Trocaire College Invests in New Veterinary Sciences Department

$5 million Project Transforms Transit Road Complex into State-of-the-Art Classrooms

Trocaire College announced today the construction of a new veterinary sciences department at the site of its former hospitality school on Transit Road. The construction is moving along, and the last beam was hoisted in the entry way to make room for the next phase of construction.

“Trocaire is excited to unveil its new veterinary sciences department and share our plans for education in the welfare of animals. We have dedicated resources to construct a state-of-the-art facility that will provide surgical suites and classrooms so students can participate in the most advanced form of learning with animals possible,” said Dr. Bassam M. Deeb, president, Trocaire College. “This is a huge investment for the college and demonstrates our commitment to providing programs that meet the needs of our students and the community at large. There is a demonstrated demand for professionals in the veterinary sciences arena which we hope to meet going forward.” 

The $5 million project includes the addition of approximately 3,290 square feet of a new, dedicated veterinary sciences department and renovations to 1,500 square feet of existing space. The new area will include amenities needed for the department’s academic programs including various animal wards, a surgery suite and prep room, dental procedure lab, central sterile processing room, several teaching laboratories, a radiology lab, and storage areas. Outside, will also include a fenced-in grassy area for use by small animals.

The new veterinary sciences facility will be isolated from the rest of the building via coded locking doors to ensure the integrity of the surgical and animal treatment and preparation areas from the general spaces in the building. The project is on track to be completed this summer in anticipation of on-site classes beginning this fall.

Last summer, Trocaire announced the establishment of its veterinary sciences department and appointed Dr. Katherine Fitzgerald as inaugural dean. The college is in the process of applying to various regulatory agencies including the New York State Education Department and the American Veterinary Medical Association for approval on new academic programs. The first cohorts of Trocaire’s new veterinary assistant online non-credit program are currently underway.

“It is very exciting to build a robust veterinary sciences program from the ground up here at Trocaire. The community is in desperate need of professionals who can help with the care of animals both large and small. We aim to support our colleagues by providing a well-rounded learning experience to produce educated students who can immediately hit the ground running,” said Dr. Fitzgerald.