A-State Vet school on schedule
by February 18, 2026 1:14 pm 463 views
Arkansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine remains on track for a fall opening with the accreditation process and construction of facilities proceeding as expected.
ASU- Jonesboro Chancellor Dr. Todd Shields said during a recent Board of Trustees meeting, a second site visit in January by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education accrediting team went “extremely well” and follow-up information has been submitted by A-State. An accreditation decision is expected by June.
At least 17 faculty members have been hired, and the application process is ready to launch upon approval to ensure a fall 2026 cohort may begin, he said. Construction of the 56,000-square-foot home of the vet school and two educational barns on the Jonesboro campus are on schedule for a summer opening.
Dr. Jennifer Methvin, chancellor of ASU-Beebe, shared with trustees a campus update and upcoming events that will support students with career opportunities. The 70th annual Agriculture Day competition will be Feb. 25 with nearly 2,000 high school students expected to participate on the Beebe campus. On April 1, the ASU-Beebe Business & Industry Showcase will feature workforce training partnerships at the Searcy campus.
Landen Crancer, associate vice president for finance and administration, gave an overview of the system’s financial health. He noted the system had no audit findings in reports submitted for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
In other business, the Board approved Henderson to name the Entrepreneurship Institute in the College of Business in honor of alumni Tad and Judy Krug of Little Rock for their lifelong philanthropic support of the university.
It approved a $2 million renovation of the Donald W. Reynolds Center at ASU Mid-South in West Memphis. The project will include modernization of the building’s two largest student-serving spaces.
The Board agreed to create a separate system policy regarding the Family Medical Leave Act to replace the policy language currently in the ASU System Staff Handbook. The change will make the policy more visible and readily accessible to ASU System employees, as well as consistent across all institutions.
It approved ASU Mid-South to offer a Technical Certificate in Practical Nursing beginning in spring 2027 to help meet the growing demand for licensed practical nurses. The campus received a $390,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Strengthening Community College program to support development of the program.