Arkansas' first veterinary college is ready to recruit students

The Arkansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is one step closer to welcoming its inaugural class of students in fall 2026. The university has received a Letter of Reasonable Assurance from the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education, which is required for the institution to recruit and accept students to the CVM’s class of 2030.¹

“This is a historic achievement for Arkansas State University and for the state of Arkansas,” Todd Shields, PhD, chancellor for the university, said in a news release.¹ “Our College of Veterinary Medicine will open new doors for students while strengthening the future of animal health, agriculture, and rural communities across the mid-South.”¹

Arkansas is especially in need of rural and mixed animal practices,² and the new CVM will be the first to offer a DVM degree in The Natural State. The DVM program will be a 4-year degree, with 3 years spent primarily on campus in a competency-based curriculum and 1 year of clinical training in veterinary practices across Arkansas and beyond, according to the university.¹

“The new vet school will provide a curriculum aligned with the competency-based model of education. We have sequenced learning experiences across the scope of veterinary practice [including areas such as communication, professionalism, clinical skills, and clinical reasoning] that ensure students are prepared to enter practice upon graduation,” Heidi Banse, DVM, dean of the CVM, said in a dvm360 interview. “We are excited to be able to partner with organizations, agencies, and veterinary practices across Arkansas and the mid-South to ensure our students have a breadth of experiences to support them in becoming veterinarians.”

The Letter of Reasonable Assurance represents the culmination of years of careful planning and “an extraordinary amount of work” behind the scenes, according to Calvin White Jr, PhD, provost and executive vice chancellor for the university. “This college reflects a bold and strategic investment by Arkansas State in the future of our university and the state of Arkansas, transforming vision into a historic reality,” White said in the release.¹

According to Banse, the university anticipates many of its veterinary graduates will go back to local and regional communities to serve the animal health needs of Arkansas. “Our program is built as a community-centered model of education, which will help ensure students maintain attachment to their communities and support animal health needs of their communities throughout their training. Providing training opportunities at home here in Arkansas will help ensure students stay here to serve our state,” she said in the interview.

The building for the CVM is underway with its completion expected prior to the first cohort of DVM students beginning classes this fall.¹ The university hoisted the final beam for the facility in October 2025, and celebrated that milestone with a ceremonial beam signing.²

The CVM building will be 56,000 sq ft with an estimated construction cost of $33.2 million. A ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the building is planned for this fall, ahead of the start of classes, according to the university.¹

Students interested in applying for the DVM program should visit the university’s website: AState.edu/CVM/Apply.

References

1. College of Veterinary Medicine receives approval to recruit first class. News release. Arkansas State University. April 3, 2026. Accessed April 20, 2026. https://www.astate.edu/about/news/college-of-veterinary-medicine-receives-approval-to-recruit-first-class.html
2. Crossley KC. Placing the final beam at a new veterinary college in Arkansas. dvm360. October 17, 2025. Accessed April 20, 2026. https://www.dvm360.com/view/placing-the-final-beam-at-a-new-veterinary-college-in-arkansas