Many students in the professional veterinary medical curriculum hold a bachelor's degree or other advanced degree. Others have accumulated considerable credit toward a bachelor's degree and are encouraged to seek completion of these degrees at their undergraduate institution or major department. In some instances, the undergraduate institution may recognize some course work in the professional curriculum as partial fulfillment of requirements for the bachelor's degree.

For those students not receiving or possessing a baccalaureate degree in another major, the Bachelor of Science in veterinary science may be sought upon satisfactory completion of the preprofessional requirements, the University Core Curriculum requirements and the first two regular semesters of required courses in the professional curriculum in veterinary medicine provided the student files application for the degree to be conferred at the University commencement in December following the close of the second semester of the professional curriculum, and provided he or she meets all other University requirements for the degree.

Each professional student, upon registering, will receive a copy of the College of Veterinary Medicine Professional Student Handbook which contains the college's policies on grading, promotion, dismissal, probation, grievance procedures, withdrawal, personal conduct and the honor code. Because matriculation in veterinary medicine is a privilege and not a right, the faculty retains the prerogative to request withdrawal of any student who does not attain adequate academic performance or who does not exhibit the personal qualifications prerequisite to the practice of veterinary medicine. These criteria shall apply at all times during the curriculum. Academic performance will not be the only factor in determining admission, promotion, graduation or request for withdrawal.

Scholastic Deficiency

An average grade of C and passing grades in all courses in the professional curriculum are the minimal scholastic achievements considered to be satisfactory. When a student's scholastic performance falls below the minimal satisfactory level in any term, scholastic probation may be imposed or the student may be dropped from the professional curriculum or placed on scholastic suspension from the University.

Scholastic probation is conditional permission for a student to continue in the professional curriculum under the conditions of the probation while working to remove any deficiencies. A student's failure to meet the conditions of scholastic probation may result in dismissal from the professional curriculum or suspension from the University at the end of any term for which scholastic probation is imposed. The terms of the probation are determined by the Academic Progress Committee for the year of the curriculum in which scholastic deficiency occurs. A student who fails any course prescribed in the professional curriculum or who otherwise fails to achieve satisfactory scholastic progress may be dropped from the curriculum for cause.

Readmission

A student in the professional curriculum who voluntarily withdraws, or who is dropped from the rolls of the University or from the professional veterinary curriculum for cause, forfeits his or her standing and must apply for readmission and be approved before being re-enrolled by policies and procedures of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

NOTE: While every effort is made to assure accuracy and timeliness of this publication, the College of Veterinary Medicine is not responsible for any misrepresentation which might arise through error in the preparation of this catalog, or through failure to give notice of changes in its requirements, policies, tuition and fees, course offerings and other matters affecting students or applicants. The provisions of this catalog do not constitute an irrevocable contract between any student or applicant for admission into the professional curriculum of the College of Veterinary Medicine.