GOVERNING TTU OP: Not applicable.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) policy document is to define the role and membership of the SVM Clinical Programs Committee (CPC).

DATE OF POLICY: 14APR2022 Revised 18SEP2025

REVIEW: This SVM Policy shall be reviewed every third year by the SVM Clinical Programs Committee. Revisions will be forwarded to the Dean’s Executive Leadership Council for review and disposition.

BACKGROUND: Successful clinical year community-based education requires programmatic implementation, delivery, oversight, and review in addition to focused collaboration with the pre-clinical curriculum. Experiential learning is enhanced with a comprehensive educational and operational understanding and oversight of the Clinical Learning Network (CLN). Missionminded members of the Committee and the Office of Clinical Programs (OCP) are essential to deliver successful TTU SVM graduate outcomes.

ROLES OF THE COMMITTEE: The roles of the TTU SVM Clinical Programs Committee are to:

1. Contribute to the mission of SVM by reviewing and advising on the programmatic delivery and sustainability of the community-based clinical year.
2. Support, assess, and advise on the activities and performance of students, Clinical Partners, and faculty involved in the clinical program.
3. Contribute to the mission of TTU SVM by ensuring a seamless transition for students from pre-clinical to clinical programs and into the workforce.
4. Consider all matters pertaining to the inquiry, implementation, operation, oversight, and outcomes of the clinical year program.

Activities of the Committee: The Committee will perform its work relative to the mission of the TTU SVM. Activities of the CPC may include:

• Review and advise on clinical year student performance metrics, clinical site performance metrics, clinical year mentor performance metrics, NAVLE preparation performance metrics, and network business performance. Implement actions as needed.
• Analyze outcomes and categorize clinical sites for addition, deletion, contingency, or modification in the Clinical Learning Network (CLN) and ensure sufficient capacity for student instruction and learning. 
• Review Clinical Instructor (CI) adjunct applications from Clinical Partners for consideration into the SVM with referral to the Office of the Dean for confirmation.
• Assess and qualify student requests to undertake External Open Electives (out of network elective(s).
• Review student progress and advise course content for students’ clinical year return weeks (e.g., presentations, OSCEs, remediation activities).
• Coordinate with Outcomes Assessment and report clinical year student performance data and other metrics quarterly to appropriate pre-clinical committees (i.e. Curriculum, Data Synthesis and Analysis, etc.) or accrediting bodies.
• Monitor and advise on necessary clinical year student outcomes requiring referral to the Continuation of Study Committee.
• Review and advise on clinical year materials (i.e., handbooks, professional folder documents).
• Evaluate management and appropriation of clinical year student support funds and scholarships and make recommendations to the Office of Clinical Programs.
• Review procedures for training Clinical Partners and students in operational safety programs (Title IX, VI, FERPA, Radiation safety, rabies immunization, health insurance, privacy policy, etc.)
• Review and assist in 3rd year clinical orientation and student preparation.
• Assist with American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA COE) and other accreditation or reporting activities.

REPORTING: The Clinical Programs Committee reports to the Associate Dean for Clinical Programs. Recommendations from the Clinical Programs Committee will be reviewed by the Dean’s Executive Leadership Council.

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS: This Committee will be made up of 15 members, representing faculty, staff, and network/program participants. Each member will be selected based on eligibility criteria required of the member.

• Associate Dean for Clinical Programs (ADCP) – perpetual
• Associate Dean for Academics and Student Affairs (ADSA) – ex officio
• Assistant Dean for Student Success – perpetual
• Director of Clinical Education (DCE) – perpetual
• Director of Clinical Veterinary Affairs – perpetual
• Director of Advanced Clinical Training – perpetual
• Clinical Coordinator(s) (CC) – perpetual
• OCP Student Program Manager (SPM) – perpetual
• OCP Network Program Manager (NPM) – perpetual
• Director of Outcomes Assessment – perpetual
• (1) Faculty Clinical Instructors (FCI) or Faculty delivering Clinical Year Instruction
• (1) Senior Business Lead – perpetual
• (3) Ad hoc Representatives (appointed by ADCP or CPC Chair)

Leadership and Term Lengths:

The ADCP will hold the initial Chair and select the subsequent Chair or Co-Chairs. Subsequently, CPC members will elect the Chair(s) and Co-Chair(s) who will serve in the role(s) for 3 years. Term lengths of Faculty Clinical Instructors will be three years with reappointment by approval of the Chair. Ad hoc Representative(s) will serve a term of 6-12 months, or as determined by CPC Chair and Committee and can be renominated.

Quorum:

A quorum consisting of a simple majority of the CPC voting membership will be required for all meetings in which issues are to be brought to a vote. Voting members include all members of the committee. The ADCP will vote only in cases of a tie. 

Meeting Frequency and Agenda:

The CPC will meet at a minimum of every three months or more frequently as the determined by the ADCP or Committee Chair. An agenda will be shared among CPC members at least 48 hours prior to scheduled meetings.