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Peer to Peer – Hero
Peer to Peer – Hero

30 Sep

Posted at 23:17h in Veterinary Debt Initiative, Veterinary News
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Educational debt is on everyone’s mind these days—students, veterinarians, parents, deans, veterinary industry leaders, policymakers. If you mention it to a colleague, coworker or classmate, you may learn they, too, struggle under its burden. But veterinary medicine is not the only profession struggling with the magnitude of educational debt. Across general higher education, students are confronting the challenges of student debt. The good news: VDI is here to help. The Veterinary Debt Initiative (VDI) is led by three organizations: the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and...

30 Sep

Posted at 23:06h in Veterinary News
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In the veterinary profession, there may be a perception that private practices have the advantage when it comes to potential veterinary team employees. Financial incentives such as practice partnership or ownership may be alluring, but does this mean the non-profit sector is by default, disadvantaged? The Dumb Friends League of Denver has proven this is certainly not the case.  The Veterinary Debt Initiative (VDI) team sat down with Dumb Friends League President and CEO Dr. Apryl Steele and Director of Human Resources Rebecca Holmes to learn about their robust list...

30 Sep

Posted at 22:45h in Veterinary News
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AAVMC Chief Executive Officer was presented a 2019 Honorary Diplomate Certificate from the American Veterinary Epidemiology Society (AVES) during recent ceremonies held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Veterinary Medical Association in Washington. AVES annually confers the honor on distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions in veterinary medicine, human health, public health, epidemiology and One Health. Maccabe was recognized for contributions he has made to the profession throughout a career which includes leadership positions with the AAVMC, federal government agencies and in military veterinary medicine.  Learn...

23 Sep

Posted at 23:42h in Veterinary Debt Initiative
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Veterinary Debt Initiative (VDI) released its new educational resource at the 2019 AVMA Convention in Washington, D.C., August 2-6. What’s The Story Behind Tuition is the latest resource from VDI to help answer student questions about veterinary college tuition. Convention attendees were briefed on VDI’s progress during three continuing education sessions sponsored by VDI: Decisions, Decisions: Repayment Strategies for New Veterinarians Contract Negotiations: Beyond Bargaining Games and Tactics The Market for Veterinary Education and How It Affects You! VDI is led by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Association of American...

23 Sep

Posted at 23:41h in Veterinary Debt Initiative
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Here’s what Inside Higher Ed reporter Andrew Kreighbaum recently wrote about the current administration’s reduction of student loan servicer oversight: “After the Trump administration dialed back oversight of student loan servicers, states have responded to demands from consumer groups by passing new laws targeting companies that handle millions of borrowers' payments.“ Kreighbaum added, “Lawmakers in a growing number of states have sought to tackle student debt as a consumer protection problem. Over the first half of 2019, legislatures have enacted a flurry of bills taking aim at the companies that...

23 Sep

Posted at 23:40h in Veterinary Debt Initiative
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United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is moving to the Kansas City region. This means that the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP), administered by NIFA, will also be moving out of Washington, D.C. Like 75% of NIFA’s workforce, Dr. Michelle Colby who leads VMLRP and VSGP, will not be relocating. Veterinary Debt Initiative co-lead organizations the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) recently sent a letter to NIFA...

23 Sep

Posted at 23:38h in Veterinary Debt Initiative
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The July 15 issue of the Congressional Research Service In Focus explores income share agreements as an alternative to student loans for financing higher education expenses. The report provides “an overview of ISAs along with a comparison to student loans. Because no federal ISA program currently exists and the majority of student loan debt is associated with the federal student loan program, the overview and comparison primarily focuses on private ISAs and federal student loans but generalizes some parts of the discussion to highlight particular features of each financing approach.”...

23 Sep

Posted at 23:35h in Veterinary Debt Initiative
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New research sponsored by the Teachers Insurance Annuity Association (TIAA) and conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AgeLab showed that student loans impact many aspects of borrowers’ lives. TIAA reports: “The yearlong study, which explores the intersection of student loan debt, longevity planning and family dynamics, shows that life stage — and who the loans are being taken out for — plays a key role in the balancing act of paying off student debt and saving for retirement.” The research found dealing with student loans can be very...

23 Sep

Posted at 23:33h in Veterinary Debt Initiative
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New survey results from studentloanplanner.com found that marriages and life aspirations are impacted by student debt. BenefitsPro reporter Marlene Satter provided commentary on the survey in “Student loans put the kibosh on kids”.** “There are plenty of life plans that fall by the wayside for people carrying a big load of student loan debt, and having children is just one of them.” The survey found that “not only did 51 percent of student loan borrowers say those loans have affected their plans for having kids, a third of those with...

23 Sep

Posted at 23:31h in Veterinary Debt Initiative
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Veterinary Debt Initiative co-lead organizations the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) are integral parts of “The Coalition to Preserve PSLF*.” The coalition continues to push Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to address the PSLF’s administrative problems. Specifically, the coalition sent a letter to remind the secretary she has the authority to waive requirements that borrowers be employed at a public service job when they apply for and receive PSLF even if they have fulfilled the requirements.The AVMA and AAVMC work...