know that 60 percent of them will return home to serve the rural needs of Texas," said Dan Posey, who will oversee the program as an extension of what's offered in College Station. Posey is the West Texas A&M Academic Coordinator Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Center.
"This is actually an extension of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences into the Panhandle. This program will allow us to educate the future food animal and rural practitioners of Texas," he explained.
"I think it's great that they are able to expand into a new area of Texas. This will hopefully give the veterinary students a much more well-rounded education," said James Baggs, with West Villa Maria Veterinary Clinic in Bryan.
Dr. Baggs says there are challenges bringing vets to rural areas. Attending veterinarian school at Texas A&M can cost around $26,000 a year.
"Just because there's a need for a veterinarian in certain locations, it doesn't necessarily mean that those locations will be able to support a young veterinarian, with the level of loans and educational expenses that they've had to endure for four years," he said.
"Honestly, I think it's fantastic for the field. I know one of the greatest things about the West Texas campus was the exposure to the food animal side of veterinary medicine. A lot of people in College Station don't get exposed to that side,"

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When I was at A&M there were kids without degrees that had been trying to get into Vet School (from Amarillo) who were in their 6th year at A&M and still re-taking classes over a second and third time to improve their grade point ratio enough to get into Vet School.

It was often said that getting into Vet School was much more difficult than getting into Med School. I often wondered if that was because there were only so many slots available and if they were really that contested... ?

Having said that, there is also the rationale by a profession that too many graduates only floods the market and therefore the education system needs to weed/funnel only as many as are needed to avoid over production of grads. Again, I don't know that is true of all professions - or any for that matter - but it is always one of the ways the educators justify flunking out a lot of students they feel are unfit for the profession. Personally, I think the real test comes when taking the Boards - you either have what it takes - or not...


Post Script: Actually, I suppose the real test begins AFTER education and boards - when entering and sustaining in the marketplace. It is there where you either you sink or swim... Fortunately, Ags are good swimmers! In fact, during my years passing Art Adamson's swimming/floating tests were a requirement for graduation. ">

http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20180507/pieces-coming-together-texas-techs-amarillo-vet-school-concept-gaining-focus

Pieces 'coming together': Texas Tech's Amarillo vet school concept gaining focus

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The concept of Texas Tech establishing a veterinary school in Amarillo is beginning to come into greater focus, including its potential future location.

On Tuesday morning, the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors is expected to discuss and consider the amended Location Incentives Agreement between the Amarillo EDC, Texas Tech University and the Texas Tech University System as a means of moving the $90 million project forward.

The Mariposa Village Community Land Trust has donated the land for the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine. Mary Emeny serves as the trust board's chairperson. In 1900, her grandfather, W.H. Bush, donated land for what became St. Anthony's Hospital.

Texas Tech University System Chancellor Robert Duncan said the land donation serves as a vital component in the process.

Duncan said securing funding to construct the facility and acquiring the programmatic costs - hopefully an annual allocation of $18 million yearly from the Legislature - would help create a vet school model that meets the needs of the industry and agriculture community and bodes well for the region's future.

"It is a four-year veterinary school of medicine," he said of the Texas Tech venue. "So (graduates) will have opportunities to go anywhere and do anything they want to do. In Calgary, they had an urban center surrounded by rural areas. The challenge was how to get kids in these positions to go work in the rural environment. Calgary developed a unique curriculum and Texas Tech is using that model. To do that, they are partnering with clinics, as well as industry in the area. The students will get classroom work here while also being offered the opportunity to go out much earlier in their veterinary career to work in the rural environments. Students will gain exposure to that much earlier in their career than is normally provided in vet school."

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And the Coordinating Board has not changed its stance that the state does not need another vet school. I think they are trying to get so much out in front of this that the board feels pressure to OK it.

http://www.newschannel10.com/story/38142802/our-perspective-on-the-texas-tech-veterinarian-school-funding

Tuesday, May 8th 2018, 5:00 pm CDT

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Today there were votes taken and commitments made - $90 million in commitments in total.
That's right, the Texas Tech University Veterinarian School build out will cost $90 million, and that money is now funded through fundraising efforts pulling in money from the Panhandle and from communities as far as 250 miles away.

You may be asking why do we need this?

I asked the same question.
Here are a few points that make it obvious why this is a great investment in our community:

• The Panhandle region is home to over three million head of cattle.
• The job demand is high because the closest veterinarian schools to us placed 100 percent of their graduates last year. The only other Texas veterinarian school takes more than 600 applicants every year and selects 130 students. That leaves 470 either out, or they go off to school outside our area and we then struggle to recruit them back to serve our area.
• Our region is in need of USDA animal health inspectors, large animal veterinarians to take the place of retiring veterinarians, and dairy farms are in constant need of trained veterinary professionals for their cattle.

I also asked about any duplication that may occur with West Texas A&M's new program. The WT program is a great cattle focused extension to the College Station A&M and has a great role in the community, but it will not be a duplication of service because the Texas Tech school will be a full graduate program with multiple animal disciplines.
Here is some research provided by the AEDC:

• The Amarillo EDC proposes to fund up to $69 million to ensure the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine is constructed and operational in Amarillo, Texas. Along with private donations and other community support, the Amarillo EDC funds will act as a financial guarantee for this $90 million project.
• Texas Tech is contractually obligated to continue fundraising efforts. This investment by the AEDC assures the vet school will happen while at the same time challenging industry and community partners to join in the success of making it happen.
• The timing of Amarillo's investment before the legislative appropriations request will increase the momentum of private fundraising and hopefully assist the legislative funding request.
• Funding for the project will come from the annual tax revenues (sales tax) recognized by the AEDC, and no bonds are currently planned to be issued for this project.
• The estimated annual economic impact is $76 million annually to Amarillo, hence a complete return on investment in a short time-frame, dramatically impacting economy and education in Amarillo.

The money is being committed by private donors and the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation. This is what we hired the AEDC to do, and this is a low risk and high gain opportunity.

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http://www.newschannel10.com/story/38139134/city-of-amarillo-approves-aedc-pledge-of-up-to-69m-for-texas-tech-veterinary-school

Tuesday, May 8th 2018, 9:51 pm CDT

City of Amarillo approves AEDC pledge of up to $69M for Texas Tech veterinary school

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Plans for the Texas Tech University Veterinarian School in Amarillo have been underway since 2015, and today, various City of Amarillo entities are working to bring those plans closer to fruition.

The Amarillo Economic Development Corporation announced today that they will pledge up to $69 million to ensure the construction and operation of the veterinarian school. Including private funding and previous donations, these funds will act as a financial guarantee for the $90 million project.
Amarillo City Council approved up to $69 million in funding to ensure the construction and operation of the veterinarian school.

Including private funding and previous donations, these funds will act as a financial guarantee for the $90 million project.

The school will be located on the same campus as the pharmacy and medical schools.
"We're the only place in the nation now that will have all three of those on a single campus," said Jason Herrick, chairman of the Steering Committee of Amarillo Vet School. "To me, that means we're going to be on the forefront of research and development opportunities. It's really exciting about the types of businesses and the types of people we can get to our community."
"Both of those make a veterinary school perfect for the types of industry that is here," said Robert Duncan, Chancellor for Texas Tech University System. "This is the epicenter of the beef industry as well as now all the dairy industry is migrating to this region of the country."
By establishing these higher education programs, Texas Tech's vet program, as well as West Texas A&M, hope to meet the need in the area.

"I have a high level of confidence that one of our best partners will be West Texas A&M University," said Herrick. "Both for our students and for the opportunities to develop with faculty and for research opportunities that will come up between the two universities."
Before students begin Tech's three year program beginning in fall of 2021, fundraising efforts are expected to continue as well as action on the legislative level.

"The stars are aligning in a good way for us to have a strong argument with $90 million in funding for construction and say here's the need and here's why we should appropriate some money for operational funding," said Rep. Four Price, State Representative for District 87. "I'm looking forward to that opportunity"

The AEDC's payments will run through 2029 in over 10 installments.
This is the second largest project that the AEDC has been involved in.

The new school will be the 31st veterinary school in the country.

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Do they honestly think that not allowing young people to live outside of the area and see the world will keep them from moving away? Is the real issue that when students leave the area for higher education, they realize that life might be better in another place, and they don't go back?

Or is it just their usual inferiority complex rearing its ugly head?

At any rate, they will never be a competitor to the A & M school, so it really doesn't matter.

That is correct, it will take decades to build a reputation as a quality school. The economics of it will still drive students to do whatever they want to do afterwards. They can want to stay in the panhandle, but when they have huge debt loads, they will do what pays the bills. Fido pays the bills, Bevo does not (as well.)

They are trying to build up so much political pressure that the coordinating board will approve it.

Mark my words Tech will regret this if they get it. They so desperately want it they are ignoring all the data that demonstrates that it is not needed, is not good for students, and will drain the resources of both the state and the institution for decades.

The biggest winners will be the builders in the Panhandle. It will be good for Amarillo. It will be bad for Tech, for Texas, and for students.

I'm curious how the TT program expects to be accredited?

It is easy to say they are going to keep costs down, but vet schools are expensive. They all lose money. Tech is getting big bucks from Amarillo, but Amarillo is going to expect an ROI, so Tech will have to pump money into it to keep it going. They are also going to not want to be seen as second tier, so they will be faced with accepting that, or spending big bucks to attract the faculty required to be a respected program. All that puts pressure on the price, and the payments of that price come primarily from tuition and from allocated state funds.

They are lining up eye popping startup funds to ram this through, but a good economist would look at the long term and know that this is going to be a huge drain on either the state, the institution, or the students.

It's willfully blind ambition forcing this through. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail in the coordinating board.

http://www.amarillo.com/news/20180518/texas-tech-regents-give-nod-to-69m-agreement-with-amarillo-edc-on-vet-school/1?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GHM_Daily_Newsletter&utm_content=GMPG_AGN

Texas Tech regents give nod to $69M agreement with Amarillo EDC on vet school

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The Texas Tech University System's Board of Regents on Friday authorized Tech President Lawrence Schovanec to execute an agreement with the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation relating to the proposed Tech School of Veterinary Medicine.
The regents' vote on the vet school came after an executive session as part of the board's regular two-day meeting in Lubbock.
The Amarillo EDC pledged up to $69 million toward the completion of the $90 million veterinary medicine facility.
As of late April, private funding commitments for the veterinary school project were $21 million, on top of $15 million that had been previously committed by the Amarillo EDC in Sept. 2016.
After the regents' vote to allow the university to enter into the agreement with Amarillo EDC, Schovanec said, "This is a very big step in moving forward with plans."
Schovanec described the Amarillo EDC's support as "a very pleasant development."
"That only materialized in the last couple of weeks," he said.

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If they build this vet school there will be many graduating vets within 2 years that won't find a job. I myself am a vet and every vet I have talked to is in agreement. Many vets have been asked to post their opinions on a web site that is promoting the school. All their comments are deleted when they are against building it.

http://www.amarillo.com/news/20180527/vet-school-focus-turns-to-legislature?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GHM_Daily_Newsletter&utm_content=GMPG_AGN

TT proposed Vet school focus turns to legislature

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With an agreement now in hand guaranteeing the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine concept here would come to fruition, University officials said they are now focusing on the next phase, which is securing the facility's operational funding.

Earlier this month the Amarillo City Council approved an arrangement supporting an Amarillo Economic Development Corporation pledge of up to $69 million toward the completion of the $90 million project. Council members voted 5-0 to authorize the EDC to enter into an amended Local Incentives Agreement to establish a veterinary school in Amarillo, in partnership with Texas Tech University and the Texas Tech University System.

"We can now go to the legislature and demonstrate we have the resources while also emphasizing there is a need," he said. "We will work with our legislative leadership to convince the appropriators that this is the thing that needs to happen. We have a good model we are following that has been tested and at the same time we have a strong west Texas legislative delegation. We feel good that their strategy will prevail on this and we'll do what they would have us to do. You still have to proceed with purpose and we're excited about the opportunity Amarillo has given the immediate area, as well as the state."
The legislature previously granted funding for a $4.1 million feasibility study regarding the veterinary school concept, providing insight into historical perspective, workforce analysis, educational demand, academic feasibility, philanthropic opportunities and financial feasibility.

The study referenced since 1990, the number of licenses issued by the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners has increased from 120 per year to 450 noting in the early 1990s, graduates of the sole existing veterinary program in Texas accounted for almost 80 percent of the licenses issued annually. However, in a period of 25 years, per the study, graduates of the existing program now account for only 24 percent of the licenses issued.

Another element of the feasibility study references the health of the veterinary job market is expected to expand and remain robust well into the future, adding Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predict the nationwide demand for veterinary employment to grow 18.1 percent through 2026. Meanwhile, officials said of the 6,635 licensed veterinarians in Texas, 27.7 percent are over the age of 60, many will leave the profession in the next decade and DVM graduates predominantly move to and practice in major urban and suburban areas.

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