With the generous support of the USDA/CSREES Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions grants program, the Interior-Aleutians and Chukchi Campuses have developed the first and only Veterinary Science (VTS) program in the state of Alaska!

Animal care is a critical area of need in rural Alaska where dog teams are still an important practical necessity for hunting, trapping, wood gathering and visiting. Moreover, dog racing remains a passionate pastime for rural residents and professional and semi-professional racers can earn a not-insignificant portion of their annual income from races and dog breeding. An increasing concern with local food security and self-sufficiency has also led to growing interest in domestic food animals and in reindeer herding among rural Alaskans. Of course, many rural residents have companion dogs and cats that also need emergency or preventative care.

In response, the VTS program will fill a need for veterinary care in local communities, add to local self-sufficiency and create employment for local people. Furthermore, the program will provide the first step in a career pathway toward higher degrees in the veterinary sciences, including opportunities for students as veterinary technicians or as doctors of veterinary medicine.