Murray State University’s proposed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program received final approval from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education during the council’s business meeting Friday morning, after receiving preliminary approval Monday from CPE’s Academic and Strategic Initiatives Committee. With CPE approval secured, the university will now move into the accreditation phase of the process.
MSU and CPE issued separate press releases following the meeting. Click the headlines below to read the releases.
MURRAY – Murray State University has received program approval by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education to offer a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), marking a significant step forward in its pursuit of a School of Veterinary Medicine.
Murray State has received approval and support from countless individuals and entities to pursue a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in order to advance the Commonwealth from numerous standpoints, particularly in areas of economic growth, workforce development, and industry needs.
“This is a significant step as we continue to make great strides in advancing this important initiative, which will greatly benefit our region and the Commonwealth,” MSU President Rob Patterson said in a university press release. “We are very grateful to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, led by Dr. Aaron Thompson, for supporting our efforts as we move forward with offering a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Murray State University.”
“I would also like to thank both past and present members of our Board of Regents, my predecessor, Dr. Bob Jackson and the leadership team, Murray State faculty, staff, and students, our west Kentucky delegation, and the General Assembly.”
Murray State will work toward obtaining American Veterinary Medical Association program accreditation and remains on track to enroll the first class of DVM students as soon as Fall 2028.
In 2025 Senate Bill 77 was passed unanimously by both chambers in a bipartisan manner and was signed into law by Governor Andy Beshear. Passage of this bill provided a path forward for the University to establish a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine.
According to a 2024 study by Deloitte, 80 out of Kentucky’s 120 counties are currently designated as having a veterinary shortage or identified as an underserved rural area for veterinarians. The state of Kentucky currently does not have a School of Veterinary Medicine, and in the United States, there are only 33 veterinary colleges accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that there are 86,300 veterinarians in the United States and this occupation is expected to grow by over 19% by 2031. The BLS also reports a total of 122,800 veterinarian technologists/technicians are working today and the field is expected to grow by 20% by 2031.
Celebrating its 100th year of agriculture, Murray State holds multiple existing assets on its campus, including the A. Carman Animal Health Technology Center, the Rudolph Equine Education Center, multiple farms, as well as the Breathitt Veterinary Center, which is a nationally preeminent animal disease diagnostic laboratory dedicated to protecting the invaluable assets of Kentucky’s equine, livestock and poultry industries. In addition, a new $60 million Veterinary Sciences Building generously funded by the state legislature will be constructed on the University’s west farm.
The university’s Hutson School of Agriculture has the largest estimated pre-veterinary medicine/veterinary technology enrollment of any university in Kentucky and is just one of three programs in Kentucky that is fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. This past fall, the Hutson School of Agriculture achieved a record enrollment of undergraduate and graduate students.
FRANKFORT – On Friday, the Council on Postsecondary Education’s (CPE) board approved a new doctoral program in veterinary medicine at Murray State University. Once accredited, Murray will be the first veterinary program offered at a Kentucky public university.
As a next step, Murray State University will seek provisional accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Council on Education. If successful, the first cohort of veterinary students could be admitted as early as fall 2028.
“This is a significant step as we continue to make great strides in advancing this important initiative, which will greatly benefit our region and the Commonwealth. We are very grateful to CPE and Dr. Aaron Thompson for supporting our efforts,” said Murray State President Dr. Ron Patterson. “I would also like to thank both past and present members of our Board of Regents; my predecessor, Dr. Bob Jackson; the leadership team; Murray State faculty, staff and students; our west Kentucky delegation and the General Assembly.”
The Kentucky General Assembly cleared the way for public regional (comprehensive) universities to offer doctoral degrees with the passage of Senate Bill 77 last year. To be eligible, universities must meet graduation and retention rate benchmarks and maintain sufficient cash reserves.
“This program will help address Kentucky’s veterinarian shortage and create more opportunities for our students who want to enter this field,” said CPE President Dr. Aaron Thompson. “In 2023, 160 Kentucky residents applied to DVM programs, but only 67 were admitted.”
Additionally, the Council approved the following action items:
- A Bachelor of Science degree in aquatic science, a Bachelor of Arts degree in public policy and a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in nutrition at Kentucky State University.
- A Bachelor of Arts degree in film and sonic art at the University of Kentucky.
- KSU tuition and fee rates for the 2026-27 academic year. (The remaining institutions will present their rates at the April meeting).
- A $2.2 million interim capital project at Murray State University to update the Susan E. Bauernfeind Wellness Center’s HVAC system.
- The re-election of Madison Silvert as CPE chair and Elaine Walker as vice chair for the 2026 calendar year.
- Revisions to the tuition and fee policy, area technology center employee waiver policy and the equine trust fund program guidelines.
The council also moved to accept the annual financial audit results for the year ended June 30, 2025, for which there were no findings.
In other business, the Council:
- Reviewed a new report on student debt levels for public postsecondary graduates. According to CPE data, 61% of students graduated from KCTCS or a public university debt-free in the 2024-25 academic year, up from 47% in the 2019-20 academic year.
- Heard reports from Presidents Ron Patterson and Ryan Quarles, detailing Murray State University’s and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System’s progress toward statewide strategic agenda goals.
Council meeting materials are available here. The next Council meeting will be held on April 2.
