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CORVALLIS, Ore. - The Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine's status as a fully accredited program - the only one of its kind in the state -- remains unchanged, despite a recent press report that the college had been placed under limited accreditation.

The American Veterinary Medical Association's Council on Education voted on the status of the program at a recent meeting and continues to recognize the program as fully accredited.

"The continuation of full accreditation by our peers is recognition of the continued excellence of our programs, and it doesn't come easy," said George R. "Rich" Holdren, interim dean of the college.

A college may be granted full accreditation for up to seven years if it is in compliance with all accreditation standards, or is in compliance with all but one or two standards and the council feels that students are minimally affected.

Association accreditation standards require college deans to possess a background in veterinary medicine. The transition to an interim dean in February triggered the AVMA to take a second look at the college's accreditation. While Holdren lacks a background in veterinary medicine, OSU is moving quickly to find a permanent veterinary medicine dean.

Holdren, who holds a doctorate in geosciences from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, took over leadership of the college from Howard Gelberg, who recently transitioned to a faculty position as a professor of veterinary pathology.

The OSU College of Veterinary Medicine has substantially expanded its programs in the past several years. Last year the college celebrated the grand opening of the $14-million Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital Small Animal Clinic and associated teaching and research facilities.

The college is working on a large animal hospital expansion project. The facility will include an indoor arena, equine treadmill facility, upgraded intensive care unit, additional equine stalls, an expanded radiology unit and new isolation facilities.

The college has also expanded research in biomedical areas relating to both animal and human disease. Experts in such fields as bacteriology and virology are becoming involved in studies on such health issues as tuberculosis, brucellosis, chlamydia, herpes, HIV, and neurological diseases. And the college will develop a strong program to translate basic research findings into improved patient care, or new opportunities for applied research.

These positive trends are a departure, officials say, from the early 1990s when the college was caught up in a statewide budget crisis, placed on limited accreditation and targeted for closure at one point.