Student Experience: Jana Calvert

“The two main reasons that I chose Cedar Valley’s Vet Tech program were that it offered distance learning and it had the accreditation that I had to have to sit for my state and national licensing boards. I was working as a veterinary assistant and I knew a lot of the procedures, but until I got the education to support my experience, I couldn’t always grasp why we do things the way we do. It has really given me a greater understanding by having the knowledge and theory behind what we do.

“The best part about earning my degree through distance learning was that I could still keep my full-time job at home in Alabama and take care of my family and go to school at my convenience. I would take class one night a week and go over homework with Dr. Murphree. (Steven Murphree, D.V.M., the clinic owner, served as her preceptor, acting as an in-house mentor to assist, tutor and provide feedback.) I spent Tuesday nights doing classwork, usually until 10 p.m. On top of what I learned here at the clinic, I could always communicate with Cedar Valley by email or phone if I had a question or dilemma. The instructors there would always answer any questions; they were so willing to talk to us and tell us what was going on. They were just so accommodating.”

Licensed veterinary technician Jana Calvert worked on her distance education associate degree in Veterinary Technology from Cedar Valley. Clinic owner and supervisor Steven Murphree, D.V.M., served as her designated preceptor. Preceptors are responsible for verifying that students have completed exercises, assignments and exams. Jana has worked for Cullman Veterinary Hospital in Cullman, Alabama, for 11 years. After eight years of diligently taking one distance education class per semester — and spending one evening weekly with her supervisor and preceptor — Jana graduated from Cedar Valley with an associate degree in Veterinary Technology in May 2007.

Cullman Veterinary Hospital is a full-service, small animal veterinary hospital between Birmingham and Huntsville. The hospital provides preventive care as well as general surgery, orthopedic and laser surgery, ultrasound and dental X-ray facilities.

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