The Field

During the past two decades, the advent of board certification of specialties in veterinary medicine has changed the nature and character of the veterinary practice. There has been a proliferation of multiple-veterinarian private practices, often encompassing a variety of specialties. These large-group practices have provided a rich, challenging environment for well-trained and educated veterinary technicians. They have also created a demand for technicians who are not only knowledgeable about veterinary medicine, but who are also capable of managing the business aspects and personnel of a practice. With increasing economic pressure, even smaller, more routine veterinary practices recognize the benefits of having a competent veterinary technician who also has management capabilities. Such technicians free their employers from the day-to-day management of the practice, enabling the employers to function more fully as practicing veterinarians.

In addition, industrial veterinary medicine--the commercial pharmaceutical industry, private and academic biomedical research institutions, and purely academic facilities--also has great demand for well-trained veterinary technicians who can also function as animal-resource managers. Laboratory-animal resource managers face many challenges, including rapidly changing technology, regulations, and institutional policies. On-the-job training is not providing enough adequately trained managers to meet the needs of this aspect of veterinary medicine, so managers who can effectively address these challenges are in tremendous demand.

The Instructional Program

The SUNY Delhi Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Veterinary Technology Management program is offered entirely online.

The primary educational and career objective of this program is to graduate technicians who possess business management capabilities while offering the most flexibility to students taking the course work. This program provides the technician with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete successfully as a technician/manager in the exciting, evolving world of veterinary and laboratory-animal medicine.

Curriculum

SUNY Curriculum Code: 1742

REQUIREMENTS:

• Since individuals applying for this program come with varied academic and professional backgrounds, courses to be taken must be by individual advisement through the Veterinary Science Department at SUNY Delhi.
• A minimum of 120 credits, by advisement, are required to earn this degree.
• Transfer courses need prior approval by the SUNY Delhi Veterinary Science Department.  Upper-division courses are available online from SUNY Delhi, but if you are unable to take those courses due to your schedule, SUNY Delhi has an articulation agreement with EMPIRE College of New York, and you may take the non-veterinary core courses with their institution.  Please check with your SUNY Delhi Veterinary Science advisor to determine the appropriate equivalent courses.
• Before entering the B.B.A. program, it is important that an applicant has completed prerequisites to the higher-level courses (see note in Admissions Requirements below).
• To meet SUNY General Education requirements, course work taken must include six of the General Education requirements (total of 18 credits) as follows:
  • One course from each of general education groups 1, 2, 3 and 10 - 12 credits total
  • One course each from two of general education groups 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 - 6 credits

VETERINARY TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT REQUIRED CORE
(MUST BE TAKEN ONLINE FROM SUNY DELHI):

Lower Division Courses

Upper Division Courses

LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES UPPER-DIVISION CORE:

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CORE: 

Lower Division Courses

Upper Division Courses

Admissions Requirements

To be eligible for consideration, the following prerequisites must be met:

• Completion of an AVMA-accredited program of Veterinary Technology with a minimum grade point average of C (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better and be a licensed veterinary technician; or be licensed eligible (having passed or qualified to sit for the VTNE/LVT exam); or be a certified laboratory animal technologist (LATG) with a two-year degree; or be a certified surgical research technician (SRT) with a two-year degree.
• Completion of 3-credit-hour prerequisite courses for the higher-level Liberal Arts and Business Management courses including Economics, Psychology, Public Speaking, Accounting, Advertising, and Marketing. 
• A grade of C (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) or higher for Veterinary Technology courses is required for transfer; only grades of C or higher for all other courses will be accepted for transfer.
• Completion of an on-campus or phone interview to discuss the program.

Student Learning Outcomes

A graduate of the Veterinary Technology Management: Distance Learning Online B.B.A. degree program will be able to do the following:

1. Demonstrate skills in leadership, team building, problem solving, conflict resolution, organization, and time management.
2. Demonstrate communication skills, including verbal, written, listening, and public speaking. Create a simple mission statement that is effective in communicating the facility purpose and direction which provides a framework for facility and employee performance, customer information, marketing strategies, and planning direction.
3. Manage human resources, including skills in: hiring, scheduling, training, motivating, evaluating, disciplining, and discharging employees. Create job descriptions and employee manuals.
4. Manage and oversee facility finances, including: accounts receivable, accounts payable, general ledger, and payroll. Prepare financial reports for supervisors, external financial institutions, and legal entities. Organize, analyze, and compare facility financial data. Create future projections and budgets to assist in short- and long-range planning.
5. Measure, modify, and improve client and customer satisfaction. Respond to customer complaints. Educate clients and customers about facility services.
6. Develop, distribute, and evaluate a grief-management program.
7. Manage a cost-effective inventory-control program, including: consideration of rollover; sales representatives; cost-saving opportunities; ordering, storing, recording, pricing, and dispensing products and medications.
8. Maintain facility equipment and physical space. Establish and evaluate protocols for operation and maintenance of facility equipment. Develop cost-effective replacement and improvement plans. Create, coordinate, and evaluate a facilities maintenance plan.
9. Assist in creating and maintaining a safe working environment: manage MSDS forms; manage medical and hazardous material procurement, storage, use, and disposal; develop emergency, disaster, hazard, and safety communication plans for the institution.
10. Create, manage, and evaluate a cost-effective risk-management program.
11. Maintain an appropriate program for safe and cost-effective purchase, storage, handling, use, recording, and disposal of controlled substances; reporting to local, state, and federal agencies.
12. Assist in facility planning: develop strategies to evaluate and measure demographics; predict needs for new services and products; as well as predict changes in the amount or need for services and products currently provided.
13. Assist in developing a marketing plan to inform clients and potential clients of new and current products and services that your institution offers. Develop marketing strategies that take advantage of websites, e-mail, and other forms of advertisement.
14. Create and communicate SOPs (standard operational procedures) for all procedures of the facility's operation, including Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee compliance.