Advocacy Committee

The Advocacy Committee is a committee of the Assembly of the AAVMC. The Advocacy Committee supports the AAVMC’s Strategic Plan Goal 1.3 (influence and advocate to promote the interest of academic veterinary medicine with key decisionmakers); and Strategic Plan Goal 1.2 (increase awareness and understanding of AAVMC and the critical issues and opportunities facing academic veterinary medicine within veterinary medical education and health professions education communities.)

Charge

The Advocacy committee assists the AAVMC Board of Directors in formulating and implementing AAVMC legislative policy and positions on federal regulatory proposals. The committee is charged to:

• Establish one voice for advocating for veterinary medical education on the national scene.
• Ensure that the needs and concerns of AAVMC member institutions are incorporated into the AAVMC legislative and regulatory process in a systemic and inclusive process.
• Formulate AAVMC policies on legislative and regulatory matters and transmit recommendations to the Board of Directors for consideration and possible action.
• Assist in the implementation of the Board of Directors-approved governmental affairs agenda by encouraging all AAVMC member institution representatives to contact federal officials and staff while in Washington, DC, and/or the home district.

Composition

The Advocacy Committee is comprised of 12 members: 5 members representing U.S. member institutions; the At-large Director Representing Departments of Veterinary Science; the At-large Director Representing Departments of Comparative Medicine; one member representing either comparative medicine or veterinary science departments; one member representing Canadian member institutions; one member from a Region III or IV member institution; the AAVMC liaison to the AVMA Legislative Advisory Committee; and the AAVMC liaison to the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities.

Advocacy Committee members are nominated through the AAVMC annual call for volunteers and are appointed by the AAVMC president. Members serve a term of three years and may be reappointed once for a maximum of two terms (six years). The committee selects a chair to serve for a full Congress (two years).