OPCVM Admissions Policies (not broken up)

Admissions And Matriculations Requirements 
Admissions Requirements For Doctor Of Veterinary Medicine

Minimum Academic Requirements for Admission

• At least 46 semester or 66 quarter units from a regionally accredited college or university. (If a student intends to practice in the state of New York, they require at least 60 semester units.)
• Minimum overall 3.0 GPA (on 4.0 scale) or higher in all coursework as calculated by VMCAS. Students not meeting these criteria, with a GPA of <3.0, who have demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence in the last 2 years of study or most recent 60 semester hours may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Pre-Requisite Coursework for Admission

To fulfill the prerequisite, the coursework must meet the following criteria:

• Courses must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university
• Courses must be completed with a grade of a “C-” or higher. Final grades for all prerequisite courses must be verified by LMU-OPCVM.
• Courses for all science prerequisites must have been completed within the last 10 years of application. Science prerequisites include: Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Advanced Science Electives, Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry, Physics and Anatomy or Physiology.

In Progress or Planned Courses

Prerequisites courses can be “in progress” or “planned” at the time of application submission; however, official transcripts reflecting successful completion of those prerequisites must be submitted to LMU by the published deadlines.

Advanced Placement (AP) Credits

AP credits will be accepted for prerequisite courses if they appear on an official college transcript with the subject and number of credits received and are equivalent to the appropriate college-level coursework. A generic listing of “AP credit” or “transfer credit” without the specific subject and number of credits will not be accepted.

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

Applicants are not required to take the GRE.

Veterinary Experience

Applicants must demonstrate experience and knowledge of the veterinary profession. There is not a minimum number of hours applicants must complete. However, time spent actively participating in the profession is beneficial.

Casper

LMU-OPCVM requires applicants to complete the Casper exam. Casper is an online assessment that effectively screens applicants for non-academic, soft skills, such as empathy, professionalism, self-awareness, and ethics via situational judgement questions. The 60–90-minute assessment consists of twelve scenario-based prompts that will allow our program to gain a more in-depth and developed vision of an applicant’s non-academic attributes. More information regarding Casper can be found at https://takecasper.com.

DVM Transfer Students

LMU-OPCVM only accepts transfer students from AVMA COE accredited colleges.

Transfer Applicant Requirements

In order to be considered for a transfer to LMU-OPCVM, applicants must:

• Be actively enrolled in and taking classes at an AVMA COE accredited college of veterinary medicine at the time of application and transfer.
• Have a minimum of a 3.0 overall GPA in veterinary school.
• Meet all LMU-OPCVM prerequisite coursework.
• Completed coursework from current CVM must be similar to LMU-OPCVM curriculum prior to the time of transfer. (Prior to starting the transfer application, we highly recommend emailing us to verify that the coursework the applicant has completed is similar enough to the LMU-OPCVM curriculum to transfer. In the email, please include a list of courses completed and/or currently taking and the semester into which the transfer is requested.)

Transfer students are required to take all scheduled courses at LMU starting the first semester they are enrolled. Transfer students are not eligible to opt out of any scheduled courses.

Required Transfer Application Materials

The following materials are required to be considered for a transfer:

• A letter of intent to transfer that includes:
  • a well-written explanation of the student’s reason(s) for requesting a transfer;
  • an indication of the semester and year of the curriculum into which the transfer is requested.
• A current curriculum vitae or resume.
• A letter of character and academic reference (including class rank and overall GPA) from the Associate Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine from which the student desires the transfer.**
• Three letters of reference from former instructors who are members of the faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine from which the student wishes to transfer.**
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.**

**Transcripts and letters of recommendation sent by the student will not count as official. They must come directly from the source to be considered official.

Transfer Materials can be mailed to:

Lincoln Memorial University
College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park
Office of Admissions
505 Plaza Circle
Orange Park, FL 32073
or emailed to: opveterinaryadmissions@lmunet.edu

Transfer Application Deadline

Applications for Spring Semester are due by November 1. Applications for Summer Semester are due by February 1. Applications for Fall Semester are due by April 1. Only complete applications will be considered.

Approval of Transfer Request

All completed transfer applications will be reviewed by the LMU-OPCVM Admissions Committee. Under most circumstances, the decision will be based upon the following factors:

• The existence of an appropriate vacancy.
• The approval of the transfer from the sending school.
• The student’s reason(s) for requesting transfer.
• The student’s academic performance.
• The level of support communicated in the letters of reference.
• The satisfaction of all CVM curricular requirements.

Transfer applicants will be notified by LMU if their request to transfer is approved.

Matriculation For Doctor Of Veterinary Medicine

Criminal Record Report

All LMU-OPCVM DVM students must have an updated criminal record report from the university-approved vendor before starting veterinary school. The Criminal Record Report may be updated prior to starting the clinical year. These reports are purchased at the expense of the student. Failure to comply with this mandate will result in denial to matriculate or an enrolled student being withdrawn from his/her present program. The student will sign a disclosure and release form indicating knowledge of this policy and their belief that they do not have any criminal history that would disqualify them from clinical experience or patient contact. The appropriate forms are available through the Office of Admissions.

Vaccination Requirements

Students (DVM) matriculating to LMU-OPCVM must provide proof of vaccination uploaded through the university-approved vendor by the Semester 1 deadline communicated by administration upon matriculation. Students who desire an exemption from any of the required vaccines must complete and upload an LMU-OPCVM Vaccination Waiver; otherwise, students will not be allowed to start the LMU-OPCVM DVM program.

Required vaccines include rabies*, varicella, Tdap, and MMR. Additional vaccines may be required if the student lives in University Housing.

1. Rabies vaccination must include at least an initial 2-dose series following the CDC schedule recommendation. If this was completed more than one year prior to the beginning of the CVM Semester 1, proof of protective titer or booster vaccination must be completed and submitted.
2. Students not providing proof of rabies vaccination, titer, or a completed waiver prior to the start of the first year will NOT be able to participate in live animal labs, which may lead to course failure.

Prior to Semester 5, students must provide proof of a protective rabies* titer (at least one year after initial series) or booster vaccination (between 3 weeks and 3 years after initial series). Students will submit documentation of protective titer or booster vaccination through the university approved vendor.

1. Students must have recently signed (within 2 years) the LMU-OPCVM Vaccination Waiver on file if they do not want to receive immunizations.
2. Failure to provide proof of a protective titer, booster, or waiver prior to the start of semester 6 will result in the student NOT being able to participate in live animal experiences and may result in final grade repercussions, potentially leading to course failure.

*Rabies vaccination requirements and interpretation of titers are based on current CDC recommendations.

Student Health Insurance

Graduate professional students (DVM) must have health insurance coverage. Health insurance is provided through Lincoln Memorial University. Students are automatically enrolled in the program. Students with existing coverage must submit documentation through the insurance waive-out portal of the LMU United Healthcare website at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the academic year.

Technical Standards And Essential Functions For DVM

Lincoln Memorial University-College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park (LMU-OPCVM) recognizes the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) degree as a broad degree requiring that the holder has acquired general knowledge and skills and shows an ability to apply these in a reasonably independent and autonomous manner in all fields of veterinary medicine. To earn a D.V.M. degree, a student must complete the clinical component, which involves direct care of actual patients as well as communication with clients, colleagues, and veterinary medical professionals.

In accordance with the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA COE), outcomes of the LMU-OPCVM program must be measured, analyzed, and considered to improve the program. Student achievement during the pre-clinical and clinical curriculum and after graduation must be included in outcome assessment. New graduates must have the basic scientific knowledge, skills, and values to independently provide entry-level health care at the time of graduation. The AVMA COE requires that graduating students will have attained the following competencies:

1. Comprehensive patient diagnosis (problem-solving skills), appropriate use of clinical laboratory testing, and record management
2. Comprehensive treatment planning, including patient referral when indicated
3. Anesthesia and pain management, patient welfare
4. Basic surgery skills, experience, and case management
5. Basic medicine skills, experience, and case management
6. Emergency and intensive care case management
7. Health promotion, disease prevention/biosecurity, zoonosis, and food safety
8. Client communications and ethical conduct
9. Critical analysis of new information and research findings relevant to veterinary medicine.

The LMU-OPCVM has established technical standards and essential functions required to complete the DVM degree which provide a framework to balance several competing interests including (1) the rights of candidates; (2) the safety of candidates, their colleagues, and veterinary patients; (3) the significant clinical and professional skills training component of the LMU-OPCVM curricula; (4) the requirements imposed upon the LMU-OPCVM for accreditation by the AVMA-COE; and (5) the conditions for licensure of LMU-OPCVM graduates. For purposes of this policy, the term Candidate refers to candidates for admission, enrolled students who are candidates for promotion and graduation, and visiting students.

Technical Standards and Essential Functions

The technical standards and essential functions established by the faculty require that all candidates possess the physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities necessary to complete all required aspects of the curriculum and are, therefore, requirements for admission, promotion, and graduation. Although these technical standards and essential functions serve to delineate the necessary minimum physical and mental abilities of all candidates, they are not intended to deter any candidate for whom reasonable accommodation will allow completion of the D.V.M. curriculum. LMU-OPCVM does not discriminate on the basis of disability and will make reasonable academic accommodations to facilitate enrollment and participation of qualified individuals with disabilities so long as those accommodations do not 1) fundamentally alter the educational program, 2) pose a direct threat to the student, patients, or others, or 3) otherwise create an undue hardship on the LMU-OPCVM.

All candidates for admission will be considered without regard to their disability status. All candidates receiving a letter of acceptance to LMU-OPCVM will receive a copy of the Technical Standards & Essential Functions policy. Admission to LMU-OPCVM is conditioned upon a candidate’s ability to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation and meet the technical standards. Candidates are required to acknowledge their understanding of the Technical Standards & Essential Functions policy and certify their ability to perform the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation to meet the LMU-OPCVM technical standards.

The Acknowledgement and Certification Form must be returned with the Acceptance of Admissions form and deposit.

Candidates must be able to meet the following technical standards and perform all the following essential functions with or without accommodation:

Observational Skills Standard

Candidates must be able to observe and participate actively in lectures, laboratories, and demonstrations, in the pre-clinical and clinical curriculum. In the clinical skills courses and during the clinical year, candidates must be able to assess, monitor, and treat patients based on observation both close at hand and at a distance.

Essential functions required to meet this technical standard include, but are not limited to:

• Observe gross anatomic and pathological specimens.
• Perform diagnostic microscopy.
• Observe changes in physical appearance in patients as part of clinical examination.
• Recognize alteration in patients’ condition based on body language.
• Obtain vital physical information from a patient through auscultation, palpation, olfactory differentiation, and manipulation.
• Use of vision, somatic sensation, and hearing, including distinguishing the origin of sound from multiple patients in an area or observing signs of distress or aggression.

Communication Skills Standard

Candidates must be able to speak understandably and to hear sufficiently in order to obtain and disseminate information from and to clients, colleagues, and veterinary medical professionals.

Essential functions required to meet this technical standard include, but are not limited to:

• Ability to communicate effectively, efficiently, and sensitively either naturally or through an assistive device utilizing verbal, non-verbal, and written communication.
• Ability to communicate during surgical procedures in loud environments while participants are wearing surgical masks. The primary language of instruction will be English.

Motor Skills Standard

Candidates must possess sufficient physical strength and coordination to perform daily veterinary functions. In addition, candidates must be able to demonstrate large/gross motor skills needed to perform various daily functions.

Essential functions required to meet this technical standard include, but are not limited to:

• Fine motor tasks, such as diagnostic microscopy, surgical and anatomical instrument handling, palpation of pulses, tendons, bones, and lesions, and patient restraint
• Gross motor tasks, such as movement from danger when handling a patient in variable settings to include confined areas or outdoor pastures; standing for a minimum for two (2) hours, and safe restraint of patients ranging from less than 1-kg to more than 800-kg.
• Physical ability to routinely bend and squat while performing tasks.
• Physical ability to routinely lift objects and/or animals weighing up to 10-kg to a height of 1 meter.
• Physical ability to occasionally lift objects and/or animals weighing 20-kg to a height of 1 meter.
• Physical ability to carry objects and/or animals weighing 20-kg for a distance of at least 2 meters.

Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities Standard

Problem solving is a critical skill required of veterinary medical professionals. Candidates must be able to comprehend three dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures. Essential functions required to meet this technical standard include, but are not limited to:

• Independently and accurately calculate algebraic equations in a timely manner,
• Reason, analyze, and synthesize information and significant findings from a history, physical examination, or lab data obtained from patients, clients and colleagues in order to provide a reasoned diagnosis.
• Recall and retain information in settings where reference materials are unavailable

Behavior and Social Attributes Standard

Candidates must possess emotional health and maturity needed for full utilization of intellectual abilities and good judgment as it relates to patient diagnosis and care.

Essential functions required to meet this technical standard include, but are not limited to:

• Develop relationships which are mature, sensitive, and effective through interactions with clients, colleagues, and veterinary medical professionals.
• Tolerate strenuous workloads under physically and/or mentally stressful conditions and adapt to changing environments and situations.
• Function in the above manner for continuous periods of time longer than eight (8) hours.
• Manage a high case load with multitasking.
• Make timely decisions during emergency situations.
• Maintain collegial behavior in all official academic, extracurricular, and social functions of the LMU-OPCVM.
• Contribute to a positive work and study atmosphere by reinforcing and promoting a non-threatening cultural environment.

Candidates who may need accommodations to perform essential functions and meet the technical standards are responsible for contacting the Lincoln Memorial University Office of Accessible Education Services (423.869.7121) to request accommodations at the beginning of each semester. The Office of Accessible Education Services and LMU-OPCVM will engage in an interactive process with the candidate to identify reasonable accommodations that may allow the candidate to complete all required aspects of the curriculum in accordance with LMU’s Accessible Education Services Accommodations Policy and Procedure.

Candidates who are unable to perform an essential function with or without accommodation or are unable to meet a technical standard as determined by LMU-OPCVM will have their admission rescinded or will be administratively withdrawn from the D.V.M. program. Candidates will be notified in writing of the rescission of admission or administrative withdrawal.

Appeal Procedure for Technical Standards and Essential Functions:

Only candidates who have been administratively withdrawn may request an appeal. Candidates requesting an appeal may seek an independent medical evaluation by a qualified professional of the candidate’s choice to assess the candidate’s ability to perform the essential function(s) and/or meet the technical standard(s) in question. The evaluation would be at the student’s expense.

To request an appeal, candidates must submit their request to appeal in writing that must include the basis of the appeal, the essential function(s) and/or technical standard(s) in question, and a request for a hearing. The request to appeal must be submitted to the Dean of LMU-OPCVM within five (5) working days of the notification of administrative withdrawal. Incomplete or late requests will not be accepted.

The appeals board shall be chaired by either the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions or the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. The Chair shall serve as a non-voting member of the board, except in the event of a tie vote. The voting members of the board shall include a veterinary student who is of equal or greater academic year as the candidate; a faculty member whose academic/professional discipline best encompasses the technical standards and essential functions in question; and a representative from each of the following committees: Admissions Committee; Outcomes and Assessment Committee; Student Progress Committee; and Curriculum Committee.

The membership of the appeals board cannot include any individual who was involved in the decision to administratively withdraw the candidate. In the event of a conflict involving a member of the appeals board, the member must be recused, and a new member appointed by the Chair. In the event of a conflict involving the Chair, the Chair must be recused, and a new Chair appointed by the LMU-OPCVM Dean.

A hearing shall be conducted within ten (10) working days of receipt of the request to appeal. At the hearing, the members of the appeals board, the candidate, a designated representative of LMU-OPCVM, and a designated representative from the Office of Accessible Education Services shall be present. The candidate may bring a non-attorney advisor to the hearing, but the advisor is prohibited from participating in the hearing. The Chair shall preside over the hearing. The appeals board will allow and consider relevant testimony and documentary evidence, including an independent medical evaluation from a qualified professional, from the candidate, the designated representative of LMU-OPCVM, and the designated representative of the Office of Accessible Education Services. The Candidate may be requested to perform the essential function(s) and/or technical standard(s) in question during the hearing. The hearing will be recorded, and the recording will be kept on file for one (1) year.

Upon conclusion of the hearing, the appeals board will deliberate in a closed session and vote to either affirm or overturn the decision to administratively withdraw the candidate. A decision must be made by majority vote. In the event of a tie, the Chair will serve as the tiebreaker. The decision will be communicated in writing to the candidate. The decision of the appeals board is final, and there is no further right of appeal.

Any questions regarding this policy should be directed to the Associate Dean for Administration and the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.

• Lincoln Memorial University-College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park would like to acknowledge the following institutions, whose technical standards policies were reviewed or considered in drafting this policy:
• College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University
• College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University
• College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University
• College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University
• University of Minnesota Medical School
• Tufts University Medical School
• University of Wisconsin Medical School
• Mayo Medical School
• UNC Medical School, Physical Therapy Program
• Lincoln Memorial University-Richard A Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine