This agreement is between the Cedar Valley College Distance Education Veterinary Technology Program (DEVTP) and the VetTeam Veterinary Assistant Program (VT-VTA). Cedar Valley College is a member institution in the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD). The DEVTP is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association as a program for educating veterinary technicians.
Intent
The parties mutually agree that the linking of the two programs will provide a means for students to make a smooth transition from the secondary level of occupational and academic training to the two-year post-secondary level without experiencing delay or duplication of learning. Furthermore, through appropriate counseling, carefully designed coursework, and acquisition of critical literacy skills the student will be prepared for success in a strong college professional program and thus be qualified for a career in the veterinary profession.
The articulation design eliminates redundancy and incorporates more breadth of training than the post-secondary program alone can provide. Qualified students will receive college credit for the articulated course after completing the requirements specified below.
Students completing the VT-VTA program will be qualified to work as Unregistered Veterinary Assistants. Graduates of the DEVTP Program will be eligible for credentialing as Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVT).
Terms and Conditions
Detailed procedures and general policies, reviewed and approved by each party, are outlined and contained in the Articulation materials. This information is available to students, parents, counselors, teachers, and administrators by contacting the VetTeam Veterinary Assistant Program Director.
The VetTeam Veterinary Assistant Program will be considered equivalent, but not identical to:
VTHT 1401-Introduction to Veterinary Technology at Cedar Valley College. (4 semester credit hours – 96 contact hours). This course is the equivalent of the following four courses within the DEVTP curriculum:
- VETT 1002 – Examination and Clinical Procedures 1
- VETT 1003 – Pharmacy and Pharmacology 1
- VETT 1004 – Surgical Preparation and Assistance 1
- VETT 1006 – Radiology and Ultrasound 1
Students who complete the entire VT-VTA curriculum will be waived from taking the above four DEVTP courses. The VT-VTA curriculum also meets partial requirements for the DEVTP course VETT 1001 – General Hospital and Clinical Information. VT-VTA completers will have two options regarding meeting this requirement. They may either: 1) enroll in the VETT 1001 course but only be required to complete the assignments pertaining to medical terminology, or 2) enroll in VTHT 1105 – Veterinary Medical Terminology. The Articulation Agreement is limited to these equivalent units only.
Students enrolled in VT-VTA will be advised that in order to better prepare for success at the post-secondary level, s/he should engage in a series of college preparatory courses at the secondary level. The DEVTP curriculum requires that students complete 13 semester credit hours in specific general education courses as corequisites to advancement in the program. As such, students in VT-VTA will be advised that they must complete these requirements as they progress through the DEVTP Program.
VT-VTA shall maintain a complete competency record identifying in detail all classroom and site-based competencies evaluated and achieved for each student.
College Credit will be granted once the student completes 13 semester credit hours of college general education courses including but not limited to courses in Mathematics, English Composition, Speech Communications, and General Biology. Each course must be completed with a grade of "C" or better. Specific general education course requirements are listed in Appendix 1. College Credit will not be awarded until at least one credit course has been completed through CVC or the DCCCD and the student has completed a Degree Plan Request through the CVC Admissions Office.
The student must complete a written petition for equivalency with the veterinary technology program director. When submitted, the director will provide the student with necessary documentation for application to the DEVTP and the DCCCD. The student is responsible for providing the following documents:
- VetTeam Certificate showing successful completion of the articulated course.
- Proof of achievement of 90% of the agreed upon classroom and site-based articulation competencies (Completed Individualized Training Plan, Classroom Competency and Site-based Competency Checklists).
- Letter of recommendation from VT-VTA director.
- Transcripts from all previous colleges attended including course descriptions for all courses for which the student requests substitution toward degree requirements.
This agreement shall remain in full force and effect during any single academic year and may be revoked in writing by either party given at least two months notice prior to the date of desired termination. Neither party is in any way obliged to maintain this agreement beyond a given academic year.
The renewal of this articulation agreement between VT-VTA and DEVTP will be subject to biennial review and approval by the DEVTP program director and the office of the Vice Chancellor of Educational Affairs. Renewal is contingent upon maintaining a high quality curriculum formally adopted and taught to specified outcomes by a qualified instructor.
It is the responsibility of the VT-VTA director to provide relevant documents including but not limited to the official Veterinary Assistant Program Course Outline, Faculty Curriculum Vitae, Student Individualized Training Plan and comprehensive Classroom and Site-based Competency Checklists.
VT-VTA must notify DEVTP of any proposed change in faculty or curriculum prior to any change being implemented or the articulation agreement will be considered void.
The following parties agree to abide by the terms and conditions of the Cedar Valley College Veterinary Technology Program (DEVTP) and VetTeam Veterinary Assistant Program (VT-VTA) Articulation Agreement as outlined above:
Cedar Valley College Distance Education Veterinary Technology Program
_________________________________________________________________
Brian J. Heim, Director—Veterinary Technology Program Date
_________________________________________________________________
Carol J. Spencer, President—Cedar Valley College Date
_________________________________________________________________
Robert Aguero, Vice Chancellor, Educational Affairs, DCCCD Date
_________________________________________________________________
John Williamson, Registrar, Cedar Valley College Date
VetTeam Veterinary Assisting Program
_________________________________________________________________
David Tollon, DVM, VetTeam Partner Date
_________________________________________________________________
Carol Schubert, Vet Team Partner Date
Appendix 1
General Education Course Requirements
ENGL 1301 - Composition I (3)
This is a common course number. Former course prefix/number ENG 101. Prerequisite: 1) Developmental Reading 0093 AND Developmental Writing 0093 or 2) ESOL 0044 and 0054 or 3) TSI standards. This course focuses on student writing. It emphasizes reading and analytical thinking and introduces research skills. Students practice writing for a variety of audiences and purposes. (3 Lec.) Coordinating Board Academic Approval Number 2304015135
BIOL 1406 - General Biology (4)
This is a common course number. Former course prefix/number BIO 101. Prerequisite: None. This course is the first of a two semester sequence designed for students majoring or minoring in biology and related disciplines. Topics include but are not limited to the scientific method, general and biological chemistry, cell structure and function, cell reproduction, and molecular genetics. Laboratory fee. (3 Lec., 3 Lab.) Coordinating Board Academic Approval Number 2601015124
Important: Either MATH 1314 or TECM 1303 are acceptable to meet the general education math requirement.
TECM 1303 - Technical Mathematics (3)
This is a WECM course number. Former course prefix/number MTH 136/ MATH 1372/MATH 1373. Prerequisite: None. Topics address recently identified current events, skills, knowledge, and/or attitudes and behaviors pertinent to the technology or occupation and relevant to the professional development of the student. (3 Lec.)
MATH 1314 - College Algebra (3)
This is a common course number. Former course prefix/number MTH 101. Prerequisite: Two years of high school algebra and an appropriate assessment test score or Developmental Mathematics 0099 or Developmental Mathematics 0093. This course is a study of relations and functions including polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and special functions. Other topics include variation, complex numbers, systems of equations and inequalities, theory of equations, progressions, the binomial theorem, proofs, and applications. MATH 1314 is a 3 credit hour lecture course. MATH 1414 is a 4 credit hour lecture course. Either course will meet degree requirements. (3 Lec.) Coordinating Board Academic Approval Number 2701015437
SPCH 1311 - Introduction to Speech Communication (3)
This is a common course number. Former course prefix/number SC 101. Prerequisite: None. Theory and practice of speech communication behavior in one-to-one, small group, and public communication situations are introduced. Students learn more about themselves, improve skills in communicating with others, and prepare and deliver formal public speeches. (3 Lec.) Coordinating Board Academic Approval Number 2310015135