Arkansas State University announced an agreement to collaborate with Adtalem Global Education to explore the feasibility of creating the first in-state veterinary medical school Damphousse also announced to the university faculty the creation of a Veterinary College Task Force to work with him in the vetting process, and named Kennedy as the task force’s chair. The proposed veterinary medicine program would enroll classes of approximately 120 students each year. Accreditation for any A-State College of Veterinary Medicine would be sought by the university, and graduates would have Arkansas State academic credentials. Adtalem, the parent company of AVMA-accredited Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, would provide expertise related to veterinary program management and accreditation, as well as capital and operating expense funding. The ASU System is also supportive of the addition of the program at Arkansas State. System President Charles Welch said a veterinary school would positively impact the university and state beyond addressing workforce shortages within the veterinary profession. The Memorandum of Understanding signed on, January 31, between Arkansas State University and Adtalem Global Education is subject to approval by the ASU System Board of Trustees and ATGE Board. The nationwide critical shortage of veterinarians has significantly impacted the availability of animal care across the U.S. Furthermore, in a recent annual report, the Arkansas Farm Bureau emphasized a need specifically for large animal veterinarians and announced its support of a veterinary school in the state of Arkansas.