Goal 1 – Educate World Leaders in Academic Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medical Practice, Biomedical and Agricultural Research, Industry, Government, and Public and Environmental Health
1.1. Promote Faculty and Staff Engagement in Career Development Programs and Best Practices for Educators
Tactics:
- Enhance expertise and career development of faculty and staff through local, regional, national, and international educational programs that promote best practices, knowledge, and skills in veterinary and biomedical education (e.g., local and regional teaching academies)
- Provide faculty and staff professional training to foster development of new methods to adapt to changes in learning styles and technology to advance the education mission
- Establish annual faculty workshops and a peer mentoring program for new and early career faculty to promote modern pedagogical techniques (including student self-directed learning and active learning strategies) and foster a community of scholars dedicated to best practices in education
1.2. Promote Dynamic, Up-to-Date Curriculum and Training Programs to Foster Educational Goals and Career Opportunities
Tactics:
- Review and evolve the veterinary professional curriculum to stay current (e.g., gather data, set goals and strategies to implement, assess, and refine the curriculum on a regular cycle)
- Integrate didactic learning updates and research discoveries into the curriculum and apply them to the clinical education programs
- Emphasize One Health approaches and global concepts in the curriculum and in extracurricular training environments (e.g., externships)
- Link veterinary education programs to the full breadth of career paths available and encourage student exploration
- Promote flexible student-centered, and student-responsible learning in all education programs and experiences offered through the school
- Continue to provide leadership, business and communication training and experiences for professional veterinary students and other trainees
- Seek collaborative opportunities for public-private partnerships by engaging stakeholders and partners in our system of education
- Ensure resource allocation to support curriculum, new teaching initiatives, faculty professional development, and administrative support
- Consider strategically providing inter-professional and undergraduate education programs (e.g. Animal Science, Biological Sciences, Global Disease Biology)
1.3. Establish and Maintain Programs and Strategies that Promote a Diversified Professional Community
Tactics:
- Attract, recruit, and foster diversity and inclusion in student, faculty and staff populations reflective of California demographics
- Collaborate with primary and secondary education and mentoring programs, UC programs, community partners, government programs, and stakeholders to increase all aspects of diversity in applicant pools (e.g., cultural, ethnic, gender, socioeconomic, career focus, etc.)
- Increase the number and size of scholarship support funds used as recruitment incentives to enhance diversity and inclusion goals
- Provide career coaching, leadership training, counseling services, events and programs with a focus on wellness, work/life balance, compassion fatigue and suicide prevention awareness
- Promote impactful multicultural experiences that enhance diversity and inclusion through programs such as: VOICE activities, Diversity Day, LGBTQ events, TGs, Women in Leadership programs, and respect for religious holidays
1.4. Implement Multiple Strategies to Reduce Educational Debt for Professional Degree and Graduate Students
Tactics:
- Maximize career and leadership programs to assist students in career preparation and finance management
- Minimize the impact of necessary tuition and fee increases by seeking multiple ways to control educational costs and address student educational debt
- Enhance development efforts to increase philanthropic support of student scholarships, endowments, and fellowships