CLASS OF 2020 Student Handbook AS OF JUNE 2016 CLASS OF 2020 Welcome Welcome to the College of Veterinary Medicine, and congratulations on your admission to the Class of 2020. You were selected from a large, talented field of ap- plicants; 102 students will matriculate in August. You are among a select few who have earned the privilege of a world-class education, at a college with internation- ally renowned faculty and facilities, a unique, innovative educational approach, and an unmatched network of academic support. In welcoming you to the College of Veterinary Medicine and Services has professionals dedicated to helping you in the ar- the veterinary profession, the faculty and staff of the College eas of academic and personal support, financial planning, and are committing to help you reach your career goals in veteri- career development. nary medicine. Years of thoughtful reflection on what is By coming to Cornell, you are making a commitment to your- known about learning and the demands of the veterinary pro- self, your families, your classmates, to the College and to your fessional practice, carefully-considered translations of state of future clients and patients. The very few students who start the art research in the biomedical but do not finish the DVM pro- and clinical sciences, and the on- gram represent a loss to the pro- going dedication of caring fac- fession and the college commu- ulty come together in the cur- nity. Thus, by accepting an offer riculum and learning environ- of admission, you accept the re- ment at Cornell. sponsibilities and privileges of a The faculty and staff want you member of this academic com- to succeed at Cornell and in munity, as well as the responsi- your professional life. Financial bilities of a career in veterinary planning, lifestyle decisions, medicine. and career planning go hand in You are embarking on a new ca- hand, starting even now, before reer in a physically, emotion- you enter your first year. ally, and intellectually challeng- Now is the time to create a ing profession that offers great budget, determine your living personal satisfaction and public arrangements, and make life- respect. The faculty, staff, and style choices that will minimize your educational debt. Simi- students who comprise this academic community will become larly, career planning will be an ongoing activity as you come your mentors, friends, and colleagues, supporting you to appreciate the breadth and depth of veterinary medicine through the next four years and beyond. We hope you will and take advantage of the opportunities that are available make the most of this rich and diverse environment. Again, through the College. We hope your time here will be both chal- welcome to the College. lenging and rewarding. The Office of Student and Academic 2 AUGUST 15-16, 2016 Orientation Orientation will begin on Monday, August 15 in Room 146 Stocking Hall. The program will begin with the Dean’s Welcome at 8:30 am. Please plan to pick up your registration packet and name tag between 8:15 am and 8:30 am at the entrance of Room 146 and enjoy a cup of coffee with other new students before the for- mal program begins. If you have any questions about Orientation, please feel free to contact Dr. Jai Sweet, Direc- Familiarize Yourself with this Handbook Please take time to acquaint yourself with this handbook. It con- tor of Student tains a great deal of helpful information to help you settle in at the Veterinary College, at Cornell and in Ithaca. It will serve as your Services and Multicultural Affairs, at (607) reference for college and university policies, budgets, financial aid information, community information, and local services and ac- 253-3700 or by e-mail at [email protected]. tivities. Orientation Activities include: •An overview of the curriculum and tutorial process •Meetings with your tutor and your tutorial group for Foundation Course I: The Animal Body •Lunch with your Faculty Advisor •An opportunity to purchase course materials •Financial aid workshop •Tours, team-building, and preparations for Day 1 of classes •Ice Cream Social with your Peer Mentor group • Introductions to the college facilities, resources, key people, policies, and services • Laboratory and zoonotic disease safety instructions • Fun activities designed to help you get to know your classmates Please remember to wear (or bring) close-toed shoes with you on Monday August 15. You will need them for the afternoon’s activities! 4 Preparations during the Summer Rabies Vaccinations As your time will be heavily scheduled with important college activities Prophylactic (pre-exposure) immunization against rabies is mandatory during Orientation on August 15-16, we encourage those of you who for all veterinary students because of an increased risk of exposure to are relocating to Ithaca to allow a few days before Orientation to tend rabies in this area. The College requires that students be vaccinated ei- to personal matters connected with moving and settling in. There are ther prior to enrollment or through the Gannett Health Center at Cor- a number of deadlines we urge you to meet this summer, nell . The cost of the pre-exposure rabies vaccination series (3 and these are listed at: shots, 1.0 ml. Intramuscular) is covered by your health insur- ance IF you are enrolled in the Cornell Student Health Insur- http://www.vet.cornell.edu/Admissions/students/current/timesensiti ance Plan (SHP or SHP-M). If you do not have the Cornell vechecklist.cfm Student Health Plan you may still receive the vaccination se- ries through Gannett for a fee. The cost of the series is $978 (3 shots at $326 per shot). This cost is paid by the student to Uni- versity Health Services via bursar bill or credit card. Finding a Place to Live If you plan on waiving the Cornell Student Health Plan, you may wish See the “Student Life” section in this Handbook for information and to look into the coverage and cost of the rabies vaccination series advice about locating on- and off-campus housing. The earlier you to though your health insurance, prior to arriving at Cornell, If you have do this, the better. already received a pre-exposure or post-exposure vaccination series you Settling into your New Home must present written proof from the in- stitution where the vaccines were ad- More information about Ithaca and the surrounding community is ministered. This should include the available at (www.visitithaca.com/) . This website has information product type, route of administration, about where to eat, what to see and do, maps and more. dose and dates of the series. You must Links to local businesses and services, including such things as finan- bring this information with you to Ori- cial institutions, insurance agencies, nightclubs, movie theaters and lo- entation. cal governments, may be found at: www.ithacadirectory.com. Gannett Health Center schedules rabies vaccination clinics for first- year students at the college, during Orientation. (The subsequent vacci- nations in the series are also scheduled at the college.) If you have had prior rabies vaccinations, you must bring documenta- tion with you to determine your status and current needs. 5 If the pre-exposure series is completed and a student, while carrying Materials You Will Need for Foundation Course I -- out normal responsibilities at the College, is exposed to a rabies- The Animal Body positive animal, the College will provide post-exposure vaccinations. Any student possibly exposed to a rabies-positive animal must be inter- A long-sleeved lab coat is required for dissection labs. A new one isn’t viewed by the Biosafety Officer to confirm that an exposure has taken necessary, but the lab coat does need to be in good condition. In the place and to ensure appropriate action is taken. The Cornell Hospital first course, The Animal Body, scrubs or coveralls cannot substitute for for Animals and the Department of Biomedical Sciences (Section of Pa- a lab coat. No open-toed shoes may be worn in lab. A limited number thology and Necropsy Services) have written protocols concerning the of free, used lab coats are available on a “first come, first served” basis handling of rabies- suspect animals presented for in the Central Sterilization and Linen (room C1107E in evaluation. All students must have completed the the CUHA). pre-exposure series and be familiar with these proto- cols before becoming involved with any clinical case Three-ring binders, four-color pens, a variety of colored where rabies is a possibility. Any questions concern- pens/pencils, paper, "Sharpies" and highlighters are also ing the rabies vaccination program can be addressed useful. You will also need a padlock (key or combination) to Dr. Kathy Earnest-Koons, by phone at (607) 253- for your locker at school. 3734 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Course Guide for The Animal Body ($12), Dissection/ Prosection/Comparative Guide ($45), and additional course materials ($20)--ALL OF THESE ITEMS WILL BE SOLD DUR- Shopping: Things You Will Need ING ORIENTATION. Dissection kit with scalpel handle, scalpel blades (usually #10), rat’s These items should be obtained before school starts— please tooth forceps, blunt probes and scissors. Hemostats and forceps are add them to your “back to school” shopping list. Buying them useful. (An entire a kit costs $20.00) before you arrive in Ithaca will be helpful, as 102 students converging on a couple of stores near Cornell can lead to shortages. Items high- Nitrile Exam Gloves-- A box of 100 nitrile gloves for use in Foundation lighted on the next page, in blue, will be sold at a special session during Course I (approximately $20.00, available in sizes Small, Medium, Orientation.