RRC Polytech Partnership Agreement
New veterinary education agreement benefits aspiring animal healthcare providers in Manitoba, Canada.
St. Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine (SMUSVM) and RRC Polytech are excited to highlight this new pathway agreement, which supports aspiring veterinarians who have completed RRC Polytech’s Veterinary Technology Diploma Program (VTP) and wish to enter SMUSVM’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program. Associated benefits for qualified students include a $10,000 USD partnership scholarship, eligibility for existing merit-based scholarships, a guaranteed admissions interview and ongoing application support.
Established in 2005, SMUSVM proudly provides education and training for curious, collaborative and caring future veterinarians. Our DVM program allows students to graduate in just over three years, after seven semesters on safe and modern Grand Cayman (part of the Cayman Islands) in the Basic Science program and then three semesters of Clinical Medicine rotations at an affiliated veterinary school in the U.S., Canada or the U.K.. Thanks to our strong curriculum, dedicated faculty and individualized support, students achieve success on the NAVLE exam and go on to practice in the U.S., Canada and internationally.
“This dynamic new collaboration creates a clear route for graduates of RRC Polytech’s Veterinary Technology program to advance their education and embark on careers as veterinarians,” stated Dr. Tamara Chambers-Richards, Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Community Services at RRC Polytech. “With an increasing need for both veterinary technologists and veterinarians in Manitoba, this partnership with St. Matthew’s University presents a fantastic opportunity for our graduates to receive the training they need to address this demand. St. Matthew’s values the comprehensive nature and high standards of our Veterinary Technology curriculum and is dedicated to helping our students reach their professional aspirations.”
“At St. Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine, we are excited to partner with RRC Polytech’s Veterinary Technology Diploma program,” shared Samantha Shields, DVM, Dean of SMUSVM and Canadian expert in Clinical Nutrition, Conservation Medicine, and Ethics and Communication. “This collaboration offers an ideal path for Canadians to build on a strong academic foundation as they transition into our DVM program. With our small class sizes and supportive community, I have the privilege of getting to know each student personally and guiding them from day one of their veterinary journey. We look forward to welcoming Red River graduates into our SMU family on Grand Cayman.”
In order to enter the St. Matthew’s University DVM program via this partnership pathway, RRC Polytech graduates must meet all eligibility and admissions requirements. These include maintaining an overall GPA of 2.70 or higher, a GPA of 2.70 or higher in all prerequisite courses and successfully completing the VTP with no outstanding courses. As part of the application process, they must also submit all required support documents (transcripts, letters of recommendations, personal statement, etc.) and complete the admissions interview.