Performing Department
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Non Technical Summary
Number of participants expected: 24 studentsThe primary objective of Great Falls College's Veterinary Technician Education Program (VTEP) is to develop the curriculum, assessment processes, and program-related materials for three stackable credentials that culminate in an Associates of Applied Sciences in Veterinary Technician, allowing individuals to practice as a licensed veterinary technician (LVT) in the state of Montana. The two other embedded credentials include Veterinary Office Certificate of Technical Studies and Veterinary Assistant Certificate of Applied Science. An additional objective of the VTEP is to create industry partnerships with veterinary offices across Montana to provide work-based learning opportunities for the program students.Developing stackable credentials culminating in an associates of applied science degree in Veterinary Technician meets the AFRI Education Workforce Development (EDW) goals to Develop Pathways in a formal educational experience to gain skills applicable to the food and agriculture fields. The VTEP addresses the drastic shortage of qualified veterinary technicians in Montana to help close the gap of a projected job growth of 45% per year through 2030.The VTEP targeted objectives are in three areas: 1) curriculum and assessment, 2) program readiness, and 3) industry partnerships. Grant activities for program preparedness includes development of 31 new veterinary courses; program-related policies, procedures and handbook; and a dual enrollment pathway. Grant activities for industry partnerships includes creating MOUs for work-based learning; securing a minimum of 10 veterinarian partners, and developing a formal onboarding and training process for the veterinary partners.
Animal Health Component
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Research Effort Categories
Basic
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Applied
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Developmental
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Goals / Objectives
The VTEP targeted goals are in three areas: 1) curriculum and assessment, 2) program readiness, and 3) industry partnerships.Goal 1: Develop curriculum and create assessment processesObjective 1.1: Write and obtain approval from Great Falls College Curriculum Council and Veterinary Tech Advisory Board for 31 new courses in veterinary sciences.Objective 1.2: Develop program-level assessment of student learning processes and procedures to show mastery of AVMA-CVTEA standards for student learning.Goal 2: Make necessary preparations to launch the CAS and CTS programs in fall 2024. Objective 2.1: Develop program-related policies, procedures and handbook; preceptor and clinical guidelines; and application guidelines, processes and procedures.Objective 2.2: Create dual enrollment pathway for high school students.Objective 2.3: Prepare documentation for program accreditation through the AMVA-CVTEA.Goal 3: Establish veterinary industry partnerships to provide work-based learning opportunities for Great Falls College veterinary students. Objective 3.1: Establish memorandum of understanding template for veterinary partners to provide work-based learning opportunities to future students.Objective 3.2: Secure a minimum of 10 veterinary clinic partnerships across the state.Objective 3.3: Develop formal onboarding and training processes for all veterinary partners.
Project Methods
The primary effort of the Great Falls College's Veterinary Technician Education Program (VTEP) is to develop the curriculum, assessment processes, and program-related materials for three stackable credentials that culminate in an Associates of Applied Sciences in Veterinary Technician, allowing individuals to practice as a licensed veterinary technician (LVT) in the state of Montana. The two other embedded credentials include Veterinary Office Certificate of Technical Studies and Veterinary Assistant Certificate of Applied Science. An additional objective of the VTEP is to create industry partnerships with veterinary offices across Montana to provide work-based learning opportunities for the program students.A successful VTEP project completion would be tracked with the following measurables:Thirty-one courses will be written to satisfy the programmatic learning outcomes for veterinary technician. The course offerings include didactic courses, labs, and clinicals. A variety of assessments also will be created.All didactic course-level assessments will be created toinclude quizzes, papers, tests, projects, skills competencies, and presentations. All clinical course-level assessments will be created to include skills competencies documented by veterinarian partners and/or shown in video assessments. Preceptorship courses would include a variety of assessments used in didactic courses as well as in clinicals.10 veterinary partners are trained and onboarded