Welcome to the Class of 2028! As an incoming student you may feel excited and overwhelmed; however, reviewing and completing the content on this website will help ease the transition and prepare you to start the program.
Below are two equally important sections: Orientation and Preparing for Classes. Be sure to thoroughly read each. If you have questions, email the contact identified next to the topic heading.
The D.V.M. orientation team is planning 2024 orientation activities. This website will be updated as more information becomes available.
Attending orientation in its entirety is a required condition of your offer to join the CSU D.V.M. Program. Exceptions will be considered for medical conditions and emergencies. Those seeking an exception must submit a formal appeal via email outlining the reason and providing supporting documentation such as a doctor’s note. Send appeals to [email protected].
Section I: Orientation
Incoming D.V.M. students are required to participate in orientation. Activities planned throughout the week will help students become acquainted with each other and with important policies. Please email Adrienne Marcus with any concerns regarding participation.
Students based at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will receive an email about orientation and other information unique to this program.
Schedule/Week Overview
Students are expected to be present for the week-long orientation occurring August 14-18.
2024 Orientation Schedule Overview
The schedule will continue to be updated throughout the summer with more details.
Contact: Adrienne Marcus
Virtual Friends and Family Information Session
Friends and family of admitted students are invited to join us Monday at 5 p.m. MT to hear faculty and staff discuss ways to support students during their journey through school. A link to this virtual session will be emailed to students in early August. Registration is not required.
RAM Outdoor Leadership Experience (ROLE) - CSU Mountain Campus
Students will spend the day at the CSU Mountain Campus either Wednesday (Aug. 14) or Thursday (Aug. 15) depending on group assignments, which will be communicated in early August. Buses are provided to transport students from Fort Collins to the CSU Mountain Campus, a two-hour ride into the mountains west of town. Please note that we are unable to accommodate requests for specific days. Plan to meet at the CSU Tennis Courts (2400 Research Blvd, Fort Collins, CO 80526) at 6 a.m for a 6:15 a.m. departure.
Friday - Oath and Passages (Coating) Ceremony
Orientation week concludes with a special ceremony to recognize students as they commence their formal veterinary education. There are no dress code requirements; however, business casual is most common. All students are encouraged to attend. Students are able to bring up to 5 guests, and a livestream will be available for viewing.
When: Friday, Aug. 16, 2-4 p.m.
Hilton Fort Collins
425 West Prospect Road
Fort Collins, Colo. 80526
Contact: Lauren Mader
Section II: Preparing for Classes
Email and Setting Up and NetID
To access required university systems including RAMweb (to pay tuition, accept financial aid, register for classes, etc.), and the university email account, students must establish an NetID.
Beginning in July, D.V.M. Program faculty and staff will send all communication-related materials to your university email account.
For help checking your university email account, please visit the Email Accounts page from the Division of IT.
If you elect to establish privacy settings on your email account, then you will not be included on the class listserv and therefore will not receive emails from our office. We do not recommend this for most people. However, if this is necessary for your unique situation, then you must physically come to the D.V.M. Student Services office with a picture ID for us to manually add you to the class listserv.
Register for Classes
Request Student Disability Center Accommodations
CSU’s Student Disability Center provides support for students with both permanent and temporary disabilities. This can encompass physical disabilities, chronic illness/health conditions, mental health conditions, learning disabilities, and temporary disabilities. The transition into a veterinary program can be difficult for many students. Do not hesitate to make an appointment with the Student Disability Center if you believe you could benefit from certain in-class or exam accommodations. It is better to have these accommodations ready to go before the semester starts than beginning the process mid-semester.
- Learn more about the accommodations process
- Contact the Student Disability Center to schedule an appointment with an accommodations specialist
Obtain Rabies Vaccinations
Incoming D.V.M. students are required to receive a rabies vaccination series within 45 days of beginning the D.V.M. Program (by October 2, 2024).
In accordance with current ACIP and CDC guidelines, our policy requires you to complete one of the following options:
- Two doses of rabies vaccine, days 0 and 7, completed within 45 days of entering the program with a one-dose booster between three weeks and three years following vaccination (no titer taken); documentation of a third dose/booster is required prior to the start of the third year of the program.
- Titers documentation with values at or above the minimum acceptable titer of 0.5 IU/mL
Students who have completed three doses of rabies vaccine previously may submit those vaccination records to verify compliance of this requirement; titers documentation is unnecessary in these cases. However, if students are unable to submit vaccination records, titers documentation is used to verify compliance.
You may complete the current 7-day vaccination series over the summer through your primary care provider. If for logistical or insurance reasons you prefer to wait until you are on campus, you may schedule directly with the CSU Health Network by calling (970) 491-7121.
Notes on insurance:
- Coverage for students with CSU health insurance (SHIP) begins August 1.
- Students with Medicaid should make an appointment with the Larimer County Department of Public Health and Environment.
- Those with Kaiser insurance will be required to pay out of pocket if they are seen at the CSU Health Network.
- All other insurances will be billed by CSU Health Network; however, it is the responsibility of the student to consult their insurance company regarding coverage and associated costs.
If you wish to seek an exemption or delay for any reason, please submit an exemption request as described in the Rabies Policy.
All vaccination records must be uploaded to your Student Health Portal (select rabies vaccinations from the drop-down menu) via RAMweb. Vaccinations completed at the CSU Health Network are uploaded automatically.
Contact: Maile Bergknut
Get a CSU RAMCard
It is recommended that students obtain a RAMCard by the first day of class in order to access first-year facilities. Consider getting your RAMCard before orientation week to avoid long lines. Make sure to bring proper identification!
Get VTH Badge
After carefully reviewing the guidelines below, submit a photo to the director’s office by September 4 at midnight.
Photo guidelines:
- JPEG format, color photo (no black and white)
- No larger than 1200×1600 pixels
- At least 300×300 pixels
- Photo should not be stretched, compressed, too bright, or too dark
- Solid white or off-white background (no door frames, wall texture, or other people’s shoulders/arms/hands if photo is cropped from a group photo)
- Full face and shoulders only wearing the blue lab smock provided at orientation or a navy blue shirt
- Looking straight ahead (no profile or 3/4 angle)
- No hats, caps, or sunglasses
- No animals or props
- A straight face or a smile – no funny faces
- Eyes open/visible, and looking forward
- Glasses are allowed as long as there is no glare that hides eyes
- Head scarves are allowed, but must not cover the face
- Religious garments are allowed as long as they do not cover the face
VetText
Visit the VetText website for information about ordering books and supplies.
Complete Required New Student Forms
Please complete all forms listed below by July 18:
- Cube Living
- D.V.M. Students Code of Honor & Pillars of Professionalism
- D.V.M. Student Health Responsibilities Form
- Essential Functions Policy
- New Student Survey
- Rabies Policy and Proof of Prior Vaccination Form (only required if requesting rabies vaccine exemption – upload rabies vaccination records through the student health portal)
- Fear Free Certification – Information and Instructions
Contact: Maile Bergknut
Review D.V.M. Policies
Tuition and Financial Aid
Contact: Glenn Lyons
Make sure to:
- Complete the New Student Survey
- Read and electronically acknowledge the Essential Functions Policy
- Read and electronically acknowledge the D.V.M. Student Health Responsibilities Form
- Read and electronically acknowledge the D.V.M. Student Code of Honor and Pillars of Professionalism
- Receive required rabies vaccinations
- Send in your badge photo
- Follow university guidelines for getting your RAMCard
- Know how to access your CSU email account and check it!
- Read and electronically acknowledge the Cube Living
- Complete Fear Free Certification Course and send a copy of the certificate to D.V.M. Student Services
Other Useful Information
- CSU Health Network after-hours and emergency care for students
- CSU Health Network new graduate student checklist
- CSU Parking and Transportation Services – information on parking passes, and on-campus transportation options
- CVMA Student Chapter
- SAVMA at CSU
- CVMBS IT Services can help with laptop recommendations, purchasing options, and all of your computer related questions
- D.V.M. Coaching Program
- D.V.M. student website – you will need a NetID and password to access and is not available to incoming students until classes begin
- Transfort – the CSU and Fort Collins city bus system