https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/180715k.aspx

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Report on veterinary education
The race to increase the number of veterinary graduates in the state is nothing new. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has long received questions as to whether Texas needed a new veterinary school and whether workforce needs could support the production of more large animal veterinarians. The board had researched the topic in 2002 and 2009. In both instances, the board reported there was no need for a second veterinary college; however, in 2009, it said that Texas A&M's veterinary college could increase enrollment to meet future state needs.
As a result, Texas A&M invested $120 million to construct a teaching complex, which opened in 2016, and increased its enrollment by about 20 students, up to 155 per class. That same year, anticipating its expanded capacity for enrollment, the veterinary college announced partnerships with four TAMU System institutionsWest Texas A&M University, Tarleton State University, Prairie View A&M University, and Texas A&M University-Kingsvilleto encourage underrepresented minorities and rural students to pursue veterinary education.
An initial focus was placed on the partnership with West Texas A&M, where the veterinary college established the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Center in 2016 and hired Drs. Dee Griffin and Dan Posey to build a program to address regional industry needs and enhance interest among students. Those students, officials hope, will return to rural areas in West Texas to work as veterinarians. In 2017, WT sent nine preveterinary graduates to A&M, according to a TAMU news release.
The coordinating board revisited the issue of veterinary educational needs in the state and released a new report (PDF) in July 2016. It said, "No new college of veterinary medical education that primarily produces small animal veterinarians is recommended at this time. The high cost of establishing a new veterinary school would outweigh the potential benefits to the state, given the small to moderate workforce demand and the issue that building a new school would not guarantee that any of the graduates would practice on livestock, which is the state's principal area of need, but there are more cost-effective ways of addressing the need for medical care for food animals in Texas."
Specifically, the report recommended addressing the pending shortage of large animal veterinarians in the following ways:

• Fund the Rural Veterinarian Incentive Program created by the state.
• Create undergraduate programs in veterinary science that allow a greater scope of practice.
• Consider a proposal designed to produce large animal veterinarians in an innovative, cost-efficient manner that does not duplicate existing efforts.

The Texas A&M University System Regents March 8 revealed plans for a $22.8 million building on the West Texas A&M University campus for veterinary education, research, and workforce opportunities in the Panhandle as part of almost $90 million in new commitments to the state's agriculture industry.
Texas A&M University's new Veterinary Education, Research, and Outreach Center will be built adjacent to West Texas A&M University's new Agricultural Sciences Complex and the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory facility, currently in the process of being relocated from Amarillo to Canyon, according to a university press release.
Once the VERO Center is completed in 2020, students from Texas A&M's veterinary college will be able to take courses, participate in externship programs, and conduct research there. Opportunities for research and collaboration with faculty and staff at the TVMDL, West Texas A&M's Agricultural Sciences Complex, and the veterinary college's VERO Center will be available to students from both Texas A&M and West Texas A&M. The TAMU campus in College Station is located about 520 miles southwest of West Texas' campus in Canyon.

Meanwhile, the Texas Tech University System continues moving ahead with building its own veterinary school.
In 2017, Texas Tech's proposed School of Veterinary Medicine received a $4.2 million appropriation from the Texas Legislature for planning purposes. Texas Tech officials have estimated the total cost at $80 million to $90 million; they have committed to not asking the state to cover construction costs. This May, the Amarillo Economic Development Corp. committed to a minimum of $15 million and up to $69 million toward the school's construction. One requirement is that Texas Tech continue to raise construction funds to offset Amarillo's commitment. Already, other philanthropic commitments have helped the institution to reach its goal.
Plans are to build a main veterinary facility on the Texas Tech Amarillo Campus near its Health Sciences Center. Another facility would be built less than 2 miles away for clinical skills training on production animals, Dr. Guy Loneragan, professor of food safety and public health at Texas Tech University, told JAVMA News.
Tech officials have argued that because the veterinary school would have a distributive clinical education model rather than an on-site teaching hospital, students would get clinical experience in Texas Panhandle veterinary practices and be more inclined to stay in the region.
Texas Tech reached out to the AVMA Council on Education for a consultative site visit, which is scheduled for spring 2019. The program's feasibility study (PDF), released in May. From there, the veterinary school anticipates a comprehensive site visit in spring 2020. Should it receive a letter of reasonable assurance, Texas Tech could enroll students as soon as fall 2021. Dr. Loneragan said the program has engaged the services of two former veterinary college deans to guide it through the accreditation process.
Annual tuition at the proposed veterinary school is estimated to be $21,165.

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Even the DMN agrees...

https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2018/06/28/texas-doesnt-need-another-veterinarian-school

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Annual tuition at the proposed veterinary school is estimated to be $21,165.

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So they're going to build it all new from scratch, and the annual tuition is going to be about 10-20% lower than A&M's?

Sure. I suspect they'll build it on the Pacific Ocean beach front up there in Amarillo. Or possibly near the famous Amarillo snow ski resort.

http://vetmed.tamu.edu/dvm/future/tuition

Aggie1 said:

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Even the DMN agrees...

https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2018/06/28/texas-doesnt-need-another-veterinarian-school

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To be fair, Chancellor Sharp wrote that....

And the only ones who need to agree or disagree are the guys on the Higher Education Coordinating Board, who have said no every time in the past that they've been asked.

https://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/06/30/texas-am-chancellor-takes-shot-at-old-rivalry-with-texas-tech/

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"If there is some kind of rivalry between Tech and A&M, somebody forgot to tell us."

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Some interesting background in a rehash

http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20180705/texas-tech-aampm-exchange-public-passive-aggressive-comments-over-vet-school

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"Now the game for Tech is to secure $18 million for operations when the Legislature convenes in January," the column continued, "a request that would grow along with the school.

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As mentioned in the report you referenced above, part of the solution to dealing with this shortage is to "Create undergraduate programs in veterinary science that allow a greater scope of practice." I would envision this to be similar to the Nurse Practitioner programs in human medicine. BUT, for such a similar program to be used in Veterinary Medicine, a change in Licensure at the state level would be necessary. It is my understanding that the feedlot and dairy folks out west are using unlicensed Vets from Mexico and Brazil to cover their needs.

Excellent overview by Sharp.

https://www.theeagle.com/opinion/columnists/texas-doesn-t-need-a-second-vet-school/article_b0e8344c-817f-11e8-ba57-2fd90500093e.html

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Texas does not need another veterinarian school to train rural veterinarians. Texas needs to find a way for more rural veterinarians to make a living.

In a Dallas Morning News column on June 27, Jay Leeson, a radio talk show host and columnist in Lubbock, perpetrated a false narrative, cherry-picking facts to champion the idea taxpayers should pay for a Texas Tech University vet school.

In 2016, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board concluded that no new veterinary school was needed in Texas, reiterating its 2009 findings. The board added that it would look at innovative approaches that did not duplicate Texas A&M's efforts to address a "pending" shortage of large animal veterinarians. That's it.

The study suggested three possible ways to address the issue, but Tech proponents ignored cheaper suggestions such as student loan forgiveness programs for rural vets that more directly addressed any pending shortage.

Those pushing for Texas Tech to gain funding to build a new veterinarian school also ignore what A&M has done since 2009 to address the needs of our state's agricultural industry. Leeson implied that anything Texas A&M is doing on the veterinary front is in response to Texas Tech's announcement in December 2015 that it wanted to create its own veterinary school.

The fact is, our regional plan had been in the works for years. In 2010, West Texas A&M had submitted to the Legislative Budget Board an appropriations request to enable West Texas A&M, in collaboration with Texas A&M, to prepare students to practice in veterinary medicine with a specialization in large animals. It wasn't funded, but the request is a public document with the Legislative Budget Board if anyone cares to look it up.

Here are the facts behind Texas A&M's plan for veterinary education:
In 2009, when the Coordinating Board study first said there was no need for a new veterinary school, it also asked Texas A&M to enlarge its class size.
National accreditors, however, told us we could not increase enrollment without new buildings.
In 2011, we asked the Legislature for $115 million for the veterinary education building, but no higher education facilities were approved that session.
We then spent $125 million of Permanent University Fund money to build a state-of-the-art facility in College Station. It recently was finished. If needed, we could increase the size of the vet school by hundreds of new students.
In 2015, a food-animal track was added at the vet school in addition to our long-existing large animal specialty.
In January 2016, Texas A&M unveiled its plan to expand its veterinary efforts to four Texas A&M System universities, including West Texas A&M University in Canyon, just south of Amarillo. And it is succeeding.

We had been planning Texas A&M's veterinary outreach to regional schools for several years. In 2015, we talked to Texas Tech about it. Texas Tech Chancellor Robert Duncan asked me to make Tech one of the schools. But since West Texas A&M was only a short distance away from Tech, it was not cost effective.

Duncan announced his veterinary school "plans" days later, knowing we were a week away from announcing the five-school collaboration, which we had been planning for more than two years.
Earlier this year, the Texas A&M University System announced about $90 million in ag-related construction on the campus of West Texas A&M. Leeson repeats that Texas A&M is just responding to Tech when actually the Legislature had partially funded our plan earlier. It had nothing to do with Tech; it was aimed at meeting the needs of the agriculture industry.

The only thing we added was the veterinary research and education center an idea that dates back to that 2010 legislative request by West Texas A&M. Although it wasn't funded by the Legislature, we did it with money from the Permanent University Fund. Again, it had to do with serving the agriculture industries in the region.

If there is one thing Texas taxpayers should know, it is this: Veterinary education, if done well, requires significant investment. From outside gifts and subsidies, we have subsidized our veterinary school millions of dollars every year. So, yes, we are concerned about diluting state appropriations when there is no real need to do so.

We have done everything the Coordinating Board asked of us, to the letter. So if Tech has an "innovative" plan, then take it to the Coordinating Board, and let it vote.

Our mission at the Texas A&M System is to do what the Coordinating Board and Legislature expects of one of the finest veterinary schools on earth. And that's exactly what we are doing without throwing tax dollars away on something that is not needed.

If there is some kind of rivalry between Tech and A&M, somebody forgot to tell us.

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https://www.myhighplains.com/news/texas-tech-hosts-event-recognizing-school-of-veterinary-medicine-donors/1328123422

Texas Tech Hosts Event Recognizing School of Veterinary Medicine Donors

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Texas Tech University System Chancellor Robert Duncan, Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec and TTUHSC President Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., are honoring and recognize trailblazing donors who have generously committed impactful philanthropic support for the School of Veterinary Medicine.
The event will occur at the site of the future Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine.
Gifts like these support construction and development of the future School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo and help revolutionize veterinary services throughout Texas' agricultural communities.
Empowered by generosity, the school is designed to fulfill a growing need in these communities by shaping the future of veterinary education and enriching our state's agricultural heritage.

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Still playing poker, I see. Think it's time we ante up and tell them to fold and go home.

http://www.edinburgreview.com/news/20180728/veterinary-school-donors-honored

Veterinary school donors honored

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Texas Tech University officials gathered in Amarillo Friday to express gratitude to donors who have contributed $46 million toward the institution's School of Veterinary Medicine.

"When Texas Tech was established in 1923, the vision was that it would serve and support the needs of all of West Texas," Schovanec said. "The scope of the University has grown well beyond West Texas, as we serve the state, the nation and the world...

In May the Amarillo City Council voted in favor of an arrangement guaranteeing the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine concept would come to fruition, supporting an Amarillo Economic Development Corporation pledge of up to $69 million toward the completion of the $90 million project. University brass took advantage of Friday's opportunity to extend kudos to the City and the private donors.

Officials said one such donor is Cactus Feeders, which they said was established in 1975, with beef and pork production locations in Texas, Kansas, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, noting the 800 employee-owners of Cactus Feeders are dedicated to finding ways to produce more food while using fewer resources at a lower cost. Cactus Feeders Co-CEO Paul Defoor said the company is honored to be a part of the initiative.

"There are a lot of things I can say philosophically about the importance of access to a high-quality, affordable education and the impact that has on our society," he said. "But what I should say more directly is an affirmation of the needs that are present today in veterinary medicine and an affirmation of the demographic challenges that await us tomorrow if we don't act today. Cactus is one of the largest food production companies in the world and we see the need. We need leaders who understand the science behind their decision making, but also have a comprehensive understanding of the impact on food production and animal well-being. We complement everyone on the success we've had so far and on behalf of Cactus Feeders, we pledge not only our monetary support, but we pledge our help as well. We will work any way we can to provide an experiential setting for these students to come and learn."

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No others were apparently so honored??

http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20180809/texas-tech-regents-committees-ok-plans-for-dairy-barn-athlete-dinning-amarillo-vet-school

Texas Tech regents committees OK plans for dairy barn, athlete dinning, Amarillo vet school

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Tech is also tightening its focus on the vision for a new school of veterinary medicine in Amarillo, with two committees from Tech's Board of Regents approving both the process of establishing the new school and degree plan as well as funding for preliminary designs for the school.
Tech Provost Michael Galyean told regents on Thursday during their committee meetings in Lubbock that the Texas Legislature appropriated $4.17 million for a feasibility study in its last legislative session.
While facilities for the vet school would cost $89 million, the five-year operating cost would be $82.29 million, Galyean said. The five-year operating cost would include money to stock the two buildings, including equipment for classes, libraries and supplies, as well as the cost of faculty.
Tech would like to have 60 students per class in a four-year program, Galyean said, with 240 students ultimately being enrolled in the school. But he said the university needs to bridge funding during the five-year period until state formula funding kicks in for all 240 students.
Billy Breedlove, who was announced by Chancellor Robert Duncan as the new vice chancellor of facilities and planning during the Thursday meeting, also asked the regents to approve the concept for the veterinary school and a first-stage design budget of $1.37 million. The two facilities needed for the vet school have an anticipated budget of $89.82 million, Breedlove said. Not only would it serve 240 veterinary students, but it would also serve 150-200 non-doctor of veterinary medicine graduate students and an estimated academic staff of 90.
"I think we have shared previously with the board information documenting the shortage of veterinarians in the state of Texas in recent years. It's very clear that the single vet school in the state of Texas has not met the needs in the state. That has been particularly identified in the case of rural communities and the livestock industry," Galyean said, adding that the appropriation was a response to the veterinary shortages.
Galyean said Tech believes it has a program in development that could serve the needs of rural Texas and the livestock industry, and to do so at a reasonable cost of educating the students involved.
Regent John Esparza, the chair of the regents' facilities committee, said the request for design funding is an exciting development, adding Tech should be commended for raising funds for the school of veterinary medicine.

The regents' academic, clinical and student affairs committee approved the process to establish the school of veterinary medicine and doctor of veterinary medicine degree program.

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So, $170m to graduate the first 60 students?

Sounds efficient.

Any thoughts on how Duncan's retirement plays into the TTU vet school? Seems some Tech people think that Sharp used his influence on TTU BOR to force Duncan out to shut down the vet school. Any ideas?

MousepadMarauder said:

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Any thoughts on how Duncan's retirement plays into the TTU vet school? Seems some Tech people think that Sharp used his influence on TTU BOR to force Duncan out to shut down the vet school. Any ideas?

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He's 65. Maybe he just wants to have a life.

Sounds like tceh paranoia to me.

If you read Sharp's piece in the DMN a couple months ago, you know he is not just passively letting this play out.

Regarding the Tech regents recent actions referenced above, continue to note that this is all coming from Tech, and to some extent, Amarillo. But nothing still out of the Coordinating Board. The vet school cannot be accredited if the Coordinating Board does not approve it. There is simply no way around it. The reporting on the issue rarely brings it up, other than to reference the past recommendation of the coordinating board, and never explaining the reason why the coordinating board is far more important in this conversation than is the Tech Board of Regents, the AEDC, or even the Texas Legislature.

The Coordinating Board is an appointed group and absolutely subject to political pressure, but to date has still given no indication they are swayed by Tech's moves. Regardless, they have to listen to Sharp and A&M, as well, who have done exactly what the board recommended years ago.

Is Duncan's retirement significant in this? I don't think that will ever be expressed in the media, but I think it's a surrender in a game he's known all along he is unlikely to win.

While the Mayor of the City of Amarillo is giving laudatory statements, the TT Board of Regents: Sources: Tech BOR pushed for Chancellor Duncan's retirement

Texas Tech Board of Regents had an informal vote of no confidence in Chancellor Robert Duncan late last week

Maybe cooler heads are prevailing over the expansionist policies??

Just saw that myself. Interesting.

https://texags.com/forums/6/topics/2765453/last

http://www.newschannel10.com/story/38890815/wtamu-veterinary-program-to-receive-part-of-grant-for-agriculture-programs

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WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, TEXAS (KFDA) -
The expanding veterinary program at West Texas A&M University will be receiving a share of a $250,000 federal boost.

Texas A&M University announced Monday the U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to cover four years of program development in Canyon and College Station.
According to a news release, the money will go to seven programs, including summer working internships and recruitment of rural students.

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Go WT Go!!

nm

https://www.feedstuffs.com/news/texas-universities-advance-separate-plans-panhandle-vet-programs

Texas universities advance separate plans for panhandle vet programs

Texas Tech regents approve establishing new school and degree plan, while Texas A&M earns grant to "revitalize" vet education in Texas panhandle.

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The Texas A&M University System currently operates the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM).
Meanwhile, the Texas A&M recently announced Aug. 13 that West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) and the Texas A&M Veterinary Education, Research & Outreach (VERO) Center received a four-year, $243,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food & Agriculture for the "Texas Panhandle & Plains Rural Veterinary Practice Revitalization" Program.
Project director Dee Griffin and co-director Dan Posey, both faculty of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, relocated to WTAMU to establish the partnership between CVM and WTAMU in Canyon, Texas.
The grant funding will be used to support the development and initiation of seven veterinary-centered programs, including: (1) developing fourth-year veterinary student rural clinical training externships; (2) developing summer working internships for Texas A&M CVM veterinary students finishing their first or second years; (3) supporting CVM veterinary food animal student mentoring for all students interested in a food animal practice; (4) supporting an annual rural veterinary practice and livestock operations tour for selected third-year CVM veterinary students; (5) aggressively recruiting qualified students with rural backgrounds; (6) recruiting outstanding rural students from 4-H and FFA programs to consider a veterinary career, and (7) practicing sustainability workshops for Texas panhandle and plains rural veterinarians, which will include training for mentoring veterinary students and improved community communication skills.
Recognizing the need to revitalize veterinary service to animal agriculture in the panhandle and plains region's rural communities, the Texas A&M CVM created the VERO partnership with WTAMU.
"The revitalization of veterinary health care in the Texas panhandle and high plains regions has been on the agenda of west Texas citizens for some time," Dr. Eleanor M. Green, the Carl B. King dean of veterinary medicine at Texas A&M CVM, said. "Their concern has matched our recognition of the need to further support veterinary health care in the beef epicenter of the nation and in surrounding rural communities in a way that has the potential to be a national model."

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https://texags.com/forums/6/topics/2765453/last

http://www.amarillo.com/news/20180822/abbott-talks-support-for-texas-tech-vet-school-praises-duncan-during-lubbock-visit/1?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GHM_Daily_Newsletter&utm_content=GMPG_AGN

Abbott talks support for Texas Tech vet school, praises Duncan during Lubbock visit

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Abbott went on to emphasize how important he views Texas Tech to the state's success.
"Texas Tech plays a vital role for the future of Texas and for our core mission, which is to educate more students and to elevate our universities," Abbott said. "I am committed to re-doubling my efforts to work with Texas Tech, with the Texas Tech leadership and with legislators from Texas Tech to make sure that we fulfill that mission."
The governor was asked about his support for the veterinary school Tech is pursuing to build in Amarillo, and he reminded reporters that he signed the bill last legislative session that appropriated funds for the school.

"Yes, I have supported the vet school and I'll continue to support whatever the mission is of the Texas Tech University System," Abbott said.

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https://texags.com/forums/16/topics/2973711

http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20180911/former-amarillo-mayor-withdraws-10-million-gift-to-texas-tech-following-chancellors-retirement

Former Amarillo mayor withdraws $10 million gift to Texas Tech following chancellor's retirement

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Unnamed sources said the closed-door discussion was about how the $10 million would be allocated, although Hodge said it was for the veterinary school.

"I have not had one person say anything positive about the five Tech regents, I'll tell you that," Hodge said, referring to the majority of Tech regents who - numerous sources have confirmed - expressed no confidence in Duncan during an executive session in August. "We're all upset. The vet school is something the whole community is behind. I'm a rancher, too, and we need large animal vets."
The details of the executive session was written about in a recent story published in the Texas Tribune. The debate among the regents, according to the story, was over how Hodge's donation would be split between the vet school and the pharmacy program.

First published on Lubbock radio host Jay Leeson's website The Other Side of Texas, Hodge wrote an email to Tech officials shortly after this information was released, writing, "Margaret (his wife) and I have been discussing our gift, and the Texas Tech Regents. I must tell you we are not happy at all. I don't like to be called out of the blue by a reporter about our planned gift... As you know, Chancellor Duncan is our friend and the reason we considered the gift."
The email says he'd like to withdraw his donation for the time being.
Hodge said he doesn't believe the five regents are representing the interests of Texas Tech.
"Why would somebody argue about accepting a $10 million gift? Doesn't that make you think they're really not for the vet school?" Hodge asked over the phone Tuesday. "I wish regents would explain that. This is all about the vet school. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure it happens, more so than ever, now."

"I think this vet school has a good chance if when these terms expire, the governor appoints some good regents," Hodge said. "To me, it's all about the vet school. I don't care what those five regents have done publicly, I feel like they've done everything they can behind the scenes to stop it."

Hodge views the veterinary school differently than most he didn't graduate from Texas Tech. But as the former mayor of Amarillo, he was willing to give $10 million because he said it'll have a significant impact on Amarillo. And as a rancher, he said a veterinary school with a focus on large animals is much needed in West Texas.

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http://www.lonestarrmusic.com/html/jerry_hodges__biography.html

Even more interesting is Jerry Hodges' background... and that he is a WT graduate.
One would think he would be all for the WTA&M Vet School program.

A great bio of his at the link including music in the Texas Panhandle circa 1960...

http://www.newschannel10.com/2018/09/24/amarillo-national-bank-honored-contributing-texas-tech-vet-school/

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Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine is thanking a local business for a donation to the development of their veterinary programs.
Amarillo National Bank will be honored at an event held by the school on Sept. 24 at 3:00 p.m. at the Amarillo National Bank Skyline Room.
Several other local partners have been honored by the school, including Cactus Feeders, Happy State Bank and Caviness Beef Packers.
The first students are expecting to begin classes in 2021.

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https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/texas-tech-university-system-texas-tech-university-honor-amarillo-national-bank/1472340747

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AMARILLO, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) - The following is a news release from Texas Tech University:
The support of the Amarillo community has been vital to the Texas Tech University System, Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTHUSC) implementing a planned School of Veterinary Medicine in the city. On Monday, Texas Tech recognized another of the trailblazing philanthropic organizations that share that vision.
Amarillo National Bank's commitment to generously support the School of Veterinary Medicine was recognized by Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec, Texas Tech University System Interim Chancellor and TTUHSC President Dr. Tedd L. Mitchell, and Amarillo National Bank President William Ware during ceremonies held in the bank's Skyline Room.

"William Ware and Amarillo National Bank personify the sense of vision and leadership that are so essential to an initiative like this," Schovanec said. "This community and this region have a long history of benefitting from Amarillo National Bank, as has the industry the veterinary school will serve. Their leadership is so essential for laying the foundation for the veterinary school."
Amarillo National Bank is the largest privately held agricultural lending institution in the state. Ware, who serves as the chairman of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the School of Veterinary Medicine's Capital Campaign Steering Committee, said the bank was proud to join the other donors who are helping make this initiative possible.
"We are proud to join the Caviness family and other local philanthropists in this trailblazing effort to get this veterinary school built in Amarillo," Ware said. "We love the tenacity, the pride and the vision of local citizens and local philanthropists, and that's what makes this work. As the largest cattle lender in Texas and the largest dairy lender in West Texas, this is important for our customers, and we want to support our customers. This is a need for them, this will improve their industry, and this will improve their futures."
No one knows the impact a new School of Veterinary Medicine will have in the area and around the state better than Tom Portillo, manager of animal health and well-being for Amarillo-based Friona Industries, one of the leading cattle feeding businesses in the world. Portillo oversees the health and welfare of animals in six state-of-the art feedyards and was the first to make a gift to the Texas Tech veterinary school effort after examining how the university is approaching providing a cost-effective education.
"This type of program will be able to tap into that candidate pool, those people who do have an aptitude and desire to practice in rural America and focus on production animal medicine, even regulatory medicine," said Portillo, a member of the steering committee who earned his doctorate of veterinary medicine from Colorado State University.
"That's where the need is. This is the only program that I know of that has actually brought forth a viable option to start meeting those needs. Not only will they shift that paradigm, but hopefully, with success, they will start forcing other veterinary schools and other veterinary program to look up and start rethinking their paradigm as well."
These gifts support construction and development of the future School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo and help revolutionize veterinary services throughout Texas' agricultural communities. Empowered by generosity, the school is designed to fulfill a growing need in these communities by shaping the future of veterinary education and enriching the state's agricultural heritage.
Amarillo National Bank joins Caviness Beef Packers, Happy State Bank and Cactus Feeders as philanthropic leaders that have recognized the need for and are supporting the establishment of the School of Veterinary Medicine, which is designed to address the need for more large-animal veterinarians in Texas in a cost-effective and innovative manner.
"For us, for the Panhandle, for the states that surround this area, the counties that surround this region, this is an extraordinarily important time, as well as for us as Texas Tech University, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and the Texas Tech University System," Mitchell said. "More importantly, it is an extremely important time for the people of this region because it is actually the citizens of Amarillo who wind up taking care of all of the folks in this region. It's an honor, to me, to be part of a process that is looking forward to the future in this community."
In August, the Texas Tech University System's Board of Regents advanced the university's plans to establish a veterinary school by approving the new school, its degree plan and funding for preliminary designs for the school.
Construction of two new veterinary school buildings is expected to cost $89.82 million, with an additional five-year operating budget cost of $82.29 million, which includes classroom equipment, supplies and the cost of faculty salaries. The Board of Regents approved the concept for the veterinary school and a proposed first-stage design budget of $1.37 million.
The plan approved by the Board of Regents is designed to enroll 60 students per year for a desired enrollment of 240 students for the four-year program. The school also would potentially serve 150-200 graduate students who are not seeking a doctorate in veterinary medicine, as well as an academic staff of 90.
(News release from Texas Tech University)

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https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/texas-tech-chairman-now-target-of-removal-effort-by-former-amarillo-mayor/1479418734

Texas Tech chairman responds to removal effort by former Amarillo mayor

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The following is a statement distributed by SKP Creative:
The chairman of the board of regents for the Texas Tech University System is the target of a new campaign that seeks to remove him from office for a wide range of issues including his lead role in forcing the departure of the system's chancellor and his efforts to undermine a proposed Tech veterinary school in Amarillo.
The campaign focuses on Rick Francis of El Paso and is being led by one of Amarillo's leading business figures, Jerry Hodge.
Hodge questioned Francis' actions that appear to undermine the university's efforts to develop a vet school in Amarillo amid stiff opposition from Texas A&M which operates the state's only other public veterinary school.

"Rick Francis must be held accountable," Hodge said. "Francis has publicly supported the Texas Tech administration on certain projects while at the same time undermining their hard work in Austin. The proposed veterinary school in Amarillo is a key example. Serious questions have to be answered, not the least of which is did he have Texas Tech's or Texas A&M's best interests in mind when Bob Duncan was forced out as chancellor?"

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Thanks for posting Aggie1

Bob Duncan is a great guy, who's ethics are above reproach

He was an outstanding legislator and Chancellor

He wanted a vet school and that got him fired, thanks to Sharp and probably Abbott meddling

There is now a movement to have Francis and others removed

Could get interesting

http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20181005/texas-tech-regents-ok-new-funding-for-amarillo-vet-school-athletics-projects

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Texas Tech Regents OK new funding for Amarillo vet school

Regents of the Texas Tech University System took a lot of action in a somewhat shorter meeting on Thursday, and those actions sometimes seemed to speak as loudly as their words ever could.
During the meeting, a budget adjustment of $84,480 for an agreement with a construction manager at risk for the proposed school of veterinary medicine in Amarillo was not the most expensive item approved by the board.
Billy Breedlove, vice chancellor of facilities planning and construction, told regents the construction manager is needed to provide pre-construction activities associated with the planning and design process. But the construction manager will also be analyzing costs that have been estimated for the two buildings needed for a school of veterinary medicine. The total cost of the project is anticipated to be $89.82 million, Breedlove said.
"Would you say that we're moving forward with this project," Regent Ron Hammonds asked Breedlove.
Breedlove reiterated that that Western Builders, the construction manager, will assist in cost analysis.
"So we are moving forward with the vet school?" Hammonds asked again.
"Yes, sir," Breedlove replied.

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http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20181020/texas-techs-schovanec-talks-need-for-more-faculty-during-state-of-university

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The Tech president noted that most veterinarians in Texas are located along the Interstate 35 corridor. About 1,000 people move into Texas each week, he said, with many bringing cats and dogs.
"That's where the business is," he said.

But he said only about 20 percent of those vets licensed in Texas last year were licensed by Texas A&M, which he described as "one of the best veterinary schools in the world." An equal amount were licensed at international schools and another 60 percent came from out of state. Many of those, he said, were Texas residents who went elsewhere to get their veterinary education, and they come back to Texas in debt.
"They have to go where they can earn a living to help compensate for that debt. It's typically not in rural areas," Schovanec said.
However, he said Amarillo is "kind of in the center of gravity of the dairy, feedlot industry," and vet schools in Wyoming, Oklahoma State, Colorado State and Kansas State are all closer to Amarillo than College Station, where A&M is located.
The vet school would need special item support to get started, Schovanec said, but would eventually be self-sustaining, and would provide an educational option for many people who want to pursue a degree in veterinary science who cannot get in to A&M.

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