National Public Radio wants to hear from students and parents for a series of stories about how to afford college, tips for finding scholarships and grant money, and the best approaches for paying off student loan debt. Click here for more information. In related efforts: The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) wants to hear from veterinarians who would be impacted by cuts to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Share your story here. The Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE) wants to hear from veterinary practices that have developed ways to help...

Author Talia Jane offers her take on student loans in “The Grind Won't Save Us, But Student Debt Forgiveness Might.” She reflects on the difficulty of repaying her student loans despite her strong work ethic. She says, “Everywhere you look, the message is clear: If you can’t pay off your debt, you’re just not grinding hard enough.” She also explores the millennial point of view on the value of a college education....

For the first time in three years, the interest rates on Federal student loans will decrease anywhere from seven to ten percent depending on the loan type. This will take effect for new Federal student loan borrowers after July 1, 2019. The interest rate for Federal Direct Loans disbursed on or after July 1 will decrease from 5.045% to 4.529% for undergraduate Direct Loans, from 6.595% to 6.079% for graduate/professional Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and from 7.595% to 7.079% for Parent and Grad PLUS loans. The interest rate caps for these loans are...

The Veterinary Debt Initiative (VDI) is committed to raising awareness and providing access to resources that enable pre-veterinary students, veterinary students and veterinarians to make highly informed financial decisions. Check out how VDI is leading efforts in the student debt crisis at these upcoming VDI-sponsored speaker events: AVMA Convention 8/2/19: The Market for Veterinary Education and How It Affects You! 8/3/19: Decisions, Decisions: Repayment Strategies for New Veterinarians 8/3/19: Contract Negotiations: Beyond Bargaining Games and Tactics AVMA Annual Economic Summit 10/22/19: Veterinary Debt Initiative Update at Summit Dinner Wellbeing Summit 11/19/19:...

Educational debt in the United States now exceeds $1.5 trillion. Many experts believe this level of debt represents a substantial threat to future economic wellbeing. This debt-load is the result of decades of rising tuition costs that have occurred across the spectrum of higher education and professional school, and it has certainly affected academic veterinary medicine. In fact, we may be experiencing the impact of this societal problem sooner and more acutely in veterinary medicine than in other disciplines because of the salary disparity that exists between veterinary medicine and other...

The countdown is ON for June 20, when we will launch the VMAE | Live! webinar series. VMAE | Live! is all about connecting our special network for input, insight and inspiration while exploring association management and professional issue topics.  Register now by visiting this link. VMAE | Live! will convene on the third Thursday of each month, starting at 12:05 PM Mountain time (and concluding by 12:55 PM).  Each session will feature VMAE colleagues who will share their expertise or external subject matter experts who will provide their thoughts.  There will be...

Pride Veterinary Medical Community (Pride VMC) is partnering with VMAE and an array of veterinary associations and industry partners to embrace diversity and inclusion in the veterinary community. A capacity contingent of 400 veterinary community members will march in the parade on June 30th for World Pride 2019 in New York City, where some 4-5 million are expected to participate or observe. Having the veterinary profession represented on the world stage is a unique and rare opportunity. Part of Pride VMC’s mission is to foster acceptance and inclusivity, and in that...

VMAE members frequently express the need for useful, cost-effective training materials for elected leaders.  ASAE annually prepares a valuable and relatively inexpensive publication to assist you in orienting board members about their responsibilities.  Inside the 2019 Associations Now Board Brief: A Quick Guide to Volunteer Leadership your directors will find easily digestible content on these topics and more: Elements of effective governing Board member fiduciary duties Financial oversight, reflecting updated accounting standards Board meeting preparation and participation Ethical conduct and conversation CEO evaluation The 40-page, soft-cover booklet is also available in...

Dr. Randy Wheeler, executive director of the Iowa VMA, has shared information developed by the Center for Food Security and Public Health, an agency that has been instrumental in emergency management planning for outbreaks of foreign animal diseases.  Working with many entities including USDA APHIS, the National Animal Disease Center, and several colleges of veterinary medicine, the Center has developed several foreign animal disease plans – including the newest, the Secure Beef Supply (SBS) Plan.  The Center is encouraging VMAs to publish this informational item designed for veterinarians, who “have...