Veterinary Education at a Crossroads: COE’s Distance Learning Limits Spark Debate

Mark Cushing, founder of the Animal Policy Group, co-authored a piece with Sam Geiling for Animal Health News and Views spotlighting growing tensions over the Council on Education’s (COE) new limits on distance learning in veterinary education. Presented at the AAVMC’s annual meeting, the COE’s rules cap preclinical distance learning at 15% and restrict individual courses to no more than 50% virtual content without special approval.

Cushing criticized these limits as outdated, noting that other professional programs across the U.S. have embraced flexible, tech-forward learning models. He argued that such restrictions ignore proven success during the COVID era, increase costs, and disregard Gen Z students’ learning preferences.

Calling for a shift away from rigid policies, Cushing urged the COE to trust veterinary schools to decide how best to educate future veterinarians and to support innovation that balances educational quality with affordability.