Assistant or Associate Professor of Professional Practice in Veterinary Technology Education - Utah State University

Overview:

The Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences (ADVS) at Utah State University (USU) is seeking applicants for two faculty positions with the department’s Veterinary Technology program. 

 

One position will be located in Logan, Utah; this faculty member will have a 12-month, fiscal year appointment with a major appointment in teaching (95% of role) and a minor service role (5%).  The successful candidate for this position will possess specialized interest and experience in small animal veterinary medicine, specifically focusing on the care and treatment of dogs and cats. This expertise will complement the existing faculty within the ADVS department at the Logan campus. 

 

The second available position will be located at our statewide campus in Blanding, Utah.  This faculty member will have a fiscal year appointment with 0.75 FTE, also with the major role of teaching (95%) and minor role of service (5%).  The successful candidate for the Blanding position will have expertise in large animal veterinary medicine (e.g., beef cattle and equine) and an interest in veterinary services in rural communities.  These positions may be filled as Assistant or Associate Professor of Professional Practice depending on qualifications and are not eligible for tenure. 

 

Both faculty members will contribute to the Veterinary Technology Associate of Science degree program in the ADVS department, which is designed to prepare students for the Veterinary Technician National Exam.   The Logan-based faculty member will serve as the program director.   Launching in Fall 2025, USU’s veterinary technology program is innovative in design, including hybrid instruction, with didactic courses offered asynchronously online and hands-on technical instruction offered in person at multiple locations in Utah, including USU's Logan and Blanding campuses. The degree is also designed to be stackable, allowing students to complete a veterinary assistant certificate at one of Utah’s regional community colleges and then articulate those credits to the veterinary technology associate degree at USU. Students can also continue beyond the A.S. degree to complete a B.S. in veterinary science.

 

This is an exciting time at USU, marked by significant growth and investment in veterinary sciences and veterinary medicine. Growing interest in these fields in Utah is demonstrated by a 5% average annual increase in pre-veterinary undergraduate enrollment.  In addition, a new College of Veterinary Medicine has been established, with a full four-year program set to begin in Fall 2025 and a state-of-the-art building scheduled for completion in Fall 2026. Notably, USU offers the only Veterinary Technology A.S. degree in the state of Utah, underscoring the institution’s commitment to leading veterinary education in the region. This dynamic and expanding field offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of veterinary medicine and education in Utah.

Responsibilities:

Teaching

Excellence in teaching and mentorship is highly valued at USU. The teaching assignments will be determined based on the department's needs and the successful applicant's expertise.

 

The Logan-based faculty member is anticipated to direct the following courses:

• ADVS 2010 Companion Animal Science and Management (2 cr)
• ADVS 2020 Companion Animal Nursing (2 cr)
• ADVS 2030 Exotic and Laboratory Animal Care (1 cr)
• ADVS 2050 Veterinary Nurse Specialties (2 cr)
• ADVS 3000 Animal Health and Hygiene (3 cr, a core course for the four undergraduate BS degrees in the department)

The Blanding-based faculty member is anticipated to direct the following courses:

• ADVS 2000 Introduction to Veterinary Technology (1 cr)
• ADVS 2040 Veterinary Critical Care Nursing (2 cr)
• ADVS 2060 Veterinary Clinical Lab Techniques (1 cr)
• ADVS 2080 Pharmacology and Toxicology for Veterinary Technicans (1 cr)
• ADVs 2070 Food Animal and Equine Care and Nursing (3 cr)

Most of these courses also include an accompanying laboratory course (1 to 2 cr), which will be chiefly instructed by a veterinary technician (two to be hired, one for each location).  During summer months, these faculty members will collaborate to offer compact (e.g., one week), in-person laboratory courses at the Logan campus as well other locations in Utah.

 

Service

Candidates will also be expected to be involved in service activities for the department, college, and university, as well as external opportunities at the national and international level within their field.

 

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Earned Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (or Veterinary Medical Doctor) degree from an AVMA-accredited program and eligible for veterinary licensure in Utah.
• Two years of clinical experience in small animal veterinary medicine (Logan-based faculty) or two years of clinical/field experience in large animal veterinary medicine (Blanding-based faculty).
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work independently and as a team member in a collaborative setting.
• Willingness and ability to travel within Utah to provide occasional in-person instruction. Applicant must obtain a valid Utah Driver's License.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated teaching experience, including online instruction.
• Demonstrated experience in training veterinary technicians, either through a formal educational program or via individualized instruction and mentorship.
• Experience in instruction and curriculum development for institutions of higher education (community/technical college, two-year institutions, or four-year institutions).
• Strong leadership and management skills, with experience overseeing personnel and resources.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and ensure fiscal responsibility.

Qualifications for Associate Rank:

• Seven or more years of clinical experience in small animal veterinary medicine (Logan-based position) or in large animal veterinary medicine (Blanding-based position).
• Four or more years of demonstrated teaching experience in veterinary technology, veterinary science, or veterinary medicine.

Required Documents:

Along with the online application, please uploaded the following documents at the beginning of your application, in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10":

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover letter/statement of interest
3. 1- to 2-page statement addressing experience in teaching and articulating a teaching philosophy.
4. 1- to 2-page statement addressing experience in professional clinical small animal and/or large animal veterinary medicine.

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary:Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefitsADA:

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  

University Highlights:

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

 

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

 

*updated 04/2024

Notice of Non-discrimination:

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

 

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023