Regents approve partnership with the University of Arizona

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Stillwater, 16, 2008) – The OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved an exclusive partnership between Oklahoma State University and the University of Arizona for a 2+2 program for a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree during its regularly scheduled meeting in Stillwater last Friday.

Under the program the first two years of the veterinary curriculum will be taught at the University of Arizona and then the third and fourth years will be completed at OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.  

“The University of Arizona and its dean of agriculture, Gene Sander, are very energized by the project,” said Michael Lorenz, Dean of the OSU School of Veterinary Medicine.

Lorenz continued, “This partnership will give OSU an opportunity to expand out student enrollment in an efficient and cost effective manner which will in-turn generate more revenues.”  

Enrollment of Arizona residents will be up to 40 students in each class with a total enrollment of up to 80 students when fully implemented.  . Enrollment in years 1 and 2 in the DVM curriculum will continue to be 80 students (56 Oklahoma residents and 24 non-resident/contract students).   The proposed program will increase estimated revenue from tuition and fees of more than $1.2 million in year one and more than $2.5 million in year two and thereafter.  The additional revenues will be used to hire additional faculty and staff and to help mitigate increasing tuition and fees for veterinary students.            

The University of Arizona transfer students will be assessed non-resident tuition and the curriculum at Arizona will be designed to match requirements for transfer into the DVM curriculum at OSU.

The agreement must now receive approval from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.