Departmental Initiatives

This page describes some of the main areas of department focus.

• Teaching and Learning
• Planning Processes

Note: Linked files are in Microsoft Word format.

Teaching and Learning

The philosophy of teaching and learning of the Department of Clinical Sciences is an integral part of everything we plan and do. We use curricular and extra-curricular opportunities to focus on the essentials of veterinary careers including communication, practice management, problem-solving, and diagnostic, therapeutic, and technical skills. Much of our teaching is performed 'shoulder-to-shoulder' with students, so it is essential that faculty continually learn as they teach. Thus, research and clinical service are inseparable from teaching and learning. Our vision and mission statements and our goals reflect our focus on maximizing the learning environment for all of our students, staff, faculty, clients, and veterinary community.

Must-Learn Skills

We established and continue to refine essential "Must-Learn-Skills" for every veterinary student to master before graduation. These skills include oral and written communication skills, problem solving/cognitive skills, and psychomotor skills, including diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical skills. The "Must-Learn-Skills" provide a scaffolding to guide student learning and faculty teaching. To encourage and motivate faculty to continually improve their teaching, we reallocate resources into a competitive grant program to support innovations. These resources are allocated to faculty teams rather than individuals because we believe that the most significant changes in the learning environment are created by faculty working together.

Teaching Innovation Grants

These grants were established to encourage development of new teaching methods and models. Faculty can apply for departmental funds for specific projects with measurable outcomes. One benefit of this initiative is that faculty get credit for receiving a teaching grant, and in some instances can report their results in a publication.

Recent innovations have included eye models for practicing ophthalmic exams, models for catheter placement, CD ROM's of dermatologic, ophthalmic, and neurologic lesions, videotapes of pets with neurologic signs, videotapes of surgical procedures, etc. Results of the Teaching Innovation Grants are presented at department meetings so that faculty can learn from each other.

Rising Junior Preceptorship Program

In the summer following their sophomore year, students can elect to participate in the Rising Junior Preceptor Program. They assist 4th year students in their 2-week clinical rotation courses. They participate in morning rounds, doing physical exams, treatments, and medical and surgical procedures. Some students select rotations in areas in which they have a great interest. Other students select areas where they have little knowledge, but would like to explore new possibilities.

Community-Campus Partnership

The Community-Campus Partnership Program provides experiential learning programs in the community where students can learn to practice in a changing veterinary environment and make a difference in the lives of their clients and the diverse communities they will serve. The Animal Shelter Program serves 22 counties to provide spay and neuter surgeries and medical treatment to increase adoptability of shelter and rescue-organization cats and dogs. Over 6000 spay/neuter procedures have been performed since March 2000. Most surgeries performed in Mobile Surgery Hospital that travels to shelter location. For the House-Call Practice to Home-Bound People Program, partnerships with local social service agencies and County Veterinary Associations were formed to provide a mobile veterinary practice to serve elderly people and people with chronic illnesses who cannot afford health care for their pets.

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Planning Processes

Individual Framework for Action

The individual plan allows the faculty member to creatively match their personal goals to the departmental goals and the Guidelines for Promotion and Tenure.

Section Framework for Action

Each section creates their plan for the upcoming year during the Annual Department Retreat.

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