Rowan University hints at launching New Jersey's first school of veterinary medicine
Rowan University officials say it's far too early to fully announce New Jersey first and only veterinary school.
But the governor's office let the cat out of the bag last week, announcing more than $90 million for Rowan University programs, including a school of veterinary medicine.
Just 32 accredited colleges of veterinary medicine exist in the United States, and only 19 more internationally.
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New Jersey has no veterinary school, despite the Garden State's deeply rooted agricultural history. The closest college of veterinary medicine is located at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
"There's an opportunity there," Rowan University spokesman Joe Cardona told the Courier Post this week.
New Jersey has allocated $435 million from the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund for several South Jersey building projects, the governor's office released in late November.
Other funded projects include $35 million for upgrades to South Jersey Port Corporation facilities; $265 million for the Economic Development Authority for the New Jersey Wind Port in Lower Alloway's Creek; and $45 million to the Department of Transportation for Wind Port Dredging.
Of Rowan's $90 million allocation, $15 million will support a Cooper Medical School of Rowan University expansion in Camden, and $75 million for what the state referred to as the "Rowan University School of Veterinary Medicine."
Cardona was careful to say the university is "not quite ready to announce a full picture" of what a veterinary medical school would look like.
While Rowan University remains in the very early stages of a vet school development, Cardona said the state seed money will help "get everything going."
The state funds would support the development of the physical facility and educational programming there.
"It's still in the investigation and development piece," Cardona.
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In 2019, Rowan University worked with Vineland City officials to study whether a veterinary in Cumberland County would be feasible there. That study looked at the need for a facility like this in Southern New Jersey, and where it would be located within the city. The former Newcomb hospital was a potential site at the time.
Three years later, the few concrete plans Rowan has for a vet school have changed.
Sewell has instead been eyed as a candidate for the vet school's home, according to Vineland's Director of Economic and Community Development Sandy Forosisky.
The funding comes amid a shortage of veterinarians nationwide. New Jersey pets are in particular peril with the lack of animal doctors in the state.
Carly Q. Romalino is a Gloucester County native who's covered South Jersey since 2008. She's a Rowan University graduate and a six-time New Jersey Press Association award winner.
Romalino is based at the Courier Post and covers South Jersey schools and education issues for the Courier Post, Daily Journal and Burlington County Times.
She hosts NJ Press Pass, a live social media-based interview show diving into what matters to South Jersey residents.
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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Rowan University hints at starting school of veterinary medicine
