DVM Student Services & Support

Academic Resources

• Academic Calendar

  Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine 26-27 Academic Calendar.

  Here is the Clemson University Academic Calendar for your reference.

  Fall 2026

  August 17-19	Orientation
  August 20	First Day of Class
  August 22	White Coat Ceremony
  September 7	Labor Day Holiday (University Closed/No Class)
  October 5-9	Exam Week
  October 12-13	Fall Break
  November 3	Election Day (University Closed/No Class)
  November 25-27	Thanksgiving Holidays (University Closed/No Class)
  December 7-15	Exam Week
  December 16	Final Grade Submission

  Spring 2027

  January 11	First Day of Class
  January 18	Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday (No Class)
  March 1-5	Exam Week
  March 15-19	Spring Break (No Class)
  April 26-30	Exam Week
  May 12	Final Grade Submission

• Advising and Academic Support

  The Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine will employ professional staff in the Office of Academic Affairs and Office of Clinical Programs to support students with all their needs including academic advising, educational support and career planning. In conjunction with the faculty advisors, these coordinators will help students track progress toward their degree, select elective courses and navigate Clemson and veterinary student life.

  Upon entry, first-year students will be paired with a faculty advisor. Students and advisors will be provided opportunities to connect both formally and informally throughout their first year and after. Faculty advisors will guide students throughout their DVM program on courses, career goals and life in general. Each faculty will be paired with multiple students each year and will maintain those relationships over the four years of the DVM program.

• Libraries

  The Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine’s library will serve as the primary hub for its physical, digital and programmatic learning resources available to students. Under the direction of the Director of Teaching and Learning, the library will include print and digital circulation, programming for information literacy, and space and programming for tutoring, workshops and group and individual study.

  DVM students will also be encouraged to work with the centralized Clemson Libraries.

• Clerkships

  During the final year of the DVM Program, students will receive clinical training within a distributed network of approved veterinary practices (Clinical Affiliates) located throughout South Carolina and neighboring states. Students will have the option to complete most of their clinical rotations within a few specific geographic areas. Alternatively, students can travel around the state more frequently to pursue clinical rotations of interest for their career aspirations.  

  During the Professional Development Unit of the curriculum, students will be advised on how to budget appropriately to ensure financial readiness for the Year 4 Clerkship Program. Clerkship scheduling will be organized around regional hubs to reduce unnecessary travel and relocation expenses. Since students will not be maintaining a full-time residence in Clemson during the fourth year, the previously budgeted housing costs (similar to Years 1-3) will be used for temporary housing at each hub. With guidance from the Office of Clinical Programs, the students will be responsible for securing housing and arranging travel during the fourth year. 

  The clinical year team, including dedicated Faculty Mentors, will work to ensure that students find the right veterinary practices for clinical training sites. In addition, Faculty Mentors will serve as the primary contact for students during all clerkship rotations, helping students with any challenges they may encounter during the off-campus clinical experience. Furthermore, Clemson DVM student support services can be accessed remotely while students are working off-campus during clerkship rotations. 

• Student Accessibility Services

  The Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine Student Services Coordinator will work directly with the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) office on Clemson’s main campus to ensure that student accommodation needs are met.

  The SAS office serves students with temporary or permanent disabilities as well as those with physical, psychological and learning disabilities. The college will consult with the SAS office as we develop the accessibility of our facilities and programming to ensure all students feel their needs are being met. Reasonable accommodations will be offered in all phases of the program.

Student Life

• White Coat Ceremony

  The White Coat Ceremony is a time-honored tradition in the health professions, symbolizing a learner’s commitment to the responsibilities, ethics, and service inherent in professional practice. Historically, this milestone has marked the transition from classroom-based learning to clinical training, while also serving as a formal welcome into the profession.

  At Clemson, we embrace both the legacy and the evolving meaning of this ceremony. Rather than reserving this moment for the threshold of clinical practice, we recognize that our students join the veterinary profession the day they commit to its calling. By donning the white coat at the outset of their professional education, students affirm their dedication to advancing animal health, supporting communities, and upholding the values of the profession from the very beginning.

  This ceremony is both a celebration and a charge—honoring the journey ahead while acknowledging that each student is already an integral part of the veterinary community.

• Non-Academic Support

  The Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine will utilize Clemson University’s multi-layered infrastructure to support student life. Students will be supported through engagement in co-curricular and community-building opportunities. Student clubs and organizations—organized under the umbrella of the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) chapter at Clemson—will provide outlets for leadership development, professional growth, and personal connection aligned with student interests.

  The college will also proactively ensure that DVM students are aware of and able to access the full range of resources available across the university, including wellness services, student organizations, recreational opportunities, and support programs offered through the broader Clemson community. This integrated approach is designed to promote student well-being, foster a sense of belonging, and support success both inside and outside of the classroom.

  The college will maintain an internal CARE team of administrators who will liaise with the central CARE Network managed through the Office of Advocacy and Success (OAS). The CARE Network is designed to be one of the ways to help connect current students with the resources to help support them.” Referrals for DVM students will be brought forward to the College of Veterinary Medicine CARE team for review in confidence and independent of the faculty overseeing their academic assessment at the time of referral. Upon review, the college’s CARE team will determine the appropriate course of action or intervention.

• Wellness

  The Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine will employ professional mental health counselors to support the well-being of students throughout the course of their studies. A major goal of wellness programming will be preparing graduates to manage the mental health challenges they may encounter during their training program and upon entering the professional field. Counseling services will be provided to students in their clinical year via tele-health. 

  Clemson DVM students will have access to all of the central Student Health Services available to other graduate and professional students. Student Health Services (SHS), based on Clemson's main campus at Redfern Health Center, can be accessed by all students. SHS offers wellness visits, vaccinations, a pharmacy, lab services, radiology, women’s health, sports medicine and referrals to specialized practice. 

• Career Counseling

  The Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine will provide ample opportunities for career path exploration and networking through the Office of Academic Affairs.The College’s Career & Alumni Services Coordinator will work directly with students from day one of their program to offer a variety of services and strategies for professional growth and career planning, including:

  • Application material review.
  • Interview preparation and practice.
  • Job search strategies.
  • Regularly updated job board.
  • Personal branding expertise.
  • Guidance for salary and contract negotiation.
  • Career-related presentations and events.
  • Networking opportunities.
  • College-sponsored career fairs.
  • Support in navigating state licensure.

  The Career & Alumni Services Coordinator will collaborate with industry partners, private practices, and organizations across the veterinary profession to develop and maintain a comprehensive network of contacts and resources to support graduating DVM students in their job search. The Coordinator will also work closely with Clemson University Center for Career and Professional Development to expand the reach and effectiveness of career support services available to students.

• Financial Services

  The Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine will provide robust and comprehensive financial aid counseling to students, including ongoing scholarship support before and after matriculation, by maintaining an external scholarship fund database and providing coaching and guidance for students navigating and applying to external funding sources.
  

  For information regarding financial aid, please visit Clemson's Graduate Student Financial Aid and The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) Scholarship Opportunities.

  The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) offer tools for prospective students to develop a plan for attending veterinary school. View the AAVMC Cost Comparison Tool to compare financial data across veterinary schools. View the AVMA Personal Financial Planning Tool to create a budget.

• Campus Recreation
  In addition to the comprehensive recreational and wellness opportunities available through Clemson University Campus Recreation, the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine will further support student well-being by providing a dedicated, no-cost fitness center within the HUB building. This facility will be accessible to DVM students, offering convenient and flexible opportunities to engage in physical activity regardless of academic schedules.

  Together, these resources are intended to promote holistic student wellness by encouraging regular physical activity, stress management, and work-life balance—critical components of success in a rigorous professional program.

• Dining

  Students will have convenient access to a variety of on-site and campuswide options. The CVM campus will feature a Tiger Mart offering grab-and-go items such as sandwiches, salads, and snacks, as well as a coffee bar with beverages available throughout the day. A dedicated student space equipped with refrigeration and microwaves will also be available to support those who prefer to bring meals from home.

  In addition, students may take advantage of dining plans and the wide range of dining locations available across Clemson University Dining, providing further flexibility and choice for those who prefer to bring their own meals.

  Visit Clemson Dining to see dining options across main campus and view meal plan options.

• Off-Campus Student Services

  Visit Off-Campus Student Services to find off-campus housing, get connected with a roommate, learn more about surrounding area resources and much more.

• Parking and Transportation Services

  All students who wish to park in the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine parking lots must purchase an annual parking pass through Clemson University Parking Services. Additionally, alternative parking passes are available for motorcycle and moped drivers to purchase.

  Other forms of transportation, such as Clemson area public transportation, airport shuttles, and Clemson's Bikeshare program can be viewed here. 

  Please note that parking passes must be renewed each academic year.

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