Arkansas State University is less than a year away from opening the first public College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in Arkansas, and the ninth college on campus. A topping-off ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 13, at the site on Cherokee Street on the southeast corner of the A-State campus.
“The physical structure represents the transformation of an idea into reality,” said Dr. Len Frey, senior adviser for strategic initiatives and senior associate dean of the CVM. Frey, who led the development of the CVM from its inception in 2019, said the college was created to address the state’s critical need for more veterinarians.
CVM Dean Heidi Banse said the college, contingent on accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education, is set to open in fall 2026. The first cohort of 120 students will begin the 20262027 academic year.
“This structure is much more than a building. It is the place where the lives of the young people being trained here will be forever transformed for the better,” Frey said. Banse added that the program is designed to produce graduates ready for practice at graduation, with hands-on learning, a competency-based curriculum, and community partnerships for real-world experience.
Attendees at the topping-off ceremony will have the opportunity to sign the beam before it is installed. The completed CVM building will encompass 56,000 square feet and serve as the hub for veterinary education at A-State.
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