COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Updates

After careful consideration and with guidance from the local government and CDC recommendations for keeping our community safe, we have made the decision to continue delivery of all lectures for all semesters online for the September 2020 semester. Additionally, we intend that labs will be delivered in-person and on-campus for semesters 3, 6, and 7: 

• 7th semester will return to campus around August 31 
• 6th semester will return to campus mid-September  
• 3rd semester will return to campus in October 

Classes for Vet Prep and semesters 1, 2, 4 and 5 will remain 100% remote for the Fall semester. As has been the case throughout this global pandemic, conditions can evolve rapidly, and we will adjust should conditions change. 

We have prioritized the return of semesters 3, 6, and 7 because of the need to expose those students to important in-person laboratories, with the understanding that the semesters remaining online have opportunities to successfully complete those laboratory experiences later within their program.

We are excited for you to join our Rossie family and cannot wait for your veterinarian medicine journey to begin! In this unprecedented COVID-19 environment, we continue to evaluate our academic planning for 2020 while monitoring the recommendations of public health authorities. We have taken a measured approach to our campus operations throughout the pandemic, focusing first and foremost on our community’s safety while ensuring the quality of our students’ education. With this is mind, we want to share some changes to the September start for our incoming DVM students.

For the September 2020 semester, Semester 1 DVM classes will begin online in a virtual, interactive learning environment with an anticipated shift to campus in January 2021. 

Since transitioning to remote online learning in March, RUSVM has strengthened our virtual-teaching platforms and expanded our online-learning opportunities. Your first semester will include a robust remote program with live and on-demand video lectures, interactive review sessions, and access to virtual faculty hours. To provide you with the best educational outcomes, courses with a substantial hands-on, practical component have been moved to the Spring 2021 semester. In turn, courses with a mainly lecture-based format have been moved to the Fall semester for delivery in the first semester of study. The shift is designed to help maximize online learning and the change in course sequence should not impact your ability to learn the course content.

While this does delay your move to campus, we are committed to helping you and your peers successfully transition to life in St. Kitt’s once you arrive. We will continue to keep you informed on timelines and request you do not make any travel plans until the University provides guidance to do so. We will provide detailed information on the re-opening of campus including a return to live, in-person instruction with plenty of time to accommodate planning.

We are excited for you to join our Rossie family and cannot wait for your veterinarian medicine journey to begin! In this unprecedented COVID-19 environment, we continue to evaluate our academic planning for 2020 while monitoring the recommendations of public health authorities. We have taken a measured approach to our campus operations throughout the pandemic, focusing first and foremost on our community’s safety while ensuring the quality of our students’ education. With this is mind, we want to share some changes to the September start for our incoming DVM students.

For the September 2020 semester, Semester 1 DVM classes will begin online in a virtual, interactive learning environment with an anticipated shift to campus in January 2021. 

Since transitioning to remote online learning in March, RUSVM has strengthened our virtual-teaching platforms and expanded our online-learning opportunities. Your first semester will include a robust remote program with live and on-demand video lectures, interactive review sessions, and access to virtual faculty hours. To provide you with the best educational outcomes, courses with a substantial hands-on, practical component have been moved to the Spring 2021 semester. In turn, courses with a mainly lecture-based format have been moved to the Fall semester for delivery in the first semester of study. The shift is designed to help maximize online learning and the change in course sequence should not impact your ability to learn the course content. 

While this does delay your move to campus, we are committed to helping you and your peers successfully transition to life in St. Kitt’s once you arrive. We will continue to keep you informed on timelines and request you do not make any travel plans until the University provides guidance to do so. We will provide detailed information on the re-opening of campus including a return to live, in-person instruction with plenty of time to accommodate planning.

We are excited for you to join our Rossie family and cannot wait for your veterinarian medicine journey to begin! In this unprecedented COVID-19 environment, we continue to evaluate our academic planning for 2020 while monitoring the recommendations of public health authorities. We have taken a measured approach to our campus operations throughout the pandemic, focusing first and foremost on our community’s safety while ensuring the quality of our students’ education. With this is mind, we want to share some changes to the September start for our Vet Prep program.

Vet Prep for the September 2020 semester will be 100% online in a virtual, interactive learning environment.

Since transitioning to remote online learning in March, RUSVM has strengthened our virtual-teaching platforms and expanded our online-learning opportunities. Vet Prep will include a robust remote program with live and on-demand video lectures, interactive review sessions, and access to virtual faculty hours.  While the government of St. Kitts is Nevis is slowly lifting restrictions and gradually opening the Federation to more economic and social activity, access and services to campus remain limited. With the additional mandated safety protocols and social distancing measures in place, we believe this decision will allow us to provide you with a high-quality education while also keeping our entire community safe.

While this does delay your move to campus, we are committed to helping you and your peers successfully transition to life in St. Kitt’s once you arrive. By taking Vet Prep now, you are still on track to start our Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program as scheduled in January! We will continue to keep you informed on timelines and request you do not make any travel plans until the University provides guidance to do so. We will provide detailed information on the re-opening of campus including a return to live, in-person instruction with plenty of time to accommodate planning.

You have the option to defer, however, there will be graduation implications.

Tuition and fees will remain as published for the September semester. RUSVM has invested significantly in the infrastructure of the organization (maintenance of buildings, student support services, animals) that must be maintained until we can bring you back to campus.  We have also invested heavily in bringing traditional in-person experiences to life in rich, virtual formats. The CARES Act did provide relief funds to some higher education institutions, but foreign institutions (outside the US) were not allocated any funds.

For specific questions about any reimbursements, you can reach out directly to the Student Financial Aid office.

The Student Success Center offers high-quality academic support programs and services to help you succeed as a student. Our services include individual study-strategy appointments, academic coaching, teaching assistance, and learning workshops. Should you need additional support contact [email protected].

We recognize the anxiety you may have for continuing your studies online. There can be a wide range of feelings and reactions. Review the RUSVM Counseling Center’s resources for managing anxiety and fear <link to SPP PDF on anxiety> or contact the RUSVM Counseling Center.

Campus is gradually reopening for essential operations. For RUSVM community members who remain on St. Kitts, we continue to work toward opening the campus for those who wish to take advantage of campus access. While all Fall 2020 lectures will be delivered online, we will provide access to study spaces and the ability to use the internet. You will receive more information soon on new procedures for accessing and maintaining social distancing on campus. 

There are several ways for you to connect with future classmates. One of the easiest ways to connect is to join one of Ross Vet’s private Facebook groups. If you haven’t received any invites yet, please reach out to our Student Experience Team at [email protected].

No. We ask that you do not make any travel or arrangements at this time.

Yes. If both your local government and St. Kitts lift international travel restrictions, then you can move when you feel it is safe to do so. At this time, we do not know when the St. Kitts airport will resume international service.

It depends on when you return. As directed by the government of St. Kitts, students are not allowed to bring their pets with them at this time.

We are encouraging spouses not to return to St. Kitts for the Fall 2020 semester. The government has provided strict regulations and protocols for RUSVM students to enter the country. It is expected that changes to protocols and regulations may change as the pandemic rapidly evolves. We will continue to update you as we learn of changes.

Yes. Students will be required to be screened and tested for COVID-19 before departing for St. Kitts.

Yes. At this time, there is a mandatory 14-day period of quarantine once you return to island. As the situation rapidly evolves, current protocols could shift.

The island of St. Kitts has been declared free of COVID-19 by the Ministry of Health on St. Kitts. https://www.looptt.com/content/cmo-fact-check-st-kitts-nevis-still-free-covid-19

If you test positive for COVID-19, you will be transferred to a government run quarantine facility for isolation.