Arkansas State University broke ground on the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) March 12, marking a significant milestone in addressing the state’s critical need for veterinarians.

The CVM, a six-year project, aims to enhance veterinary education and research, supported by various stakeholders including the Board of Trustees, local officials and community partners. 

Arkansas currently has no veterinary school and is one of the most underserved states in terms of veterinary medicine, with 10 out of 75 counties lacking a single veterinarian. 

Steve Eddington, ASU System Board of Trustees chair said the CVM groundbreaking is a significant milestone for A-State. 

“As we celebrate this milestone, I’m reminded of the wisdom of Dr. Seuss, who wrote, ‘unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better,’” Eddington said.

Eddington said in his day job as vice president of public relations at the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, farmers and ranchers across the state often express the need for an in-state veterinary school.

“This school is built on that principle that caring for animals, for their health and their welfare, is not just a profession, but indeed, a calling,” Eddington said. “Every brick laid here will speak to the dedication of those who believe in a world where our animals, pets and otherwise receive the care they deserve.”

The new building, set to open its doors for students in Fall 2026, will be located near the College of Agriculture and Arkansas Biosciences Institute. 

The facility will feature multi-use learning spaces designed to prepare students for competency-based, workforce-ready careers.

Heidi Banse, dean of the CVM, said competency-based education is a newer movement in education that ensures students are prepared and ready for the workforce.

“We are creating practitioners that are ready to hit the ground running when they enter practice following completion of their clinical year and we’ve done that through thoughtful design of a curriculum that has staffed learning experience throughout all the domains of veterinary medicine,” Banse said. 

She said the CVM will also be engaging in community partnerships throughout the state to ensure students have unique and critical elements of their educational experience.

Gavin Brown, an animal science major from Cabot, Arkansas, represented the student body at the groundbreaking ceremony. 

Brown said the CVM is providing opportunities for students to pursue veterinary medicine locally. Previously, pursuing a career in veterinary medicine meant going out of state.

“Projects like the College of Veterinary Medicine allow students like me to learn, grow and prepare for impactful careers while staying in the state and communities that we love,” Brown said. 

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