Welcome to the Student Well-Being Handbook!   Academic, financial, physical,  and emotional stress or health issues often create hurdles in the path toward the DVM. Sudden developments in our personal lives may threaten happiness, success, and/or well-being. This handbook is designed as a resource to help maintain or restore a sense of well-being.

While the UMN learning environment is one of high expectations, we hope you will find it a nurturing one as well.  When confronted by a problem while in our program, we hope you’ll consider turning to this handbook for advice, guidance and resources. Please remember that the University’s administration, faculty, and staff highly value our veterinary students– you have been chosen to train with us, and we will make every effort to assist you in person as well. We are invested in the personal and professional success of all veterinary students.

Another great place to start is the UMN Academic Success page.

The handbook is not meant to be read cover to cover but to help you with issues or questions as they arise, whether it is that first exam, parenting while in vet school, campus safety or worry about a classmate.

The table of contents (see left side bar) will help you find the right sections.

If you have suggestions to improve how this handbook can best serve you and your colleagues, please feel free to contact Dr. Erin Malone (malon001@umn.edu). If you have a quote to add, she would love to have it.

Much credit for this book goes to  a similar handbook at the Johns A Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Hence the JABSOM comments!

Principal author of this resource is Dr. Malone. Dr. Vesna Hampel-Kozar, Director of Student Wellbeing and Success, has also contributed to this resource. Vesna is also happy to take suggestions on this resource (hampe004@umn.edu).

The University of Minnesota Vet School is committed to diversity, non-discrimination, and fairness in our educational opportunities, curriculum and activities.