Future of Vet School viewed as precarious

During yesterday's budget announcements, speculation on the Veterinary School's future was never far from the forefront. President Sheldon Hackney repeatedly said that the Vet School's future is in jeopardy. If the proposed 45 percent in state cuts to the Vet School -- which amounts to about 20 percent of its total budget -- is not restored and the state's appropriation continues to decrease, administrators say they may close the school within five years. But others, such as Vet School Dean Edwin Andrews -- who has journeyed to Harrisburg to lobby on the school's behalf more times than he could recall -- said it is too early to predict the school's future, but they were optimistic about the school's likelihood of regaining funding at last year's level. The University maintains the Vet School is vital to the state's welfare. The school has graduated 1200 veterinarians that live in Pennsylvania and provides services, such as veterinary care for rare animal diseases, that no other facility in the state could provide, administrators say. However, Governor Robert Casey proposed last month reducing the Vet School's appropriation by $6.9 million, an amount which could close the school in five years if not restored and could not be made up by firing the entire faculty, Andrews said last month. But Andrews said earlier this week that legislators understand how important state funding is to the school's operations. "I think everyone pretty much agrees that our funding must be restored," Andrews said Monday. "The big question is how its going to be restored." And at least one state legislator -- the one representing the University area -- is worried about claims the Vet School would close. State Representative Harold James (D-Phila.) said he had just heard a presentation by the Vet School last week, and he is convinced the school's future is vital to the state. "I think that it's very serious . . . if they even talk about closing the school," James said yesterday afternoon. "We have to make sure that's taken care of in the next budget, so it won't come to that." While state legislators and Andrews say Casey's budget was a political move to get the public's attention, the University has responded by taking the cuts seriously, adding they must plan for the future assuming all state funding -- including Vet School funding -- will be cut. Despite his cautionings that the Vet School may close, Hackney said he feels the school has a strong backing in Harrisburg. "The Vet School has broad support," Hackney said yesterday. "I would hope that would convert into votes at budget time." Because administrators said they could not find a way to cut $4 million from the Vet School's budget, they proposed the school run a $4 million deficit next year. Administrators said the school already has identified a number of services which must be cut. Andrews was not available for comment yesterday afternoon.

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