"2+2" Programs to Boost Enrollment

By: Stephanie Silberstang

Cornell University, Class of 2013

The “2+2” programs are being considered by universities in the hopes that they will allow more students to enroll per year, increasing the number of veterinarians graduating every year. These programs can be one way of addressing the shortage of veterinarians nationwide. The “2+2” programs have obvious advantages but also have a few hurdles to overcome before these programs can be successful.

Advantages of the “2+2” program include a larger number of graduating veterinarians without having to build new facilities or larger class rooms. These programs also allow students to take advantage of any state-of-the-art facilities that exist at either or both of the universities they attend during the program in addition to allowing them the ability to experience two different teaching faculties. These programs can theoretically be taught at any college with veterinary professors on staff and the space for this group of students for 2 years.

Although these programs may be a possible way to address the shortage of veterinarians nationwide, these programs will also have to work out some difficulties that may hinder the success of the programs. Obstacles for the director of these programs include finding sufficient approval and funding from the universities and state. Also, the colleges involved need to ensure that the curriculum provided at the first school is consistent with the curriculum at the veterinary college the students attend in their last two years. The students in the “2+2” program may become disadvantaged if the two schools they attend are not in complete communication about the curriculum taught including basic sciences and clinically relevant materials.

The “2+2” program is a great way to increase the number of graduating veterinarians to address the nationwide shortage. The program will also allow students to take advantage of multiple facilities and to learn from different teaching faculties within their four years of veterinary education. However, before these programs can be put into effect, appropriate funding and approval needs to be obtained.

Comments

[ISU 2011]

I am a member of the first class to go through the U. of Nebraska-Iowa State 2 + 2 program. Speaking with my fellow Nebraskans, there are a wide variety of opinions on the program (some really liked it, others not so much). For me, the small class size in the first 2 years was great, as was the $20,000/year savings in tuition (we got in-state tuition all 4 years--probably the biggest advantage and honestly the main reason most of us picked this program over a traditional one). I enjoyed getting to know my classmates and professors very well. I also took opportunities to go to Iowa State for various events, and was able to meet probably at least 15-20 of my ISU classmates before moving there. As I see it, even if I had been with all 145 of my classmates from the beginning, I probably would have only gotten to know a handful of them, anyway. The thing I didn't like: because we were the first class, they didn't have a lot of hands-on experiences set up for us, but I think that is improving. A few of the professors were also not great, but that's probably true anywhere.