̽»¨¾«Ñ¡

The Advocacy Committee is a committee of the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Assembly. The Advocacy Committee supports the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡â€™s Strategic Plan Goal 1.3: To influence and advocate to promote the interest of academic veterinary medicine with key decision makers; and Strategic Plan Goal 1.2: To increase awareness and understanding of ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ and the critical issues and opportunities facing academic veterinary medicine within veterinary medical education and health professions education communities.

Charge

The Advocacy Committee assists the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Board of Directors in formulating and implementing ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ legislative policy and positions on federal regulatory proposals. The committee is charged to:

• Establish one voice for advocating for veterinary medical education on the national scene.
• Ensure that the needs and concerns of ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ member institutions are incorporated into the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ legislative and regulatory process in a systemic and inclusive process.
• Formulate ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ policies on legislative and regulatory matters and transmit recommendations to the Board of Directors for consideration and possible action.
• Assist in the implementation of the Board of Directors-approved governmental affairs agenda by encouraging all ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ member institution representatives to contact federal officials and staff while in Washington, DC, and/or the home district.

Composition

The Advocacy Committee is comprised of 12 members: 5 members representing U.S. member institutions; the At-large Director Representing Departments of Veterinary Science; the At-large Director Representing Departments of Comparative Medicine; one member representing either comparative medicine or veterinary science departments; one member representing Canadian member institutions; one member from a Region III or IV member institution; the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ liaison to the AVMA Legislative Advisory Committee; and the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ liaison to the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities.

Advocacy Committee members are nominated through the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ annual call for volunteers and are appointed by the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ president. Members serve a term of three years and may be reappointed once for a maximum of two terms (six years). The committee selects a chair to serve for a full Congress (two years).