Veterinary Technology: Faculty Recruitment FAQs

Looking for a better work-life balance?

Help train the next generation of RVTs! Ventura College’s Veterinary Technology program is seeking new faculty to join our team.

WE ARE HIRING!

Instructional Assistant - Veterinary Technology Program (Temporary Position)

Instructional Lab Tech I - Veterinary Technology (Temporary Position)

Instructor in Agricultural Production or Agriculture, Initial Focus: Vet Tech (Part-Time Pool)

Frequently Asked Questions for Ventura College Veterinary Technology Program Faculty Recruitment

A: The Veterinary Technology Program at Ventura College offers a 1-year Certificate of Achievement in Veterinary Assistant and a 2.5 year Associate of Science Degree in Veterinary Technology. The Certificate and Associates Degree first year courses and pre-requisites are the same. The curriculum is designed to provide knowledge and hands-on experience in all aspects of veterinary technology working with a variety of domestic companion animals (dogs, cats, horses), farm animals (cows, goats, alpacas, sheep, poultry), and exotic companion species (rabbits, rodents, birds, reptiles).

A: At its November 3-6, 2022 meeting, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) granted initial accreditation to the Ventura College veterinary technology program. The accreditation is effective on August 25, 2022.

The CVTEA requires that program graduates demonstrate competency in over 300 essential skills and that programs produce practice-ready graduates. The accreditation of the Ventura College veterinary technology program is a recognition of the program's rigor. Furthermore, it will allow graduates to be able to sit for the Veterinary Technician National Exam.

A: The Veterinary Technology Program is housed at Ventura College’s East Campus located at 957 Faulkner Rd, Santa Paula, CA 93060. This includes both program lecture and lab courses. We utilize field trips and, as of Fall 2024, a teaching lab built by the Lokahi Foundation for lab courses working with live animals. The teaching lab is in the same building where VC East Campus is located.

A: Cohort size average is 24 students. New cohort starts each fall and students are expected to progress through the program together with their cohort as vet tech courses are only offered once per year in a specified sequence. Students that do not pass a vet tech course with a ‘C’ grade or better will be dropped from the program and will have to reapply to join a future cohort.

A: Ventura College has agreements with certain rescue, shelter, and farm facilities for access to live animals in our program courses. In addition, we utilize student and faculty owned animals in classes where relevant. The program is required to provide access to animal resources so students can be signed off on the AVMA required skills checklist.

A: We use a distance education, on-line learning management system called CANVAS. The college provides training for using CANVAS. Students utilize the program to access course materials, submit assignments, and take quizzes. The managing and recording grades is also housed in program as well.

A: Full-time Lead Instructor (must be a DVM), Part-time/Adjunct Instructors (must be a licensed RVT or DVM), Part-time Instructional Lab Technician (must be an RVT), and Part-time Lab Assistants (must be an experienced veterinary assistant). For most positions requiring an RVT license, please review minimum qualifications as certain positions required the RVT to have graduated from an AVMA accredited veterinary technology program.

A: A full-time teaching load is 1.0. Each course carries a different teaching load. A typical three-unit lecture class carries a 0.2 load, while a three-unit lecture/lab course that meets 5 hours per week (2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab) carries a 0.303 load. The full-time DVM instructor will take on the role of the Lead Instructor and will have some time released for administrative duties.

A: The full-time DVM Lead Instructor administrative duties include tracking student progress, leading and participating as a member of the school’s animal use and care committee, assisting with hiring and recruiting, providing oversight of internship sites and outside facilities used for live animal labs, assisting in instructor evaluations, and leading accreditation efforts / liaising with the AVMA.

A: The full-time instructor needs to meet the minimum qualifications for the agricultural production or agriculture discipline (see below). In addition, for the current opening, applicants also need to be a California licensed DVM graduate of an AVMA accredited veterinary school and must be able to obtain a DEA license.

For hire into the AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION discipline, the minimum qualifications are as follows: Any bachelor's degree and two years of professional experience, OR any associate degree and six years of professional experience; OR the equivalent* OR possession of an appropriate California Community College Credential.

Professional experience is required when the applicant possesses a master's degree.

The professional experience must be directly related to the faculty member's teaching assignment.

For hire into the AGRICULTURE discipline, the minimum qualifications are as follows: Master's in agriculture, agriculture science, education with a specialization in agriculture or other agricultural area (including: agricultural business, agricultural engineering, agricultural mechanics, agronomy, animal science, enology, environmental (ornamental) horticulture, equine science, forestry, natural resources, plant science, pomology, soil science, viticulture or other agriculture science; OR, the equivalent*; OR, possession of an appropriate California Community College Credential.

A: Health insurance, retirement, and paid holidays. More information about benefits can be found on the VCCCD website:

https://www.vcccd.edu/departments/human-resources/benefits/ascc-benefits

A: Minimum qualifications are based on the discipline. For the veterinary program, part-time instructors must meet the MQs for the agriculture or agricultural production disciplines. However, it may require having a valid RVT or DVM license and/or educational requirements mandated by the AVMA for accreditation purposes.

A: Part-time instructors are limited to a 0.67 load. A typical three-unit lecture class carries a 0.2 load, while a three-unit lecture/lab course that meets 5 hours per week (2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab) carries a 0.303 load.

A: Adjunct part-time instructors are eligible for benefits. More information about benefits can be found on the VCCCD website:

https://www.vcccd.edu/departments/human-resources/benefits/ascc-benefits

A: No, you do not need to have extensive experience working with all domestic species (large and small animals) however, it is a plus if you do. The program aims to employ faculty with a variety of backgrounds, experience, and skill set to provide students with the highest quality educational experience as possible.

A: You do not need to have formal ‘classroom’ teaching experience however, it is a bonus if you do. Teaching experience can also include giving professional association or continuing education lectures, or participating in industry-sponsored wet lab instruction, etc.

A: The program curriculum (program pathway, courses, course learning objectives, skills lists) has already been established and is undergoing minor refinement. As an instructor, you will be responsible for course content which includes preparing lecture materials, assignments, lab activities, and exams/assessments. All of the program’s courses have been taught previously and have a basic framework that can be shared to minimize having to recreate each course from scratch.

Veterinary Technology: Faculty Recruitment FAQs

Looking for a better work-life balance?

WE ARE HIRING!

Frequently Asked Questions for Ventura College Veterinary Technology Program Faculty Recruitment

Ventura College Veterinary Technician Department

Dr. Mckenzie Rasmussen

Karen Ashcraft, RVT

Felicia Duenas

Colleen Gladden

Looking for a better work-life balance?

WE ARE HIRING!

Frequently Asked Questions for Ventura College Veterinary Technology Program Faculty Recruitment

Q: What is the Ventura College Veterinary Technology Program and what degrees do you offer?

Q: Is the program AVMA accredited?

Q: Where are the program courses taught?

Q: How large are the cohort class size?

Q: What live animals do the students work with in this program and how does the program get access to them?

Q: Are all classes in-person or does the program offer online courses?

Q: How do you manage courses that are taught online either partially (hybrid) or in whole?

Q: What positions are you currently recruiting for?

Q: What is the teaching course load for a full-time instructor?

Q: What are the additional administrative duties for the full-time instructor who will be the lead program faculty?

Q: What are the minimum qualifications required for a full-time instructor?

Q: What benefits are full-time instructors eligible for?

Q: Do full-time instructors work all year round?

Q: What is an adjunct part-time instructor? How is this different from a part-time instructor?

Q: What are the minimum qualifications required for a part-time instructor?

Q: What is the maximum teaching load for a part-time instructor?

Q: Are part-time instructors eligible for benefits? If so, what do they include?

Q: Do I have to have experience or expertise working with all domestic animal species to be considered for the position or to be successful in the role?

Q: Do I have to have previous formal teaching experience to be considered for the position?

Q: Will I be responsible for the curriculum or creating course content?

Ventura College Veterinary Technician Department

Dr. Mckenzie Rasmussen

Karen Ashcraft, RVT

Felicia Duenas

Colleen Gladden

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