JONESBORO, Ark. — Arkansas State University’s newly established College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) will welcome its first cohort of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students this fall. To mark the occasion, a white coat ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, August 8, at 2 p.m. in the Fowler Center on A-State’s campus.
The event is viewed as a symbolic entry into the veterinary profession. “The white coat ceremony marks the entry of our students into the veterinary profession, a rite of passage in which they pledge to serve animal health and adhere to ethical standards,” said Dr. Heidi Banse, dean of the CVM. “As part of this ceremony, students will be ‘coated’ by a veterinarian.”
Following a week-long orientation, CVM classes are set to begin Wednesday, August 9, ahead of A-State's regular fall semester.
The inaugural class includes 120 students from diverse academic and geographic backgrounds. Among them are graduates of institutions such as the University of Arkansas, Arkansas State University, and universities across the United States—even some from Canada, South Africa, and Cuba. Students have pursued undergraduate and, in some cases, graduate degrees in disciplines connected to veterinary and biological sciences.
This milestone highlights a significant step for the state of Arkansas, which has not previously hosted a veterinary school. The new program at A-State is expected to address a long-standing regional demand for veterinary education and services.
A-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine was established to fulfill that gap, offering a four-year program designed to prepare students for careers in animal health and related fields. With the first class of DVM students set to begin, the initial white coat ceremony stands as a symbolic milestone, connecting these aspiring veterinarians with a broader professional community.
Additional details about the program and the inaugural class are available through the university’s website.