Welcoming Letter - School of Veterinary Medicine - Louisiana State ...

Date: March, 2012From:Joseph Taboada, DVM, Dipl. ACVIMAssociate Dean for Student and Academic AffairsJared Granier, M.B.A.Director of Admissions & EnrollmentGaye GomilaAdministrative SpecialistStephanie JohnsonPersonal and Grief CounselorTo: Class of 2016LSU School of Veterinary MedicineFirst off, we would like to congratulate and welcome you to the new Class of 2016 in theLouisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. We know that you have manyquestions as you approach this next phase of your life with excitement and probably a littletrepidation. Our purpose in writing this letter is to introduce ourselves, answer some of yourquestions, and provide you with the information that will get you started on your journey into theprofession of veterinary medicine.From this point on, you are strongly advised to check your e-mail address very regularly (at leastevery 1-3 days). We cannot stress enough the importance of doing so. You can expect to startreceiving more and more information as August draws closer.You will receive an email which will contain your LSU ID once you have been admitted into theLSU SVM system, at which time you can begin taking the next steps given below. Pleasecarefully and closely review all of the information, as it describes steps you should take to ensurea smooth and problem-free matriculation into the LSU SVM.Ensuring Your Receive EmailsThere always is the possibility that emails sent to you from Mr. Granier (which will always be sentto your most frequently checked email address you indicate on thewww.vetmed.lsu.edu/admissions/contactinfo page) are automatically sent to your SPAM folder.In order to avoid this, you are advised to set up a filter in your email account so that all emailreceived from svmadmissions@lsu.edu OR jaredg16@lsu.edu is sent to a separate folder namedsomething like “Jared‟s Emails – CHECK NOW!” By setting up this filter, you know that theemails Mr. Granier sends are not being directly sent to your SPAM folder. If you have problemssetting up a filter like this, please email Mr. Granier and he will gladly help you set this up in yourmost frequently checked email address to ensure that you receive the very important emails thatPage 1 of 11

are sent out.Setting Up Your PAWS AccountYour PAWS account is your gateway to all administrative tasks in addition to much more.Through your PAWS account you can/must do things such as:Pay/View Fee Bill and Complete Registration ProcessAdd Additional Services (sports tickets, parking tags, meal plans, TigerCash)Access Online Library ResourcesDownload Free Software from LSU‟s TigerwareUpload/Download Files on a Secure LSU ServerJoin a Ticket Exchange for Sporting Events TicketsView LSU Calendars…and much more!Once you are officially admitted into the LSU SVM, you will have your PAWS accountautomatically generated after which time you will receive an email notification with moreinformation regarding your newly created PAWS account. Note - If you were already an LSUstudent and had a PAWS account at one point but it has since been deactivated, please contact theOffice of Computing Services at 225-578-3700 to have it re-activated.NOTE - Your LSU ID and PAWS ID are two different things. Your LSU ID is the 89-###-#### number that is replacing your Social Security Number. (See more details below.) YourPAWS ID is used as your PAWS account and LSU email address logon. You can log into yourPAWS account by either going to http://paws.lsu.edu OR by visiting the LSU web site(www.lsu.edu) and clicking the “Log in to PAWS” link on the top-left. You would then enteryour PAWS ID and password to log in.Please remember to check your PAWS account frequently. LSU often sends broadcast emailsto your LSU email address regarding your fee bills, registration completion, financial aid, andmuch more so it‟s vitally important to check your PAWS account often.NOTE – Do NOT lose/forget your PAWS ID and password!!! YouMUST be able to log into your PAWS account to pay your fee bill,complete registration, verify financial aid information, etc.Will you have a veterinary school e-mail address? Yes. In addition to your PAWS e-mailaccount, each veterinary student will be assigned a Vetmail e-mail address administered from theLSU SVM servers. You will receive this Vetmail e-mail address at your orientation in August.This e-mail address will serve as the primary means of communication between the faculty,administration, staff, and students in the LSU SVM. It is accessible from any computer withaccess to the internet. It can be set to forward to a PAWS, hotmail, AOL, or any othercommercial account if so desired. Please note that you are strongly advised to forward yourPage 2 of 11

Vetmail e-mail address to your PAWS account or vice versus.IMPORTANT - Because all official notices regarding fee bills, financial aid, etc are sent toyour PAWS account, you should check your PAWS account very frequently.What is Your LSU ID Number?All LSU SVM students are assigned an LSU ID which will be used in place of social securitynumbers. Once you are admitted into the system by the LSU SVM‟s Office of Student andAcademic Affairs, you will be assigned an LSU ID number. In order to view your LSU ID, youmust first have your PAWS account information. Once your PAWS account is activated, logon toyour account and go to the “Directory Information” link, then click “LSU ID.”If you were an LSU graduate/undergraduate student, your LSU ID will be the same.How do I Register for Courses?You will NOT need to register for courses via your PAWS account. All courses are scheduled foryou by the LSU SVM‟s Office of Student and Academic Affairs (specifically by Mr. Granier,Director of Admissions and Enrollment). More information regarding your fall courses, booksand supplies, etc. will be available in the next few weeks. You will be registered for all necessarycourses for the fall ‟12 semester, and your PAWS account will reflect this on your schedule ofcourses within the next several weeks/months. More information will be sent to you once you areregistered. The LSU SVM Admissions Office will begin registering your coursework in mid-April.How Do I View/Pay My Fee Bill?As stated above, your PAWS account is your gateway to all administrative tasks, includingviewing/paying your fee bill. Your fee bill will show your class schedule, what you owe foradditional services, housing and meal plan fees (if applicable), any financial aid/scholarshipcredits you may have, amount due, and due date for payment. You may pay your fees via PAWSusing an on-line check/bankdraft, or a credit card or in person at the Office of Bursar Operationsin Thomas Boyd Hall using cash, check or money order.Fee bills for the fall ‟12 semester will be available on PAWS on July 17 th .The DEADLINE to pay your fee bill and complete registration will be August 2 nd .NOTE – Exact fee bill availability and fee bill deadline dates will be emailed to you onceavailable.To pay your fee bill via your PAWS account, you will simply follow the directions on the feebill posted on your PAWS account. Before paying your fees make sure to add any additionalservices you may choose such as parking, student health insurance, and/or Tiger Cash. If you payvia your PAWS account, confirmation of the transaction will be e-mailed to you within two orthree minutes of the completion of the activity. These payments may not be posted immediately.Those received after 4:00pm will be applied to the account within two business days. YourPage 3 of 11

courses will be purged AND you will be assessed a $75 late registration service charge if you donot pay your fee bill and complete your registration process by the fee bill deadline.If you have a zero balance due to anticipated financial…If you have an anticipated financial aid amount (from loans, grants, etc) showing on yourfee bill and this amount exceeds the amount of tuition & fees owed to LSU, your fee billshould show that you have financial aid coming. Your fee bill will reflect a zero balancepending the receipt of your financial aid award. If your fee bill balance is zero, you willsee a button to “Complete Registration” (see graphic here -http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/admissions/_images/zero-balance.gif for an illustration). Youmust click this button by August 6 th to complete your registration.If you have an outstanding balance to pay…If you have an outstanding balance then you will see two payment buttons on your fee bill:“Pay by Credit Card” and “Pay by Bank Draft”. (See graphic here -www.vetmed.lsu.edu/admissions/_images/tuition.gif for an illustration.) You must pay thebalance owed (or set up a deferred pay plan) by the fee bill deadline. Once you have paidyour fee bill and you have a zero balance, your registration is automatically complete soyou will not see the “Complete Registration” button described in previous emails.If you are expecting financial aid to appear on your fee bill, but do not see it listed in the“Anticipated Financial Aid Credits,” contact LSU‟s Office of Student Aid immediately at 225-578-3103 for assistance.How do I add any additional services to my fee bill? Once the fall ‟12 semester registrationprocess is open, you can access your PAWS account and choose Registration Services from thepull down menu on the left of the screen. Select Additional Services, then select LSU-BRcampus, fall „12 semester, and view options. Many of our students choose an additional servicecalled Tiger Cash which is a debit card system using the Tiger Card to provide a fast, safe, andconvenient way to make purchases on campus (including the Vet school snack bar). Moreinformation may be found in the online fall ‟12 Schedule Booklet on the LSU Registrar‟s website(www.lsu.edu/registrar).NOTE - If you drive on campus, you must add parking to your additional services in orderto receive your parking permit.What About Financial Aid?Unfortunately, the School of Veterinary Medicine does not have any scholarships available forfirst year veterinary students. Arkansas residents may be eligible for the Arkansas VeterinaryMedical Foundation Jack R. Redman and Elizabeth Redman Scholarship. A number ofscholarships ranging up to $2,500 are available for students in the second through fourth years ofthe program. Students can apply for these scholarships at the end of the fall ‟12 semester. Youshould contact either Stephanie Johnson or Dr. Joseph Taboada in the LSU SVM Student AffairsPage 4 of 11

Office for more information on scholarship opportunities.Check with local service organizations, kennel clubs, and foundations for potential scholarships.Many of the veterinary students have found small scholarships this way. Many nationalorganizations such as the AKC and AAEP sponsor nationally competitive scholarships and manystates that do not have veterinary schools have scholarships for veterinary students from that state.Information on these scholarship opportunities are sent to the student body as they come in theOffice of Student Affairs.If you are planning on financing your education with student loans or other federalfinancial aid please contact the LSU Office of Student Aid and Scholarships at 225-578-3103, asall federal student aid is handled by the LSU SA&S Office.You are strongly encouraged to visit the website section on LSU Student Aid & Scholarshipswebsite for more information (www.lsu.edu/financialaid). The school code for all financial aid is:002010.Most veterinary students are eligible for the federal Stafford loans with the eligibility based on thestudent‟s income and not the parent‟s income even if the student is still declared as a dependenton the parent‟s income taxes. If you are interested in securing a federal loan you will need tocomplete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov as soon aspossible. A staff member from the LSU Office of Student Aid will be present at the orientation tohelp with any financial aid questions you may still have.If you need to defer the payment of your fee bill, students can apply for a deferment paymentplan. Eligible students are allowed to defer up to one-half (1/2) of their current semester charges.Payment of ½ of current semester charges must be received by the fee bill due date. Theremaining balance is due in early-October, 2012 (1/3 of total deferred), early-November, 2012(1/3 of total deferred), and early-December, 2012 (1/3 of total deferred). A $15 service chargewill be assessed on all deferments. Call the LSU Bursar‟s Office at 225-578-3357 if you areinterested in this option.If you need to defer the payment of your fee bill, you can request a deferment for your fee billif necessary through your PAWS account. (See “What about financial aid?” section below formore information on securing aid.)Information from the Student Health CenterStudents entering the LSU SVM must verify records of immunization compliance with the LSUStudent Health Center. You can download the Proof of Immunization Compliance form fromthe Student Health Center‟s website by visiting www.lsu.edu/shc, then clicking on the“Immunization Requirement” link.Students MUST use the Proof of Immunization Compliance Form. No otherforms from physicians will be accepted.Page 5 of 11

This form must be completed and returned to the Student Health Center (address on the form) inorder for your registration to be complete. If you have already attended LSU, you are not requiredto complete another compliance form. The form must be mailed no later than August 1 st , 2012;however, all students are strongly urged to complete and return the Proof of ImmunizationCompliance Form as quickly as possible. Failure to comply will result in your classes beingpurged from the system and you will not be allowed to continue in the LSU SVM. This may alsoresult in a $75 late registration fee if your classes are purged and have to be re-registered. Youcan get more information on the immunization requirements by visiting the Student HealthCenter‟s website at www.lsu.edu/shc, then click on “Immunization Requirement” at the bottom ofthe page.Do I need Rabies Vaccination? The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine requires that studentsbe vaccinated against rabies. Those students who have not been previously vaccinated can get thevaccinations during their first year. If you get the series before the August orientation, you musthave proof of rabies immunization with you at orientation. The dates for the rabies vaccinationsat the LSU SVM will be: August 15th, August 22nd, and September 5th. Vaccinations will begiven in the SVM auditorium from 1:00–2:30 pm on each of these days. More informationregarding the rabies vaccinations is available in the welcoming packet documentation.Do I need medical insurance? Does LSU offer health insurance? All students in veterinarymedicine are required to have sickness and accident insurance protection either throughenrollment in the Student Accident & Sickness Insurance Plan or through proof of participation inany other equal or better program. This proof will need to be presented at the time of orientation.Please go to the online Schedule Booklet for information concerning the insurance plans offered.(Go to www.lsu.edu/registrar then click on “Schedule Booklet” then “Fall 2012 Scheduling andRegistration Instructions”.) You can also visit the LSU Student Health Center‟s website atwww.lsu.edu/shc for more information.If you would like to sign up for one of the LSU plans, you should access your PAWS account andchoose “Registration Services” from the pull down menu on the left of the screen. Select“Additional Services”, then select “Fall ‟12 semester”, then “View Options”. You then select theadditional services code from the list that corresponds to your desired plan found in the ScheduleBooklet.MANDATORY Pre-Matriculation Orientation Program!!!The mandatory pre-matriculation orientation program for the Class of 2016 is scheduled forAugust 10, 13, 14, and 15. During the orientation program, there will be a separate orientationfor parents and spouses/significant others designed to introduce them to the School and to theveterinary program. More details about the orientation will be sent to you in the next few weeks.Classes are scheduled to begin on Thursday, August 16 th at 8:00am for Year One students. Aschedule of classes with lecture and laboratory room numbers will be distributed on Wednesday,Page 6 of 11

Class attendance is the responsibility of the student; however, it is strongly encouraged andexpected that all students will attend classes. The University has a policy statement on studentabsence. The curricula format in veterinary medicine and the volume of work covered during thescheduled class periods requires full attendance by all students. Experience has shown that studentscannot afford to miss class assignments. Be prepared to attend each class and take advantage of thetime available in all laboratories.What is the Grading System and Examinations?The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine uses an A-F (4-point) grading system. The grading systemand examination scheduling will be explained during the orientation program.Does the LSU SVM have a Veterinary Library?The School of Veterinary Medicine houses the veterinary medical library for LSU. The library islocated in room 1117, South Court corridor, just west of the lobby entrance. Library personnel willparticipate in the orientation program and explain services available to students.How Should I Dress?A list of specific protective clothing will be forwarded to you by a SCAVMA Bookstorerepresentative. One should dress in a professional manner. Neatness and pride in one's appearanceare important. The general public demands cleanliness, self-respect, and good judgment in dressthat exemplify the professionally trained individual. The public image of a doctor is that of a clean,neatly dressed professional who controls rather than spreads disease. A professional appearance isimportant to improving and maintaining the image of the veterinary profession.All LSU SVM students and other personnel entering the large animal teaching hospital must wearfootwear that has rubber from the soles to approximately the ankle. This will enable the footwear tobe submerged in disinfectant foot baths, which are located at each of the entrances to the largeanimal teaching hospital. Please note when purchasing footwear that it must be such that both thesoles and the top part of the foot can be rinsed and disinfected. If you do not have appropriatefootwear you will not be allowed to enter the large animal teaching hospital for clinics, rounds,teaching laboratories or for other reasons.What is the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association?The Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association is a professional organizationof students in veterinary medicine all over the United States. Although membership is notmandatory, it is strongly recommended and almost all students become members. The objectives ofSCAVMA and the advantages of membership will be explained during the orientation program.SCAVMA activities are important to the smooth function of the school because of the large amountof responsibility that the administration delegates to the student body. SCAVMA's executive boardis the official student governing body in the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. Informationpertaining to this organization will be provided to each student.Page 9 of 11

Does the School Have Mail Boxes?The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine provides individual boxes for each student. These boxesare located in the school lounge and are used for the distribution of school related materials. Theseare not U.S. mail boxes, although some students have personal mail addressed through theuniversity. Incoming mail is received daily from the campus post office and is deposited in boxesduring the working days. There is usually a delay of one to several days for U.S. mail to be receivedin this manner. Your important mail should be sent to your local address.What Can I Expect for Fees and Associated Costs?Personal expenses for room, board, clothing, recreation, and transportation vary greatly with theindividual. The exact tuition & fees cost is not yet available; however the following estimatedexpenses should be anticipated for the first year. You will be notified once the final tuition &fees costs are available.All fees below are listed annual.*ResidentNon-residentUniversity Fee (estimated) $19,602 $45,402Room & Board 15,159 15,159Microscope Fee ** 80 80Student Accident & Ins. Plan *** 900-1500 900-1500Motor Vehicle Registration Fee 125 125Textbooks & Supplies (estimated) 3,600 3,600Rabies Vaccination (estimated) **** 450 450*These amounts are subject to change without notice. The University fee and microscope fee areassessed on a semester basis with half of the total being paid in each semester.**The microscope fee is assessed each of the first two years to cover the use of the school'smicroscopes.***All students are required to have health insurance. The University offers a group plan forstudents who are not otherwise covered.****All students are required to be vaccinated for Rabies. Rabies vaccination will be available toall students at the beginning of the first year fall semester. Some state health departmentsheavily subsidize Rabies vaccination (unfortunately not Louisiana) so it may be less expensive toget vaccinated before beginning school in the fall. Check with your physician or local healthdepartment. If already vaccinated, proof of immunization for Rabies from your physician or statehealth department or proof of a positive titer is required.The above information is provided for your planning purposes. From this point on, please be sureto check your e-mail frequently, as additional information will be forwarded to you as it becomesavailable. If you have specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Granier, Director ofAdmissions, with the LSU SVM Office of Student and Academic Affairs either via e-mail(svmadmissions@lsu.edu) or telephone at 225-578-9537.On behalf of the Dean, the staff in the LSU SVM Office of Student and Academic Affairs andeveryone else in the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, we would once again like to congratulateyou and welcome you into the Class of 2016!Page 10 of 11

Sincerely,Joseph Taboada, DVM, Dipl. ACVIMAssociate Dean for Student and Academic AffairsPage 11 of 11