WCVM Student Handbook

The WCVM Student Experience

• Student Government
• WCVM Rabies Immunization Policy
• Client-related Matters
• Use of Animals for Teaching Purposes

Student Government

The student body is organized through the Western Canadian Veterinary Students' Association (WCVSA). The objectives of the WCVSA are to:

• instill in the veterinary student a strong sense of professional pride and dignity
• to stimulate interest in the professional organizations, making known to the student the opportunities afforded by the CVMA, the provincial veterinary associations and the AVMA.

The WCVSA promotes the interests and welfare of veterinary students with regard to educational, social and athletic life. The WCVSA oversees all the student-related matters and is governed by an Executive Council elected by the student body. The Executive is elected in the spring and meets periodically at the request of the President.

As well, general meetings are held once every quarter where the student body is encouraged to attend and actively participate. We encourage you to become an active member of your association.

The current WCVSA president is Sarah Wood (2010-11). Please download the 2010-11 WCVSA Executive list (PDF 35 KB) to see the rest of the WCVSA executive members.

WCVM Rabies Immunization Policy

Purpose

The WCVM Rabies Immunization Policy is designed to ensure that all faculty, students and staff of the WCVM working with animals and animal tissues have the opportunity to be protected from exposure to rabies.

Policy

All faculty, students and staff at the WCVM and Prairie Diagnostic Services who are at risk of being exposed to rabies will be offered immunization against rabies or must accept liability by signing an appropriate release.

Rabies immunization will be available to all WCVM personnel.

Responsibilities

• The WCVM's Rabies Program Co-ordinator is responsible for the administration of the program. The University Biosafety Advisory Committee is responsible to ensure that appropriate medical consultation is provided in the event of a rabies exposure.

• The Dean, Department Heads, the Director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, supervisors of WCVM research animal holding facilities and research project supervisors are responsible within the area under their jurisdiction for:

• Compliance with this policy.
• Advising all personnel of the hazards of rabies as it applies to their position.
• Ensuring that all personnel complete the Rabies Vaccination Form indicating whether or not they wish to be vaccinated against rabies.
• Notifying the WCVM Rabies Program Co-ordinator whenever a new appointee or a person with a change of duties under his/her supervision requires immunization under this policy.
• Strongly encouraging persons to be immunized against rabies at the time of hiring, or at the initiation of a project which may expose the individual to the disease.
• Ensures that if a suspect or actual rabies case occurs, that the WCVM Rabies Program Co-ordinator receives a list of individuals involved, as soon as possible. All information regarding rabies exposure shall also be provided to the University Biosafety Office, as soon as possible.

Rabies Immunization for WCVM Students Employed at the College or University

WCVM undergraduate students who are employed, on a part-time or casual basis, at the College or University while in pursuit of their DVM degree are considered first and foremost to be students and thus will fall under the ‘student section' of the Rabies program and are therefore responsible for any costs associated with the WCVM Rabies Program.

First-year students admitted to the program will be considered a student as of the first day of classes.

Client-related Matters

Client-related matters are considered confidential and from time to time are discussed in the course of the teaching program. This may involve students other than those in the fourth year. As a consequence, all students should be aware of the confidential nature of client-related information in the College. This matter is regarded as part of the Honour Code and requires constant self-discipline to achieve.

 

An important aspect of this College and the success of its graduates is the establishment and maintenance of confidence and a good relationship with people. In this way, among other benefits, our clinical and referral services will continue to provide teaching material essential to excellence in the professional academic program.

 

Use of Animals for Teaching Purposes

The use of animals is essential to the teaching programs of a college of veterinary medicine. Instruction of students in the art and science of diagnosis and treatment of disease would be impossible without the manipulation of some non-clinical animals. The experiences students gain in this way prepares them to better serve the interests of animal health. 

The use of animals carries with it significant obligations to ensure that animals are used only when a training experience not attainable by other methods will result. This is especially important within a college of veterinary medicine because the public expects the veterinary medical profession to lead in the protection of the health and welfare of animals.

All students, staff and faculty of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, therefore, have the responsibility to promote and protect animal welfare within the instructional program of the College.