The University of North Carolina (UNC) System Veterinary Education Access (UNC-SVEA) Program

The pathway to a degree in veterinary medicine can be more challenging for individuals from a rural background. Nevertheless, these individuals add much needed diverse perspectives to the profession. Therefore, NC State-CVM has established a UNC-SVEA  Program with UNC campuses which are not located in central urban areas by which mutually agreed upon UNC-SVEA Program participants, meeting all criteria of their home institution and the NC State-CVM admissions criteria, may gain admittance to the NC State-CVM veterinary program.

This agreement will be established first between NC State-CVM and UNC Pembroke School of Biological Science with the potential goal of expanding the program to other rural UNC campuses.

Up to two (2) students plus one (1) alternate from each entering first-year class of UNC Pembroke’s Biology program may be selected to enter the UNC-SVEA Program. Students must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in the Biology Department. Scholar selection will be based upon high school performance, standardized tests (SAT), an essay by the applicants indicating their reasons for seeking a career as a veterinarian and two letters of reference. Selection of the scholars will be made by the Selection Committee consisting of the UNC Pembroke Biology Department program advisors, the Director for Diversity at the NC State CVM, and one additional faculty member from NC State-CVM as appointed by the Dean of the CVM.  CVM UNC-SVEA Scholars can only be selected by the mutual consent of both universities.

In addition to selecting the Scholars, this Committee will annually review all Scholars for continued participation in the program. This review will include evaluation of completed coursework relative to the minimum academic standards for admission to the NC State-CVM and extracurricular activities related to veterinary medicine. Scholars must provide clear evidence of continued interest in veterinary medicine as a career choice and progress towards their degree.

Questions on any scholar program should be directed to:  dvminformation@ncsu.edu