Although preliminary plans for College of Veterinary Medicine facilities upgrades are in progress, college officials are hoping to get an extension from the American Veterinary Medical Association to make the necessary improvements.

John Thomson, dean of the college, said it is not unusual for a college to ask for an extension. He said extra time is needed to gather funds required to perform upgrades and renovations. But, he said, the medical association won’t grant full accreditation until it sees the facility changes are underway.

The association placed the College of Veterinary Medicine on partial accreditation after its most recent site visit in fall 2003. In March 2004, the medical association met to review the findings of the visit and placed the college on limited accreditation because of the deteriorated facilities.

Limited accreditation does not mean students cannot receive degrees, but it is a way to inform the college that it needs to be improved, Reynolds said.

Donald Reynolds, professor and associate dean of veterinary medicine, said one of the problems is a lack of air conditioning.

“Years ago, when the weather got hot, we just opened the windows in the large animal facilities, but now we have to address problems such as biosecurity that make air conditioning a priority,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said the buildings, which were constructed in the 1960s and ’70s, are starting to show their age. He said other colleges are facing similar problems with outdated buildings.

Thompson said the college’s critical needs will be addressed.

The college is required to make annual progress reports to the American Veterinary Medical Association, he said, and when a school is placed on limited accreditation, it is revisited in two years to see what improvements have been made.

“I think it’s very important for the veterinary program to take the appropriate action to regain full accreditation,” said BreAnne Feldman, freshman in veterinary medicine.

Feldman said that, although the facilities haven’t hindered her ability to receive a quality education, the upgrades will be very beneficial. She said attending a school with a non-accredited program would make furthering her education beyond graduation more difficult.

Possible sources of funding for the upgrades and renovations are from general assembly bonding, utility infrastructure funds and private giving. The college expects to budget $51 million from these three sources.

Thompson said he hopes to have plans finalized and the necessary funds to break ground in about one to two years, and be finished with the final project within five years.