Placing the Final Beam at a New Veterinary College in Arkansas

Arkansas State University (A-State) celebrated a major milestone with the placement of the final beam for its new College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in Jonesboro, which will welcome its first class of 120 students in fall 2026. The 56,000-square-foot facility will include classrooms, anatomy labs, and clinical training spaces for small animal care and surgery, with adjacent barns for hands-on experience in large animal medicine. Chancellor Todd Shields emphasized the CVM’s role in addressing Arkansas’s shortage of veterinarians, especially in rural and agricultural communities, and keeping talent in-state.

Founding Dean Dr. Heidi Banse noted that the program will train students “day-one-ready” for professional practice. The CVM, Arkansas’s first public Veterinary school, joins Lyon College’s upcoming program, also opening in 2026. The project, supported by partnerships with state and agricultural agencies, marks a significant step toward accreditation and regional workforce development, strengthening animal health, food security, and agricultural sustainability statewide.