Shocking Move: Top Mexican Vet School Drops U.S. Accreditation!

In a surprising turn for international veterinary education, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine—often hailed as the oldest veterinary school in the Western Hemisphere—has voluntarily withdrawn from accreditation by the AVMA Council on Education (COE), effective at the end of 2025.

Founded in 1853, UNAM’s veterinary program had held AVMA accreditation since 2011, the culmination of nearly 15 years of effort. While the school will retain its accreditation through Mexico’s own accrediting body, CONEVET (National Council of Education for Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics), the move marks a significant shift in its international standing.

The COE had been scheduled to conduct a comprehensive site visit to the Mexico City campus in late March, but the university’s request for withdrawal changed the course of that plan. The council officially posted the notice of withdrawal in mid-April.

For U.S. students, the impact may be minimal. UNAM primarily serves Mexican nationals who enroll directly after high school in a six-year program. Few American students have historically enrolled, and graduates from AVMA-accredited international programs benefit from a streamlined licensure process in the U.S.—one they’ll no longer enjoy following UNAM's withdrawal.

A Pivotal Meeting for COE

UNAM’s announcement was one of several major actions from the COE's March 15–18 meeting, held at AVMA headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois. The council also addressed program oversight, accreditation standards, and controversial updates to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements.

Seven veterinary colleges around the world remain on probationary accreditation status, each with deficiencies in various educational standards that must be resolved within two years. These include:

• Lincoln Memorial University – Major deficiency in research program

• Seoul National University – Minor issues with clinical resources and organization

• University of London, RVC – Major outcomes assessment deficiency

• University of Glasgow – Major outcomes assessment deficiency

• University of Guelph – Minor facility and clinical resource issues

• Tuskegee University – Major deficiencies in finances, clinical resources, and outcomes assessment

• Utrecht University – Minor facility issues

If minor deficiencies are not addressed within a year, programs may face an extension of probation or further consequences.

Other schools, including Cornell University, Washington State University, and Iowa State University, received accreditation decisions following recent site visits. Utah State University received a letter of reasonable assurance, marking progress toward future accreditation.

Stricter Oversight for Off-Campus Training

One of the most impactful policy shifts from the COE meeting involves the tightening of oversight for clinical education—especially at off-campus sites. Programs using distributive or semi-distributive models must now submit detailed documentation proving consistency, quality, and oversight of clinical experiences.

This includes information on the number of students placed at each site, how the college oversees these locations, and evidence of hands-on learning. If any site lacks consistent quality or is new to the program, the COE may mandate in-person or virtual evaluations.

These new guidelines take effect with all site visits beginning in 2026 and apply to both existing and newly proposed veterinary programs.

COE Backs Away from DEI Requirements

Perhaps the most contentious announcement from the council came in a letter dated March 19. In it, the COE stated that veterinary colleges will no longer be required to report on or comply with accreditation standards related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This decision follows a wave of federal scrutiny and executive orders directing educational institutions to reassess DEI practices. Some universities have since closed or restructured diversity offices to comply with new federal guidance.

“The COE acknowledges that, while executive orders provide guidance and do not carry the force and effect of law, the executive orders indicate the policy positions of the federal government,” the council wrote in its letter to veterinary colleges.

The COE first introduced DEI standards in 2017 and updated them in 2022. While those benchmarks are no longer mandatory, the council emphasized that it will continue to monitor the legal and educational landscape and adjust its standards accordingly.

As veterinary education adapts to evolving global, political, and pedagogical forces, decisions like UNAM’s and changes within the COE serve as reminders of how dynamic and complex accreditation—and its implications—can be.

For questions about compliance, veterinary colleges are encouraged to contact COE@avma.org.