Requirements to Apply | Lincoln Memorial University

Impact of COVID-19 on Admissions Requirements

The LMU-CVM Office of Student Services and Admissions has altered its admission requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For Spring 2020 semester or quarter grades, a Pass or Satisfactory will be accepted as an exception for course pre-requisites requiring a grade of C- or higher. Pass or satisfactory will not be accepted for any other semester or quarter at this time. The LMU-CVM will not require the GRE for the 2020-21 admission cycle, however, the CASPer assessment will be required for all applicants.

For the most up to date information, please visit our social media accounts.

All candidates considered for admission to Lincoln Memorial University-College of Veterinary Medicine must meet the following requirements:

Minimum Academic Requirements

At least 43 semester or 65 quarter units from a regionally accredited college or university.
*If a student intends to practice in the state of New York, they require at least 60 semester units.
Minimum overall 2.8 GPA, or higher in all coursework as calculated by VMCAS.
*Students not meeting this criteria, with a GPA of < 2.8, who have demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence in the last 2 years of study (most recent 40 semester hours) may be considered on a case by case basis.

Pre-Requisite Coursework

In order to fulfill the prerequisite the coursework must meet the following criteria:

Courses must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university
Courses must be completed with a grade of a “C-” or higher. Final grades for all prerequisite courses must be verified by LMU-CVM.
Courses for all science prerequisites must have been completed within the last 10 years of application. Science prerequisites include: Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Advanced Science Electives, Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry and Physics

In Progress or Planned Courses: Prerequisite courses can be “in progress” or “planned” at the time you submit your application, however official transcripts reflecting successful completion of those prerequisites must be submitted to LMU by the published deadlines.

Advanced Placement (AP) credits: AP credits will be accepted for pre-requisite courses if they appear on an official college transcript with the subject and number of credits received and are equivalent to the appropriate college-level coursework. A generic listing of “AP credit” or “transfer credit” without the specific subject and number of credits will not be accepted.

LMU-CVM Prerequisite	Semester Units	Quarter Units
Biology	8	12	General biology series; Lecture & lab
Genetics	3	4	Lecture; Animal Breeding/Reproduction courses must be approved on a case-by-case basis
Biochemistry	3	4	Lecture
Advanced Science Electives	8	12	Lecture Courses must be 300 level or higher Examples may include Anatomy, Cell Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Physiology, or Virology, depending on your school's course numbering.
Organic Chemistry	6	9	Lecture & lab
General Chemistry	6	12	Lecture & lab
Physics	3	4	Lecture (Algebra or calculus based acceptable)
English	3	4
Social Sciences	3	4	Potential courses include but are not limited to: Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Philosophy, Political Science or Sociology. Also included: Ethics, Critical Thinking, Cultural Diversity, Social Responsibility, One Health, & Human-Animal Bond
Minimum	43	65

Technical Standards & Essential Functions

The technical standards and essential functions established by the faculty require that all candidates possess the physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities necessary to complete all required aspects of the curriculum and are, therefore, requirements for admission, promotion, and graduation. Although these technical standards and essential functions serve to delineate the necessary minimum physical and mental abilities of all candidates, they are not intended to deter any candidate for whom reasonable accommodation will allow completion of the D.V.M. curriculum. LMU-CVM does not discriminate on the basis of disability and will make reasonable academic accommodations to facilitate enrollment and participation of qualified individuals with disabilities so long as those accommodations do not 1) fundamentally alter the educational program, 2) pose a direct threat to the student, patients, or others, or 3) otherwise create an undue hardship on the LMU-CVM.

All candidates for admission will be considered without regard to their disability status. All candidates receiving a letter of acceptance to LMU-CVM will receive a copy of the Technical Standards & Essential Functions policy. Admission to LMU-CVM is conditioned upon a candidate’s ability to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation and meet the technical standards. Candidates are required to acknowledge their understanding of the Technical Standards & Essential Functions policy and certify their ability to perform the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation to meet the LMU-CVM technical standards. The Acknowledgement and Certification Form must be returned with the Acceptance of Admissions form and deposit.

Candidates must be able to meet the following technical standards and perform all of the following essential functions with or without accommodation:

Observational Skills Standard

Candidates must be able to observe and participate actively in lectures, laboratories, and demonstrations, in the pre-clinical and clinical curriculum. In the clinical skills courses and during the clinical year, candidates must be able to assess, monitor, and treat patients based on observation both close at hand and at a distance.

Essential functions required to meet this technical standard include, but are not limited to:

·       Observe gross anatomic and pathological specimens.

·       Perform diagnostic microscopy.

·       Observe changes in physical appearance in patients as part of clinical examination.

·       Recognize alteration in patients’ condition based on body language.

·       Obtain vital physical information from a patient through auscultation, palpation, olfactory differentiation, manipulation.

·       Use of vision, somatic sensation, and hearing, including distinguishing the origin of sound from multiple patients in an area or observing signs of distress or aggression.
Communication Skills Standard

Candidates must be able to speak understandably and to hear sufficiently in order to obtain and disseminate information from and to clients, colleagues, and veterinary medical professionals.

Essential functions required to meet this technical standard include, but are not limited to:

· Ability to communicate effectively, efficiently, and sensitively either naturally or through an assistive device utilizing verbal, non-verbal, and written communication.

· Ability to communicate during surgical procedures in loud environments while participants are wearing surgical masks. The primary language of instruction will be English.
Motor Skills Standard

Candidates must possess sufficient physical strength and coordination to perform daily veterinary functions. In addition, candidates must be able to demonstrate large/gross motor skills needed to perform various daily functions.

Essential functions required to meet this technical standard include, but are not limited to:

·       Fine motor tasks, such as diagnostic microscopy, surgical and anatomical instrument handling, palpation of pulses, tendons, bones, and lesions, and patient restraint

·       Gross motor tasks, such as movement from danger when handling a patient in variable settings to include confined areas or outdoor pastures; standing for a minimum for two (2) hours, and safe restraint of patients ranging from less than 1-kg to more than 800-kg.

·       Physical ability to routinely lift objects and/or animals weighing up to 10-kg to a height of 1 meter.

·       Physical ability to occasionally lift objects and/or animals weighing 20-kg to a height of 1 meter.

·       Physical ability to carry objects and/or animals weighing 20-kg for a distance of at least 2 meters.
Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities Standard

Problem solving is a critical skill required of veterinary medical professionals. Candidates must be able to comprehend three dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures. Essential functions required to meet this technical standard include, but are not limited to:

·       Independently and accurately calculate algebraic equations in a timely manner,

·       Reason, analyze, and synthesize information and significant findings from a history, physical examination, or lab data obtained from patients, clients and colleagues in order to provide a reasoned diagnosis.

·       Recall and retain information in settings where reference materials are unavailable
Behavioral and Social Attributes Standard

Candidates must possess emotional health and maturity needed for full utilization of intellectual abilities and good judgment as it relates to patient diagnosis and care.

Essential functions required to meet this technical standard include, but are not limited to:

·       Develop relationships which are mature, sensitive, and effective through interactions with clients, colleagues, and veterinary medical professionals.

·       Tolerate strenuous workloads under physically and/or mentally stressful conditions and adapt to changing environments and situations.

·       Function in the above manner for continuous periods of time longer than eight (8) hours.

·       Manage a high case load with multitasking.

·       Make timely decisions during emergency situations.

·       Maintain collegial behavior in all official academic, extracurricular, and social functions of the LMU-CVM.

·       Contribute to a positive work and study atmosphere by reinforcing and promoting a non-threatening cultural environment.

Candidates who may need accommodations to perform essential functions and meet the technical standards are responsible for contacting the Lincoln Memorial University Office of Accessible Education Services (423.869.6587) to request accommodations. The Office of Accessible Education Services and LMU-CVM will engage in an interactive process with the candidate to identify reasonable accommodations that may allow the candidate to complete all required aspects of the curriculum in accordance with LMU’s Accessible Education Services Accommodations Policy and Procedure.

Candidates who are unable to perform an essential function with or without accommodation or are unable to meet a technical standard as determined by LMU-CVM will have their admission rescinded or will be administratively withdrawn from the D.V.M. program. Candidates will be notified in writing of the rescission of admission or administrative withdrawal.