Structured Intervention of Early Term Pre-Clinical Veterinary Students Experiencing Academic Peril Improves Academic Performance.

This article evaluates the impact of an Academic Development Program (ADP) implemented at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) to support veterinary students facing curricular challenges. The ADP, introduced in the second semester, included mandatory seminars, individual counseling, and faculty mentorship aimed at improving academic performance and well-being. Compared to a demographically similar control group (CG) from a preceding class without structured remediation, ADP participants showed reduced attrition risk, progressive improvement in semester grades reaching parity with higher-performing peers by the fourth semester, and significantly better scores on the Veterinary Educational Assessment (VEA), a standardized basic science exam. The study suggests that structured, mandatory academic remediation programs like the ADP can enhance student persistence and academic outcomes in veterinary education, providing a potential model for other institutions.