AAVMC National Recruitment Strategy

Building the Applicant Pool

 

 

The nation's veterinary medical colleges serve as the gateway to the profession. A highly qualified applicant pool that reflects the diversity of the society we serve is essential to the future of veterinary medicine. To better understand this critical component of the educational system, the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) conducted a study in the fall of 2005 comparing the veterinary medical college applicant pool with those of other health professions.

 

The results showed that, on the whole, other health professions have experienced several cycles of growth in their applicant pools, have much higher levels of racial and ethnic diversity, and have greater gender balance. The number of applicants for veterinary medicine was not increasing, and the pool was relatively homogeneous with respect to race, ethnicity, and gender. These findings led AAVMC to develop a purposeful, robust marketing and recruitment strategy to make an impact on the size and profile of the applicant pool, and to align the composition of the applicant pool with the demand for veterinary medical expertise. Recruitment goals included:

 

• increasing interest in veterinary medical education;
• expanding interest in public sector veterinary practice;
• attracting applicants to areas of critical workforce shortages;
• diversifying the racial and ethnic diversity of the applicant pool; and
• better gender balance.

 

Under the direction of the AAVMC National Recruitment Strategy Steering Committee (NRSSC), the AAVMC contracted with Stamats, Inc., a professional recruitment marketing firm, to provide direction to the recruitment strategy. Based upon Stamats' research on the AAVMC admissions process and the veterinary medical profession, and their experience in higher education marketing, they developed a four-phase program that included national surveys of prospective veterinary applicants and undergraduate life sciences students as well as advisors of veterinary school applicants. Additionally, Stamats completed an assessment of AAVMC recruitment activities and communications.

 

The applicants and advisors provided a wealth of information about perceptions of veterinary medical education and the profession, and identified influences that both motivated and discouraged students to apply to vet school. For example, while veterinarians were identified as the greatest influence for applicants, parents were also influential in students' decisions to choose veterinary medicine as a career. The survey also revealed that many advisors had a mental profile of the “ideal” applicant to veterinary medical school that is not consistent with the applicant profile sought by AAVMC.

 

Below are links to the Stamats recommendations for a centralized AAVMC recruitment plan and the results of the student and advisor surveys. The survey findings and Stamats recommendations point to a tremendous potential for AAVMC and its stakeholders to positively influence the nation's veterinary medical applicant pool.

Click here to view Statmats Recommendations for a Centralized Recruitment Plan

Click here to view the results of the Student Survey

Click here to view the results of the Advisor Survey

The NRSSC and AAVMC staff are excited about the results of this project, and are working on plans to implement a recruitment plan that will broadly engage AAVMC constituencies and stakeholders.

 

Questions about this project should be directed to any of the NRSSC members or the committee's AAVMC staff liaison, John Roane ( jroane@aavmc.org ).

 

 

Regards,

 

 

AAVMC National Recruitment Strategy Steering Committee

 

 

Dr. Donna Angarano, Chair

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine

Auburn University

 

Dr. Allen Cannedy

Director of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine

North Carolina State University

 

Ms. Barbara Coats

Student Affairs Coordinator, College of Veterinary Medicine

Mississippi State University

 

Dr. Ronnie Elmore

Associate Dean for Admissions and Diversity

Kansas State University

 

Ms. Yasmin Williams

Director of Admissions, School of Veterinary Medicine

University of California-Davis

 

Mr. John Roane

NRSSC Staff Liaison and Chief Operating Officer

AAVMC