Progress 09/15/07 to 09/14/10

Outputs
The College of the Sequoias (COS) Veterinary Technician Training Program (VTTP) objectives were met through the continuing expansion of multidisciplinary-based courses to engage students in real world problem-solving. The induction of these courses will further promote giving students hands-on experience in research and problem solving. The second objective was met through the creation of the Veterinary Technician Advisory Group, an industry-driven regional collaborative and institutionalized outreach effort to Hispanic students and their families. Through the assistance of the HSI grant, the following courses are currently offered as part of the Fall 2008 curriculum of the VTTP:VT-109 Introduction to Veterinary Technology; VT-116 Veterinary Office Practices; VT-117 Veterinary Terminology: and VT-118 Comparative Anatomy and Physiology. The following courses were offered as part of the Spring 2009 curriculum: VT-114 Microbiology; ASCI-113 Farm Animal Biology; VT-123 Exotic/Lab Animal Care. Courses and curriculum during the summer of 2009 included; VT-121 Large Animal Diseases and WEXP-193 Work Experience. Fall 2009 courses include: VT-115 Small Animal Diseases; VT-119 Clinical Procedures 1; VT-122 Clinical Diagnostic Imaging; VT-120 Parasitology; and Clinical Rotation. The following new courses and curriculum are currently going through the COS approval process; VT-124 Pharmacology; VT-125 Clinical Procedures II; and VT-127 Anesthesiology and Surgical Assistance. A new Program Coordinator was hired on December 7, 2009. She has over 25 years experience and is a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT). Institutionalized outreach and recruitment to Hispanic students and their families has taken place at local high schools and middle schools where brochures and pamphlets were disseminated during evening events. Latino Youth Leadership Academy; Expanding Your Horizons; Career Technical Education; COS's First Year Experience program (previously LISTO); CalWORKs; Essential Learning Initiative (ELI); Extended Opportunity Programs and Services(EOPS); and Upward Bound Math and Science programs have all provided information and brochures for the VTTP to dispense at recruiting events. The COS Tech Prep Consortium has completed one meeting with the Program Coordinator in September 2008 to discuss limited English activities for students and parents. The VTTP is in ongoing negotiations to contract with Banfield, The Pet Hospital-who work adjacent to PetSmart-to use their equipment and instruments. The Pet Hospital is currently not in operation due to the lack of veterinarians and nurses in the Visalia area and Central Valley. Two certified veterinarians and five nurses are needed for The Pet Hospital to function at full capacity. The lack of qualified staff is expected to decrease as a result of better-trained and certified personnel who have completed the VTTP. The Pet Hospital will be accessible to VTTP students and staff after hours. PRODUCTS: The VTTP Advisory Group is a product of the project and is a mixture of three local veterinarians, five program consultants, and five program mentors. A detailed list of VTTP Advisory Group names, titles and affiliations is available upon request. The industry driven regional collaborative is a product of the project and includes veterinarians and technicians from the Care at the Courtyard, Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic, Cross Street Veterinary Clinic, Lone Oak Veterinary Clinic, and the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center, as well as instructors and students from COS. With the input of the VTTP Advisory Group, curriculum and a cohort pathway was created for the VTTP. A web site was developed to disseminate information concerning descriptions of the program and course offerings: http://www.cos.edu/ag/programs-VetTech.asp. In building outreach efforts to the Hispanic community, the Project Coordinator collaborates with the following on campus programs: Latino Youth Leadership Academy; Expanding Your Horizons; Career Technical Education; COS's First year Experience program (previously LISTO); CalWORKs; Essential Learning Initiative (ELI); Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOPS); and Upward Bound Math and Science programs. These programs have provided materials and brochures for the program to disseminate to prospective and current VTTP students. The Program Coordinator has conducted one career pathway planning meeting with the COS Tech Prep Consortium in September 2008. Attendees included high school counselors, administrators, and teachers along with representatives from COS. Through the career pathway planning meeting, high schools in Tulare and Kings Counties have established introductory classes to veterinary technician and have set in place career pathways. Thirty-five (35) schools throughout Tulare and Kings Counties attended this event. Three new courses have been included in the Fall 2008 semester and are a product of the project; VT-117 Veterinary Terminology; VT-118 Comparative Anatomy and Physiology; and VT-119 Clinical Procedures 1. There were also new courses instituted in the Spring and Summer of 2009; VT-114 Microbiology; ASCI-113 Farm Animal Biology; VT-123 Exotic/Lab Animal Care; VT-121 Large Animal Diseases and WEXP-193 Work Experience. Course descriptions and course outlines have been developed for VT-115 Small Animal Diseases; VT-119 Clinical Procedures 1; VT-122 Clinical Diagnostic Imaging; VT-120 Parasitology; and Clinical Rotation. The following new courses and curriculum are currently going through the approval process; VT-124 Pharmacology; VT-125 Clinical Procedures II, and VT-127 Anesthesiology and Surgical Assistance. OUTCOMES: The program is an expanded veterinary technician program that incorporates certification with a multidisciplinary and problem-based focus that engages students in research and problem solving. New courses and equipment will prepare students for certification and increase "ready to transfer" rates. The VTTP Advisory Group and industry-driven regional collaborative advises the Program Coordinator in industry needs and future initiatives of the project. The advice and help from both the advisory group and industry-driven regional collaborative enhances and attracts a larger amount of students to enroll in the program. An institutionalized outreach to Hispanic students and families continually occurs. The outreach plan includes evening events and classroom presentations to middle and high schools as well as the creation of a career pathway for high school students. Classroom presentations were completed as requested from school sites (Tulare Union High School, Tulare Western High School and Mission Oak High School). College information and brochures were geared toward attracting students with disadvantaged backgrounds, low-income, or offer financial support and guidance counselors. Outreach efforts will increase the number of Hispanic student VTTP enrollment DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Outreach and recruitment to Hispanic students and their families have included activities such as the Tulare County Office of Education's, College Offers Opportunities for Life (COOL Night) which brings middle school students together. In September 2008 and 2009, VTTP participated in the Tulare County College Night and the Kings County College Night for students and their families. A bilingual staff member has participated in 12 recruitment meetings throughout the school year. Specific attention was made to include resources for Spanish speaking parents and students. Pamphlets and information were dispersed to attendees at high school recruitment meetings and outreach activities regarding Career Technical Education, COS's First Year Experience program (previously LISTO), CalWORKs, Essential Learning Initiative (ELI), Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) and Upward Bound Math and Science programs. These programs are designed specifically for students with disadvantaged backgrounds, low-income, or offer financial support and guidance counselors. During the 2008-09 school year, the VTTP program has added two more collaborative programs; the Latino Youth Leadership Academy, which fosters the leadership skills of Hispanic males, and the Expanding Your Horizons program, which fosters the leadership skills of Hispanic females. The COS VTTP participated in the COS Tech Prep EXPO in March 2009 and provided an animal health care competition for secondary and middle school students. The event attracts students from Tulare and Kings Counties. Pamphlets and brochures were disseminated to interested students and families. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Through the Rural Development grant and Proposition 1D funding, COS will complete a new site in Tulare, CA in addition to its current site. The project is currently in phase 1, the bidding process. The new Tulare center is projected to be competed in August of 2012 and will be a full-service campus. Three buildings on the new Tulare campus will be dedicated to veterinary technician training. The VTTP will expand to the new state-of-the-art facility which will further prepare students to transfer and complete certification. A summer preceptorship is being developed to further prepare students in th field of animal health. this experience will provide 420 hours of clinical experience under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The COS VTTP looks to expand course offerings in veterinary technician training to its distance education campuses. By the Fall of 2010 the COS Hanford Center will offer these courses. The VTTP has begun national accreditation by submitting necessary information and an application fee of $2,500 to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The Process is ongoing as the COS VTTP program will need to first become a full-fledged associate degree program. The VTTP is working to start the state approval process by Spring 2010 as finalization of class and course development is currently going through the COS approval process. Once the program has completed the associate degree process, they will continue with the AVMA accreditation by the Fall of 2010.

Impacts
The VTTP has offered twelve new courses to date and will offer three new courses in Fall 2010. The new course offerings have attracted more students to VTTP. Based on current enrollment trends, the VTTP will expand from 60 to 100 students. These were 37 unduplicated students enrolled in Fall 2007 and grew in Spring 2008 to 47 unduplicated students. In Fall 2008 there were 61 unduplicated students which grew to 71 unduplicated students in Spring 2009. In the most current semester, Fall 2009, there are 92 unduplicated students. With a program focus on recruiting Hispanic students through brochures and resources specific to Spanish speakers, there were a total of 10 (27%) Hispanic students in Fall 2007 semester. This number grew to 12 (25.5%) Hispanic students in the Spring 2008 semester and grew again to 17 (28%) Hispanic students. The number of Hispanic students stayed constant during the 2008-09 school year with 17 Hispanic students. By the end of the 2006-07 school year there were four RVT certificates awarded. By the end of the 2007-08 school year there were two RVT certificates awarded and by the end of 2008-09 school year there was one RVT certificate awarded. The ready to transfer rate for Fall 2007 increased zero to two students (5%) and expanded in Spring 2008 to four students (8%). The program will forward the 2008-09 ready to transfer rates at a later date. The VTTP worked to increase the number of licensed Registered Veterinary Technician's (RVT). During the 2008-09 school year, there were two members of faculty holding a RVT license.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 09/15/08 to 09/14/09

Outputs
The College of the Sequoias (COS) Veterinary Technician Training Program (VTTP) objectives were met through the continuing expansion of multidisciplinary-based courses to engage students in real world problem-solving. The induction of these courses will further promote giving students hands-on experience in research and problem-solving. The second objective was met through the creation of the Veterinary Technician Advisory Group, an industry-driven regional collaborative and institutionalized outreach effort to Hispanic students and their families. Through the assistance of the HSI grant, the following courses are currently offered as part of the Fall 2008 curriculum of the VTTP: VT-109 Introduction to Veterinary Technology; VT-116 Veterinary Office Practices; VT-117 Veterinary Terminology; and VT-118 Comparative Anatomy and Physiology. The following courses were offered as part of the spring 2009 curriculum: VT-114 Microbiology; ASCI-113 Farm Animal Biology; VT-123 Exotic/Lab Animal Care. Courses and curriculum during the summer of 2009 included: VT-121 Large Animal Diseases and WEXP 193-Work Experience. Fall 2009 courses include: VT-115 Small Animal Diseases; VT-119 Clinical Procedures 1; VT-122 Clinical Diagnostic Imaging; VT-120 Parasitology; and Clinical Rotation. The following new courses and curriculum are currently going through the COS approval process; VT-124 Pharmacology; VT-125 Clinical Procedures II; and VT-127 Anesthesiology and Surgical Assistance. A new Program Coordinator was hired on December 7, 2009. She has over 25 years experience and is a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT). Institutionalized outreach and recruitment to Hispanic students and their families has taken place at local high schools and middle schools where brochures and pamphlets were disseminated during evening events. Latino Youth Leadership Academy; Expanding Your Horizons; Career Technical Education; COSs First Year Experience program (previously LISTO); CalWORKs; Essential Learning Initiative (ELI); Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS); and Upward Bound Math and Science programs have all provided information and brochures for the VTTP to dispense at recruiting events. The COS Tech Prep Consortium has completed one meeting with the Program Coordinator in September 2008 to discuss limited English activities for students and parents. The VTTP is in ongoing negotiations to contract with Banfield, The Pet Hospital-who work adjacent to PetSmart-to use their equipment and instruments. The Pet Hospital is currently not in operation due to the lack of veterinarians and nurses in the Visalia area and Central Valley. Two certified veterinarians and five nurses are needed for The Pet Hospital to function at full capacity. The lack of qualified staff is expected to decrease as a result of better-trained and certified personnel who have completed the VTTP. The Pet Hospital will be accessible to VTTP students and staff after hours. PRODUCTS: The VTTP Advisory Group is a product of the project and is a mixture of three local veterinarians, five program consultants, and five program mentors. A detailed list of VTTP Advisory Group names, titles, and affiliations is available upon request. The industry driven regional collaborative is a product of the project and includes veterinarians and technicians from the Care at the Courtyard, Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic, Cross Street Veterinary Clinic, Lone Oak Veterinary Clinic, and the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center, as well as instructors and students from COS. With the input of the VTTP Advisory Group, curriculum and a cohort pathway was created for the VTTP. A web site was developed to disseminate information concerning descriptions of the program and course offerings: http://www.cos.edu/ag/programs-VetTech.asp. In building outreach efforts to the Hispanic community, the Project Coordinator collaborates with the following on campus programs: Latino Youth Leadership Academy; Expanding Your Horizons; Career Technical Education; COSs First Year Experience program (previously LISTO); CalWORKs; Essential Learning Initiative (ELI); Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS); and Upward Bound Math and Science programs. These programs have provided materials and brochures for the program to disseminate to prospective and current VTTP students. The Program Coordinator has conducted one career pathway planning meeting with the COS Tech Prep Consortium in September 2008. Attendees included high school counselors, administrators, and teachers along with representatives from COS. Through the career pathway planning meeting, high schools in Tulare and Kings Counties have established introductory classes to veterinary technician and have set in place career pathways. Thirty-five (35) schools throughout Tulare and Kings Counties attended this event. Three new courses have been included in the fall 2008 semester and are a product of the project: VT-117 Veterinary Terminology; VT-118 Comparative Anatomy and Physiology; and VT-119 Clinical Procedures 1. There were also new courses instituted in the spring and summer of 2009: VT-114 Microbiology; ASCI-113 Farm Animal Biology; VT-123 Exotic/Lab Animal Care; VT-121 Large Animal Diseases and WEXP 193-Work Experience. Course descriptions and course outlines have been developed for: VT-115 Small Animal Diseases; VT-119 Clinical Procedures 1; VT-122 Clinical Diagnostic Imaging; VT-120 Parasitology; and Clinical Rotation. The following new courses and curriculum are currently going through the approval process; VT-124 Pharmacology; VT-125 Clinical Procedures II; and VT-127 Anesthesiology and Surgical Assistance. OUTCOMES: The program is an expanded veterinary technician program that incorporates certification with a multidisciplinary and problem-based focus that engages students in research and problem solving. New courses and equipment will prepare students for certification and increase "ready to transfer" rates. The VTTP Advisory Group and industry-driven regional collaborative advises the Program Coordinator in industry needs and future initiatives of the project. The advice and help from both the advisory group and industry-driven regional collaborative enhances and attracts a larger amount of students to enroll in the program. An institutionalized outreach to Hispanic students and families continually occurs. The outreach plan includes evening events and classroom presentations to middle and high schools as well as the creation of a career pathway for high school students. Classroom presentations were completed as requested from school sites (Tulare Union High School, Tulare Western High School and Mission Oak High School). College information and brochures were geared toward attracting students with disadvantaged backgrounds, low-income, or offer financial support and guidance counselors. Outreach efforts will increase the number of Hispanic student VTTP enrollment. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Outreach and recruitment to Hispanic students and their families have included activities such as the Tulare County Office of Education's, College Offers Opportunities for Life (COOL Night) which brings middle school students together. In September 2008 and September 2009, VTTP participated in the Tulare County College Night and the Kings County College Night for students and their families. A bilingual staff member has participated in 12 recruitment meetings throughout the school year. Specific attention was made to include resources for Spanish speaking parents and students. Pamphlets and information were dispersed to attendees at high school recruitment meetings and outreach activities regarding Career Technical Education, COSs First Year Experience program (previously LISTO), CalWORKs, Essential Learning Initiative (ELI), Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) and Upward Bound Math and Science programs. These programs are designed specifically for students with disadvantaged backgrounds, low-income, or offer financial support and guidance counselors. During the 2008-09 school year, the VTTP program has added two more collaborative programs; the Latino Youth Leadership Academy, which fosters the leadership skills of Hispanic males, and the Expanding Your Horizons program, which fosters the leadership skills of Hispanic females. The COS VTTP participated in the COS Tech Prep EXPO in March 2009 and provided an animal health care competition for secondary and middle school students. The event attracts students from Tulare and Kings Counties. Pamphlets and brochures were disseminated to interested students and families. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Through the Rural Development grant and Proposition 1D funding, COS will complete a new site in Tulare, CA in addition to its current site. The project is currently in Phase 1, the bidding process. The new Tulare Center is projected to be completed in August of 2012 and will be a full-service campus. Three buildings on the new Tulare campus will be dedicated to veterinary technician training. The VTTP will expand to the new state-of-the-art facility which will further prepare students to transfer and complete certification. A summer preceptorship is being developed to further prepare students in the field of animal health. This experience will provide 420 hours of clinical experience under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The COS VTTP looks to expand course offerings in veterinary technician training to its distance education campuses. By the fall of 2010 the COS Hanford Center will offer these courses. The VTTP has begun national accreditation by submitting necessary information and an application fee of $2,500 to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). This process is ongoing as the COS VTTP program will need to first become a full-fledged associate degree program. The VTTP is working to start the state approval process by spring 2010 as finalization of class and course development is currently going through the COS approval process. Once the program has completed the associate degree process, they will continue with the AVMA accreditation by the fall of 2010.

Impacts
The VTTP has offered twelve new courses to date and will offer three new courses in fall 2010. The new course offerings have attracted more students to the VTTP. Based on current enrollment trends, the VTTP will expand from 60 to 100 students. There were 37 unduplicated students enrolled in fall 2007 and grew in spring 2008 to 47 unduplicated students. In fall 2008 there were 61 unduplicated students which grew to 71 unduplicated students in spring 2009. In the most current semester, fall 2009, there are 92 unduplicated students. With a program focus on recruiting Hispanic students through brochures and resources specific to Spanish speakers, there were a total of 10 (27%) Hispanic students enrolled in the fall 2007 semester. This number grew to 12 (25.5%) Hispanic students in the spring 2008 semester and grew again to 17 (28%) Hispanic students. The number of Hispanic students stayed constant during the 2008-09 school year with 17 Hispanic Students. By the end of the 2006-07 school year there were four RVT certificates awarded. By the end of the 2007-08 school year there were two RVT certificates awarded and by the end of the 2008-09 school year there was one RVT certificate awarded. The ready to transfer rate for fall 2007 increased zero to two students (5%) and expanded in spring 2008 to four students (8%). The program will forward the 2008-09 ready to transfer rates at a later date. The VTTP worked to increase the number of licensed Registered Veterinary Technician's (RVT). During the 2008-09 school year, there were two members of faculty holding a RVT license.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 09/15/07 to 09/14/08

Outputs
The College of the Sequoias (COS), Veterinary Technician Training Program (VTTP) objectives were met through the expansion of multidisciplinary based courses to engage students in real world problem solving. The induction of these courses will further promote giving students hand-on experience in research and problem solving. The second objective was met through the creation of the Veterinary Technician Advisory Group, industry driven regional collaborative and institutionalized outreach efforts to Hispanic students and their families. Through the assistance of the HSI grant, the following courses are currently offered as part of the Fall 2008 curriculum of the VTTP: VT-117 Veterinary Terminology; VT-118 Comparative Anatomy/Physiology; and VT-119 Clinical Procedures-1. The following new courses and curriculum have been established and will be offered in Spring 2009, Fall 2009, and Spring 2010: VT-120 Parasitology; VT-121 Clinical Pathology & Diseases; VT-122 Clinical Diagnostic Procedures; VT-123 Exotic Animal Care; VT-125 Clinical Procedures-2; and VT-127 Anesthesiology & Pharmacology. A brochure was constructed to advertise the program featuring benefits of becoming a veterinarian, veterinary courses, and course descriptions. A Program Coordinator was hired and has conducted two career pathway planning meetings on October 18, 2008 and November 18, 2008. Through the career pathway planning meetings, the following high schools have established introductory classes to veterinary technician and have set in place career pathways that include the COS VTTP: Tulare, Western, Mission Oak, Lindsay, Lemoore, and Exeter High Schools. Institutionalized outreach and recruitment to Hispanic students and their families has taken place at local high schools and middle schools where brochures and pamphlets were disseminated during evening events. Career Technical Education; COSs First Year Experience program (previously LISTO); CalWORKs; Essential Learning Initiative (ELI); Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS); and Upward Bound Math and Science programs have all provided information and brochures for the VTTP to dispense at recruiting events. The VTTP has begun national accreditation by submitting necessary information and an application fee of $2,500 to the American Veterinary Medical Association. The VTTP is in negotiations to contract with Banfield, The Pet Hospital-who work adjacent to PetSmart-to use their equipment and instruments. The Pet Hospital is currently not in operation due to the lack of veterinarians and nurses in the Visalia area and Central Valley. Two certified veterinarians and five nurses are needed for The Pet Hospital to function at full capacity. The lack of qualified staff is expected to decrease as a result of better-trained and certified personnel who have completed the VTTP. The Pet Hospital will be accessible to VTTP students and staff after hours; in return, grant monies allocated for equipment and instruments will be given to The Pet Hospital. PRODUCTS: The VTTP Advisory Group is a product of the project and is a mixture of eight local veterinarians, ten program consultants, and eight program mentors. A detailed list of VTTP Advisory Group names, titles, and affiliations is available upon request. The industry driven regional collaborative is a product of the project and includes the Tulare/Kings Veterinary Medical Association and local veterinarians from Hanford Veterinary Hospital, Cross Street Veterinary Clinic, Valley Veterinarians Incorporated, Lone Oak Veterinary Clinic, the Companion Animal Medical Center and a number of program consultants and mentors from other colleges and universities. With the input of the industry driven regional collaborative and the VTTP Advisory Group curriculum and a cohort pathway was created for the VTTP. The VTTP has created a program brochure featuring benefits of becoming a veterinarian, veterinary courses, and course descriptions. A website was developed to disseminate information concerning descriptions of the program and course offerings: http://www.cos.edu/ag/programs-VetTech.asp. In building outreach efforts to the Hispanic community, the Project Coordinator is collaborating with the following on campus programs: Career Technical Education; COSs First Year Experience program (previously LISTO); CalWORKs; Essential Learning Initiative (ELI); Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS); and Upward Bound Math and Science programs. These programs have provided materials and brochures for the program to disseminate to prospective and current VTTP students. The College of the Sequoias Tech Prep Consortium has completed one meeting with the Program Coordinator in the 2007-08 school year to discuss limited English activities for students and parents. Three new courses have been included in the Fall 2008 semester and are a product of the project: VT-117 Veterinary Terminology; VT-118 Comparative Anatomy and Physiology; and VT-119 Clinical Procedures-1. Course descriptions and course outlines have been developed for: VT-120 Parasitology; VT-121 Clinical Pathology & Diseases; VT-122 Clinical Diagnostic Procedures; VT-123 Exotic Animal Care; VT-125 Clinical Procedures-2; and VT-127 Anesthesiology & Pharmacology. These courses will be inserted into the VTTP in Spring 2009, Fall 2009, and Spring 2010. OUTCOMES: The program will be an expanded veterinary technician program to incorporate certification with a multidisciplinary and problem-based focus to engage students in research and problem solving. New courses and equipment will prepare students for certification and increase "ready to transfer" rates. A newly formed advisory group and industry-driven regional collaborative will advise the Program Coordinator in industry needs and future initiatives of the project. The advice and help from both the advisory group and industry-driven regional collaborative will enhance and attract a larger amount of students to enroll in the program. An institutionalized outreach to Hispanic students and families will occur. The outreach plan will include evening events and classroom presentations to middle and high schools as well as the creation of a career pathway for high school students. College information and brochures will be geared toward attracting students with disadvantaged backgrounds, low-income, or offer financial support and guidance counselors. Outreach efforts will increase the number of Hispanic student VTTP enrollment. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Outreach and recruitment to Hispanic students and their families have included activities such as the Tulare County Office of Education's, College Offers Opportunities for Life (COOL Night) which brings middle school students together. In September 2008, VTTP participated in the Tulare County College Night and the Kings County College Night for students and their families. Eight high school recruitment meetings have been completed throughout the school year. Specific attention was made to include resources for Spanish speaking parent and students. Pamphlets and information were dispersed to attendees at high school recruitment meetings and outreach activities regarding Career Technical Education, COSs First Year Experience program (previously LISTO), CalWORKs, Essential Learning Initiative (ELI), Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) and Upward Bound Math and Science programs. These programs are designed specifically for students with disadvantaged backgrounds, low-income, or offer financial support and guidance counselors. The COS VTTP participated in the COS Tech Prep EXPO in April 2008 and provided an animal health care competition for secondary and middle school students. Pamphlets and brochures were given out to interested students and families. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Through the Rural Development grant and Proposition 1D funding, COS will be completing a new site in Tulare, CA in addition to its current site. The new Tulare Center is projected to be completed in August of 2012 and will be a full service campus. Three buildings on the new Tulare campus will be dedicated to veterinary technician training. The VTTP will expand to the new state-of-the-art facility which will further prepare students to transfer and complete certification. The COS VTTP is constantly looking for ways to expand course offerings to its distance education campuses. By the fall of 2009 the COS Hanford Center will offer courses in veterinary technician training.

Impacts
The VTTP has offered three new courses to date and will offer six new courses in Spring 2008, Fall 2009, and Fall 2010. These new course offerings have attracted more students to the VTTP. Based on current enrollment trends, the VTTP will expand from 60 to 100 students. There were 37 unduplicated students enrolled in Fall 2007. Enrollment grew in Spring 2008 to 47 unduplicated students. With a program focus on recruiting Hispanic students through brochures and resources specific to Spanish speakers, there were a total of 10 (27%) Hispanic students enrolled in the Fall 2007 semester. This number grew to 12 (25.5%) Hispanic students in the Spring 2008 semester. By the end of the 2006-07 school year there were four Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) certificates awarded. By the end of the 2007-08 school year there were two RVT certificates awarded. Previously, the ready to transfer rate was zero students. The ready to transfer rate for Fall 2007 increased to two students (5%). The ready to transfer rate expanded in Spring 2008 to four students (8%). The VTTP worked to increase the number of licensed Registered Veterinary Technician's (RVT). Previously, zero members of faculty held a RVT license; there are currently two members of faculty holding a RVT license.

Publications

• No publications reported this period