Milestone moment is a sign of progress for Clemson University

As the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine (HPCVM) at Clemson University prepares to launch its first classes in fall 2026, it recently welcomed members of its inaugural class during an Accepted Students Day on the South Carolina campus to help them prepare for the start of their academic experience.¹ In a dvm360 interview, Steven Marks, BVSc, MS, MRCVS, DACVIM, dean of HPCVM, discussed the milestone moment and what the new college means to Clemson University and the state of South Carolina.

The following is a transcript of the video:

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dvm360: What was it like meeting the veterinary college’s inaugural class?

Steven Marks, BVSc, MS, MRCVS, DACVIM: These students are so enthusiastic, and we know what they've been through to get there. This is not like [waking] up one day and say[ing] you want to be a veterinarian. They've already been in college. They're mature students, but they're there. There were a lot of cheers, both from the students and from our staff and faculty. It’s just a very touching moment. It's huge.

dvm360: What does this milestone mean for Clemson University?

Marks: I think people are focused on the College of Veterinary Medicine, but it's really about Clemson University and the state of South Carolina. Even though the College of Veterinary Medicine is housed at Clemson, we think we're the college for the entire state, and that's what's really important, because we're accepting students from other universities in South Carolina other than just Clemson.

The [HPCVM] is the first college of veterinary medicine in South Carolina, and we have lots of partners in this region, [including] the University of Georgia, Mississippi State [University], Tuskegee [University], Auburn [University, North Carolina] State [University, and the University of] Tennessee. I mean, the southeast is a little bit rich with colleges of veterinary medicine, but this is a brand-new adventure for Clemson.

We're hiring faculty and staff, and we're developing the entire curriculum. But right now, the focus is on developing the curriculum for the first-year students [who] are about to start. So there's lots happening. It really is launching a brand-new program with all the excitement that comes with that.

dvm360: How is the development of the veterinary campus coming along?

Marks: We have 7 buildings under construction simultaneously. The contractors and architects tell us [that] everything is on time. There's huge progress. We just know that the buildings will be done by the end of July, so we can move in, because that first class will start in August.

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Reference

Harris S. Clemson welcomes inaugural class of veterinary medicine students to campus. News release. Clemson News. March 17, 2026. Accessed March 17, 2026. https://news.clemson.edu/clemson-welcomes-inaugural-class-of-veterinary-medicine-students-to-campus/