South Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota have formed a new collaborative professional program leading to a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree. Dr. Gary Gackstetter directs the program at SDSU and says this partnership will help address the shortage of rural veterinarians.

He says under this new program students will start their pre-vet work at SDSU and then complete a degree at the University of Minnesota.

Gackstetter says by teaming up the schools can address the needs of the region.

He says they hope to start their first class at SDSU in August of 2021.

The new program has been approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education.