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I’m glad your parents can watch them so you don’t have to risk it. That’s terrifying just to think about. Sending hugs at having to make that tough call 😍
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COVID-19 and impact on school
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well **** me the main university has cancelled spring break too and extended winter break by 1 week which means i will have absolutely no break at all before clinics and have no idea when my first vacation block is going to be (likely 3 months into clinics if I remember my preferences correctly) which means I am not going to see my parents for at least 6 months and I am already not doing okay with this.
That sucks. Maybe the vet school can work to schedule things so you all can have at least a few days off before starting? The school I went to gave 3rd years a week long break between 3rd year finals and starting clinics. We took finals a week earlier than the rest of the vet students and other campus did.
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Yeah, normally we’d have finals, a week of spring break, then a week with our milestone exam and osce and then start clinics the following week. I’m not sure if they’d move anything so we can have a break but I’m really hoping so
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I hope they're able to work out a way for you guys to do your own thing instead of following main campus @SkiOtter, sending hugs
Oh it's just me, sitting here patiently waiting to find out if the new health and human services mandate barring in person instruction for 3 weeks at universities will apply to us resulting in no further cadaver labs until my live surgery in mid January due to holiday breaks.... no, I'm not going crazy.... no not at all.
We’ve already gotten one of our live surgeries cancelled that’s supposed to be after thanksgiving
Do you have another opportunity to be primary? This will be my only time as primary surgeon before clinics and the thought of no hands on labs for 2 months before hand is scaryWe’ve already gotten one of our live surgeries cancelled that’s supposed to be after thanksgiving
We get one spay and half a neuter. So one person from every group gets gypped a surgery as of right now. Are you able to find a clinic anywhere that would be willing to let you come in a bit over Christmas break (or even before during your online-only time) that would let you do some surgeries?
This is so sad. I would not have felt ready to do any surgery after graduation if that was the only experience I had. Obviously, you can learn what you need on the job, but I wish some schools would do a better job with preparing graduates.
It’s why I’ve already got the humane alliance scheduled for next year
Real talk here. What do you guys think the chances of your school shutting down entirely is? My vet med bestie is anticipating ours being shut down in the next 4-6 weeks.
I think mine was somewhat expecting things to get worse around this time, so for 1st-3rd years we actually started classes a couple weeks early and have finals next week. I will say I'm a little worried to see what happens with the teaching hospital and 4th year students though as things are starting to close down again
Low here. We started early - this is the last week of classes, and all in person labs are done afaik. All finals finish up by Thanksgiving then we have 6 weeks off.
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I really need one last LOR so if a shutdown could wait another month so I can just be on with a specific clinician, that would be great.
My school has said keeping fourth years in clinics is a priority but they’ve essentially already canceled/pushed labs and exams for everyone else into January
We have an in-person lab on Thursday and an optional in-person lab on Friday 🙂
So glad we're done by Thanksgiving!!!
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Our program designated all of the fourth years as essential employees with the school (though we do have the option to stay at home despite that designation, say if child care becomes an issue etc) so I think if they truly want to kick us out it might take a lot of heavy handed pushes from the university. I'm sure it can still happen though
That's basically where we're at too. After this week, the 1st-3rd years are entirely online until January. So if we do close, it would essentially only be to the detriment of 4th years.
I hadn't even considered the possibility. We've been all online except for a handful of labs (which end before thanksgiving) so I'm not sure anything is going to change at this point, unless they have to restrict the 4th years again, which would absolutely suck.
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At least on the research side, we still have a whole extra phase that we could step down to before having to close. I know the research sunrise plan is different from that for the students, but if we haven't even backed down to phase 1 again yet, I think you guys probably won't be affected.
Well got an email from the state vma that the Gov issued restrictions sounded like the same set up as back in march to not see anything but urgent and emergent cases set to start the 3rd. So I imagine 4th years will be affected...
I saw that, too. Are junior surgeries able to continue?
I knew there was a gown shortage but didn't hear about any other supply issues
Jr sx is over for the semester thankfully-yeah gowns were the only shortages I heard about as well and I was the last block. Like you all we are completely online for the rest of the semester. Jr sx and other sx labs are supposed to resume after we get back so we'll see what happens.
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Just curious as to how other people's schools are handling COVID in regards to class setup. Online only? Hybrid? All in person? Michigan state has all of its first and second year students online only for spring, and we were online for fall as well. Just wondering how everyone else is doing, and how your experience has been so far with any changes to the curriculum.
Hybrid at WSU. In the fall all 1st year lectures were delivered live on Zoom. We had in-person 2-hr anatomy labs 2x a week and a 2-hour surgery lab 1x per week. We had (I think) 3 in-person micro anatomy labs and 3 in-person animal handling labs. For any in-person activity we were required to submit an "attestation" that we were free from covid symptoms before coming to campus along with wearing a KN95 + face shield (provided by the school). Our groups for in-person labs split the class up into 4 sections so we were always with the same group for in-person activities. We went fully virtual after Thanksgiving break.
Spring semester starts next Monday and tbh we haven't received a ton of communication about how it's working other than it will be similar to fall with "hopefully" some opportunity to attend lecture in-person.
Spring semester starts next Monday and tbh we haven't received a ton of communication about how it's working other than it will be similar to fall with "hopefully" some opportunity to attend lecture in-person.
Theres a ton of info on the covid affecting schools thread that goes over alot of this for reference...mods may or may not merge the 2 threads. Would totally link the thread but currently on my phone
Hybrid at Texas A&M. Lectures are online, though there's the option for a limited number of us to attend in person (socially distanced, of course - they tape off seats so that we're 6 feet apart from side to side, though apparently the virus doesn't travel 6 feet front to back?). Labs and other group activities tend to be in person, though some do have Zoom components as well. We're required to be in masks when we're on campus, but I feel like that's almost a given these days!
It's all pretty scary, honestly. Hospitals are at capacity in the area due to Covid, and we haven't had the massive influx of students yet. Apparently they've actually had trouble administering the county's allotment of Covid vaccines because health care professionals are too buried by caring for Covid patients. Part of me kinda wishes the school was doing a little more for the start of the semester. Have us quarantine at home and attend everything via Zoom the first week or two? Have a negative Covid test before we start? Something? But I'm hyper vigilant about this stuff and generally felt pretty safe on campus in the fall, so hopefully that feeling will continue in the spring. These are rough times for everyone.
It's all pretty scary, honestly. Hospitals are at capacity in the area due to Covid, and we haven't had the massive influx of students yet. Apparently they've actually had trouble administering the county's allotment of Covid vaccines because health care professionals are too buried by caring for Covid patients. Part of me kinda wishes the school was doing a little more for the start of the semester. Have us quarantine at home and attend everything via Zoom the first week or two? Have a negative Covid test before we start? Something? But I'm hyper vigilant about this stuff and generally felt pretty safe on campus in the fall, so hopefully that feeling will continue in the spring. These are rough times for everyone.
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Depends heavily on year at Purdue.
First years were mostly in person with labs split to fit with covid regulations. Seconds years were pretty hybrid if I remember correctly.
Third years were online and only were in class for VSAC and junior surgery (also for lectures on Fridays)
Next semester is pretty up in the air but I think the third years are more in person.
Masks (class and labs) and face shields (for labs) are required. Randomized Covid testing is also conducted every week.
First years were mostly in person with labs split to fit with covid regulations. Seconds years were pretty hybrid if I remember correctly.
Third years were online and only were in class for VSAC and junior surgery (also for lectures on Fridays)
Next semester is pretty up in the air but I think the third years are more in person.
Masks (class and labs) and face shields (for labs) are required. Randomized Covid testing is also conducted every week.
CU (not to be confused with CSU) is online only for the most part. I think the first years have some activities that are in person, like one of their courses is half compounding lab so they need to be on campus for that. So basically online whenever possible.
I was wondering why I didn’t get any of these notifications until capris post
I didn't either but I basically live on the "Watched Threads" page which showed new posts hereI was wondering why I didn’t get any of these notifications until capris post
I generally do too but have been v busy this week so haven't had the chance to go to that page in a couple daysI didn't either but I basically live on the "Watched Threads" page which showed new posts here
MN is hybrid with all lectures being online only, and in-person only for labs. Labs are divided by pods, splitting the classes into 1/6 or so, and there's pairs and groups within that for lab partners (or at least there was for junior surgery)
tOSU is online completely for the first two weeks. Everyone has to get COVID tested once a week for the whole semester. The goal is two negative tests before we resume some in person labs the third week. Lectures and general classes are remaining online for the semester.
They’re trying to get us 1st years into an anatomy lab to at least look at dissected specimens - that was one of the biggest complaints from the students in the fall. We were able to have clinical skills in person, but we didn’t get any anatomy labs. (Which I understand but tbh still sucks - not seeing this stuff in real life makes it a lot harder to comprehend and retain).
They’re trying to get us 1st years into an anatomy lab to at least look at dissected specimens - that was one of the biggest complaints from the students in the fall. We were able to have clinical skills in person, but we didn’t get any anatomy labs. (Which I understand but tbh still sucks - not seeing this stuff in real life makes it a lot harder to comprehend and retain).
Does anyone have info on when we might be allowed to get vaccinated? I saw that the AVMA was advocating for veterinary personnel to be included in the batch of people after healthcare workers, but an actual update was never provided. I assume vet schools would be included in that general category for schools that also function as a hospital. My thought is that we might be allowed under phase 1B or 1C.
it's going to be slightly state dependent. Here in WA based on the prelim layout vets aren't eligible until April at the earliest unless you're over 50 at least it's been pretty crickets via our state VMA.
Phase 1B1 - (Tier 1)
- All people 70 years and older
- People 50 years and older who live in multigenerational households
- High risk critical workers 50 years and older who work in certain congregate settings: Agriculture; food processing; grocery stores; K-12 (teachers and school staff); childcare; corrections, prisons, jails or detention facilities (staff); public transit; fire; law enforcement
- People 16 years or older with two or more co-morbidities or underlying conditions
- High-risk critical workers in certain congregate settings under 50 years
- People, staff and volunteers all ages in congregate living settings:
- Correctional facilities; group homes for people with disabilities; people experiencing homelessness that live in or access services in congregate settings
My SO got his first vaccine and will be getting his booster next week as he's in tier 1A being in law enforcement. They're just getting to dentists now per a friend. I'm happy for him&my friend but from listening to how many people are gawking at getting the vaccine for people he works with it frustrates me they've decided to go with a "timeline" approach. I think the window is like a month long right now to get your first vaccine. I understand their hesitancy to get vaccinated but when there's people like me willing to be vaccinated ASAP it's frustrating and I wish the window was shorter. Get those vaccines rolling!
Lol literally just got an email that vets got bumped to tier 1a part 2😂
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Yeah 100% depends on your state. Vets aren't in any special category in TN so unless you have one of the conditions that they've labelled higher risk, you go with your age category. Which for me means like late summer at the earliest unless they accept my cerebral vascular disease claim (not sure if a previous CVST counts, I have to look into it more).
Illinois 4th years were offered to sign up for vaccines with the faculty and staff. Looks like we will be vaccinated January/February for our first doses
Definitely depends on state, but yesterday I learned that in VA vets and staff will be within the next month because our practice manager was making a list of everyone that wants it
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Piggy backing on this, I'm not sure about the vet students in general, but I know that any vet students at MN who are part of the MN Medical Reserve Corps can get vaccinated soon if we're helping out with [COVID-19] vaccination clinics. I'm getting my first dose next week.
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Getting mine soon too!
Update to the update Wsvma sent another email telling us were not included in the new tier... so that's fun.
VMCVM is saying they aren't sure yet when they'll be able to vaccinate students for sure, but they had us fill out an interest survey so they can get an idea for planning. But either way I should be able to get vaccinated within the next month since I'm employed by a Virginia vet clinic!
So they took our spring break away and gave us three “mental health days” but the second two third years don’t even get because one is during milestone exam week and the other is during clinics (online clinics). Thought we were at least gonna still get the one. Nope. If you have junior surgery that week, you still have animal care stuff and soaps on that wellness day. So uh, **** our mental health right before clinics I guess?
