Updated 5/12/2020

Information for Parents

Dear Parents: 

As we have all had to change the way in which we work, teach, and learn recently, we want to assure you that our commitment to supporting our students’ educational journey is unwavering.  

RUSVM has safely and responsibly transitioned our students, faculty, and staff to a virtual learning environment. While students and faculty look forward to being back together in the classroom, virtual classes have proven extraordinary in their own way. RUSVM is part of a global university system that has a history of successful online education, and we are fortunate to have skilled faculty who seamlessly pivoted to ensure continuity of academic plans. At the same time, our students have been remarkably resilient and are quickly adapting to this new way of learning. While the coming May semester looks different, RUSVM is reimagining student success in this new environment.  

  • We continue to have rich, live lectures with real-time discussions via WebEx and offline discussions through the learning management system. 

  • Our faculty are providing interactive Q&A sessions and virtual office hours using multiple technologies including video chat. 

  • Some students are collectively forming online study groups, and we’re actively reaching out to students and connecting them to groups as needed.  

We continue to support students outside of the classroom as well. 

  • Counseling services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

  • Our Student Success Center is accessible through multiple platforms for tutoring help, study tips and more. 

  • We ae continuously monitoring student success and adjusting as needed. 

As we quickly move into the Summer 2020 semester, we remain committed to providing as little disruption to our students’ education as possible, including those who will join our Rossie family and start their journey toward becoming a veterinarian. Orientations and classes will begin online, with an anticipated return to campus around mid-semester pending global conditions, and we will help our Veterinary Sciences students successfully transition to life in St. Kitts. We believe this decision will allow us to continue to provide a robust, high-quality education while also keeping our entire community safe. 

Passion for our mission and dedication to our students’ health, safety, and education are at the heart of what we do, and we believe that many successful innovations will be part of our future student experience as well. We are grateful to have your trust and appreciate your patience and flexibility as we navigate this unprecedented time together. 

 

Warmest regards,  

Sean Callanan  

Travel

 

Should my student purchase a plane ticket for the fall semester now?

We recommend students do not purchase airfare until the opening of campus has been announced and we have confirmed that live in-person classes will occur. We will provide ample time to plan for flights and prepare to transition to the island when the announcement is made.

Can my student move back to St. Kitts before the September semester?

We do not recommend that your student return to RUSVM in advance of knowing the plans for the September semester. We strongly encourage you and your student to consider the current travel risks and any international travel restrictions.

What is RUSVM’s response to COVID-19 to protect students?

The health, safety, and well-being of your student is our top priority.  

Our campus will remain open and in operation in accordance with the CDC guidelines. We have proactively stocked supplies and resources in order to ensure that we will be able to continue to follow CDC guidelines and provide the resources your student may need should they wish to remain on island. We will continue to provide services and support to our RUSVM community while your student is in their St. Kitts home. We have shifted classes to online in a virtual, interactive learning environment. We are successfully delivering all lectures in an online format, while also reducing the uncertainty and risk of travel. 

The RUSVM community is participating in social distancing measures. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that keeping a distance of six feet (two meters) is a critical component to reduce potential exposure and mitigate the risk of community spread. This means limiting group gatherings, avoiding confinement in small spaces, and avoiding physical contact during interactions, such as greetings. 

While the St. Kitts campus remains open, with basic services available, we strongly advise students to limit their time on campus whenever possible.  As the situation evolves, we will continue to evaluate our policies regarding campus operations, services, and access to spaces on an ongoing basis. 

May Semester

 

How will this impact my incoming Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) student starting at RUSVM in May 2020?

We are thrilled your student has joined our Rossie family to start their veterinary medicine journey!  We are dedicated to providing your student with a high-quality learning environment that prepares them to become a member and leader of the worldwide public and professional healthcare team. As COVID-19 continues to evolve, our main priority is the health and safety of our students, colleagues, and community.  With this in mind, we want to update you on changes to the May semester for our Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program.

The entire Summer 2020 semester for those students in Semesters 1 - 6 will be taught remotely.

To provide your student with the best educational outcomes, courses with a substantial hands-on, practical component have been moved to the Fall 2020 semester. In turn, courses with a mainly lecture-based format have been moved to the Summer 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 student’s ability to learn the course content. 

While this decision does delay your student’s move to campus, we are committed to helping your student successfully transition to life in St. Kitt’s once they arrive.  We will continue to keep your student informed on timelines and request your student does 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.

What will my RUSVM student’s DVM program look like this semester?

RUSVM has safely and responsibly transitioned our students, faculty, and staff to a virtual learning environment. Now that your student is settling into the routine of online learning, we know there are questions on the delivery of the May 2020 semester. We remain committed to providing as little disruption to coursework as possible and have created a plan that provides academic continuity until your student can return to campus.

DVM classes for semesters 1-6 will be taught 100% online for the May 2020 semester.

 

Courses with a substantial hands-on, practical component have been moved to the Fall 2020 semester. In turn, courses with a mainly lecture-based format, have been moved to the Summer semester for delivery. The shift is designed to help maximize online learning and the change in course sequence should not impact your student’s ability to learn the course content. 

We will continue to keep your student informed on timelines to return to campus as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, and request that your student does 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 instruction with plenty of time to accommodate planning.

Once a final decision has been made, your student will be notified. Final timelines and dates to return to campus will depend on many variables, including conditions that will allow for travel and our ability to maintain the health and safety of our RUSVM community.

How is my RUSVM student’s Vet Prep program affected for the May 2020 semester?

We are thrilled your student has joined our Rossie family to start their veterinary medicine journey. As you may already be aware, our Vet Prep curriculum has moved to a remote online learning modality for the Summer 2020 semester. While the mode of delivery may be different, we are confident your student will receive a first-class learning experience. 

Our goal remains to re-open campus as soon as global conditions allow, and we are committed to helping your student successfully transition to life in St. Kitt’s once they arrive.  While we are planning a full return to campus this fall, we ask that your student does not make any travel plans until the University provides guidance to do so. Final timelines and dates to return to campus will depend on many variables, including conditions that will allow for international travel and our ability to maintain the health and safety of our RUSVM community. We will provide detailed information on the re-opening of campus with plenty of time to accommodate planning.

What is the status of the May commencement ceremony?

The entire RUSVM family is looking forward to virtually celebrating your student’s accomplishments. We will be hosting a virtual May commencement experience on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 1:00 pm EST! The Virtual Commencement Ceremony will be broadcasted on Facebook Live YouTube. We also intend on celebrating with you as your student crosses the stage in-person in May of 2021.