Long Island University has opened the College of Veterinary Medicine Learning Center, a 33,100-square-foot building filled with classrooms, lecture halls, clinical skills laboratories, seminar rooms and a small animal simulation suite.
The Brookville, New York, college welcomed its first students in fall 2020 and holds provisional accreditation from the AVMA Council on Education. About 450 veterinary and graduate students are expected to be enrolled by next school year.
“Our program offers a comprehensive approach to veterinary education and is designed to prepare practice-ready, entrepreneurial veterinarians that will serve the needs of the local and global communities,” said the college’s dean, Carmen Fuentealba, DVM, MS, Ph.D.
Students receive experiential learning and networking opportunities through more than 75 affiliates, including primary care facilities, specialty clinics, zoos and research laboratories.
The state contributed $12.75 million toward the $26 million academic building.
Linda Armyn and John Nader, who co-chair the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, called the state’s investment “a forward-thinking choice that will have lasting benefits for our society and economy.”
“With the increasing demand for veterinary services, it is essential that we equip future generations of professionals with the necessary education and training they need to succeed as caring veterinary practitioners,” they said in a statement.
The LIU program is one of four veterinary schools in the Northeastern United States. The others are Tufts, Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania.
“With its innovative approach to education, emphasizing hands-on learning and real-world experience, students are equipped with the essential skills and knowledge to excel in the field,” said Kevin Law, chairman of the Empire State Development Board.