Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine

D.V.M. Program Handbook

PDF version of handbook here

General Information

Cummings School

  • Accreditation
  • Mission
  • Curriculum Mission Statement

Diversity as a School Priority

  • Learning Communities
  • Office of Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Climate
  • Tufts Veterinary Council on Diversity

Support from the Administration

Learning Environment

  • Prompt Communications
  • Breaks Between Classes
  • Maintaining a Positive Learning Environment

Disability and Accommodations

  • Cummings School Policy on Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity
  • Requesting an Accommodation
  • Accommodations for NAVLE
  • Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) and OEO Reporting Procedures

Office of Professional Education

  • Who We Are and What We Do
  • Office of Professional Education Organizational Staff

General Attendance Policies for Preclinical and Clinical Curriculum

Preclinical Curriculum Attendance Policies

  • Required-Attendance Preclinical Educational Experiences Policy for V25 and V26 Classes
  • Exam Attendance Policy for V25 and V26 Classes
  • Required-Attendance Preclinical Educational Experiences Policy for V28 Class and All Class Years Thereafter

Clinical Curriculum Scheduling and Attendance Policies

  • Clinical Year Rotation Scheduling
  • Large Animal Emphasis Program Scheduling
  • Elective/Vacation Time
  • Elective/Externship Rotation Requirements
  • Approval for New Elective/Externship Sites
  • Required Notification for Scheduling Off-Campus Electives
  • International Externships
  • Clinical Year Scheduling Change Requests
  • Clinical Year Absence Policy and Reporting Process
  • Monday Holidays During a Scheduled Rotation Policy
  • Inclement Weather Expectations
  • Leaving Clinical Year Externships Early Policy

Grading, Assessments, and Progression

Grading for Preclinical Curriculum

  • Number and Types of Examinations or Other Means of Evaluation
  • Expectation for Grading Policy to be Implemented as Stated
  • Submission of Final Grades
  • Letter Grading
  • Pass/Fail Grading
  • Incomplete Grades
  • Grade Point Average (GPA) Computation
  • Early Intervention for Students with Academic Performance Concerns
  • Course Exemption
  • Determination of Course Credits Legacy D.V.M. Curriculum
  • Determination of Course Credits New D.V.M. Curriculum
  • Number of Exams for Legacy and New D.V.M. Curriculum
  • Review of Examinations
  • Conversion of Raw Numerical Scores from Examinations into Letter Grades
  • Rounding of Examination and Course Grades
  • Posting of Examination Grades
  • Academic Performance Standards and Promotion in the D.V.M. Program

Grading for Clinical Curriculum

  • Core Rotation Grades
  • Structured Coaching Required (SCR) Assessment
  • Internal Elective Rotation Grades
  • Elective Grading for Off-Campus Electives

Course/Rotation Evaluations

  • Blue Course Evaluation System and Procedures

Professionalism and Integrity

Professionalism in the D.V.M. Program

  • Policy on Ethical and Professional Conduct of Students
  • Policy On Student Academic Misconduct
  • Student Appeals Policy
  • Student Reinstatement Policy
  • Scientific Integrity in Research Policy
  • Policy on Student Compensation During Academic Externships and Selectives

Student Health, Safety, and Security

  • Cummings School Immunization Information and Requirements
  • Rabies VacCination Policy
  • Tufts Student Health & Safety Program
  • Animal Use Policy
  • Biohazards in Teaching Laboratories
  • Basic Laboratory Safety
  • Safe Small and Large Animal Handling Methods
  • Policies for Labs Involving Animals and Cadavers
  • Policy on Pets, Service and Assistance Animals on Campus
  • The Department of Public Safety Policies
  • Tufts Tecnology Services (TTS) Information Technology Responsible Use Policies

Important Professional Information

  • Veterinary Board Examination (NAVLE)
  • Licensure in New England
  • American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB)