We start the new year and new semester with significant achievements—and challenges.

In the past 6 months, two of the College’s highest-priority initiatives—a revised DVM curriculum and the Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine—became realities. Our visionary and hard-working faculty, supported by dedicated staff and students, deserve kudos for the months and years spent developing and implementing these programs and for their ongoing commitment to sustaining these programs.

As we look to the years ahead, we face significant budgetary challenges. The financial woes of the state of Illinois will require the College to cut 3.65 percent from our budget in the current fiscal year and considerably more, likely in the neighborhood of 10 percent, or $2 million, in the fiscal year beginning in July.

These cuts will bring many changes, but our priorities will not change. Our top priority remains the quality of education for veterinary students. With the partnership of our alumni and the Illinois veterinary community, our faculty, students, and staff will continue to pursue our mission of teaching, research, and public engagement.

If you would like more information on our budget situation or would like to know how your gifts can make a difference for veterinary students and the work of the College, please contact me at dean@vetmed.illinois.edu.