Auburn Brings Prestigious Veterinary Program To Gulf Shores
By Grace Tennyson, AL.com, October 24, 2016
GULF SHORES, Ala. (WEAR) — Auburn University announced today their new partnership with the City of Gulf Shores. Auburn will build an educational complex in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
The complex is a 24,000-square-foot building which will be located at the corner of the Beach Express and County Road 8, adjacent to land acquired by the City of Gulf Shores.
The centerpiece of the Auburn Education Complex will be a center for the College of Veterinary Medicine. This is an extension of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Auburn to provide specialty veterinary services and in South Alabama and the surrounding region.
Dean of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Calvin Johnson said “We see this as an opportunity to more efficiently serve regional veterinarians and advance animal health while providing an expanded educational experience for our students and residents,” he said.
Access to the Gulf Coast will enhance marine mammal medicine, aquatic animal pathology, zoological and wildlife medicine and emergency response experiences for Auburn students in the veterinary clinical education program.
Additional Auburn programs expected to use the facility include:
• College of Agriculture – ongoing teaching and research activities related to marine fisheries and aquaculture and ornamental horticulture
• Auburn Aviation Center – non-credit training courses such as Unmanned Aircraft Systems certificate; specialty courses such as mapping/surveying, precision agriculture and public safety; and K-12 outreach through the Striped Wings student ambassador program and camps for various grade levels
• Office of Research and Economic Development – coordinating research in additive manufacturing and training highly skilled technical personnel heavily focused for aerospace and providing collaboration opportunities with selected research institutions, community colleges, Airbus and its suppliers, GE Aviation and other manufacturers in the Gulf Coast region
• Alabama Cooperative Extension System – plant diagnostic laboratory to support the local commercial market and homeowners, master gardener’s resource office and various 4-H activities and extension meetings for area residents
“The Gulf Shores complex supports Auburn University’s mission of serving as an academic and economic resource to Alabama,” said Auburn University Provost Tim Boosinger. “We are excited to expand our reach to another part of the state and increase our capacity to better serve the citizens of South Alabama.”