About the College
Accreditation
Every seven years a site visit team from the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (COE) visits the College of Veterinary Medicine to conduct a thorough review of the College’s self study and to determine the College’s accreditation status. The College has always been fully accredited by the COE since it graduated its first class in 1979.
In April, 2008, the College of Veterinary Medicine participated in a COE accreditation site visit. The COE noted several College strengths including faculty and student support for College administration and the recently completed Small Animal Teaching Hospital addition which enhances the College’s academic programs providing premier care in canine rehabilitation and physical therapy, radiation and medical oncology, and avian/zoological medicine.
However, the COE awarded the College limited accreditation status (rather than full accreditation) primarily as a result of some facilities deficiencies in the Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The Large Animal Teaching Hospital has not received major renovation or building infrastructure repairs since the hospital opened its doors 30 years ago. The COE requires that the College improve its large animal isolation facilities, the large animal surgery and surgical preparation areas which are no longer contemporary and worn flooring in the large animal teaching hospital.
Limited accreditation provides a two year window for the College to make acceptable progress towards fixing these weaknesses. While this is a large challenge that has to be dealt with quickly, the College is fortunate that we have complete University of Tennessee system support as well as strong stakeholder support for this critical need. Resolving this challenge is our number one goal.