** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS EXPECTED: 24 STUDENTSTHE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF GREAT FALLS COLLEGE'S VETERINARY TECHNICIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM (VTEP) IS TO DEVELOP THE CURRICULUM, ASSESSMENT PROCESSES, AND PROGRAM-RELATED MATERIALS FOR THREE STACKABLE CREDENTIALS THAT CULMINATE IN AN ASSOCIATES OF APPLIED SCIENCES IN VETERINARY TECHNICIAN, ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO PRACTICE AS A LICENSED VETERINARY TECHNICIAN (LVT) IN THE STATE OF MONTANA. THE TWO OTHER EMBEDDED CREDENTIALS INCLUDE VETERINARY OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF TECHNICAL STUDIES AND VETERINARY ASSISTANT CERTIFICATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE. AN ADDITIONAL OBJECTIVE OF THE VTEP IS TO CREATE INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS WITH VETERINARY OFFICES ACROSS MONTANA TO PROVIDE WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PROGRAM STUDENTS.DEVELOPING STACKABLE CREDENTIALS CULMINATING IN AN ASSOCIATES OF APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE IN VETERINARY TECHNICIAN MEETS THE AFRI EDUCATION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (EDW) GOALS TO DEVELOP PATHWAYS IN A FORMAL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO GAIN SKILLS APPLICABLE TO THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE FIELDS. THE VTEP ADDRESSES THE DRASTIC SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED VETERINARY TECHNICIANS IN MONTANA TO HELP CLOSE THE GAP OF A PROJECTED JOB GROWTH OF 45% PER YEAR THROUGH 2030.THE VTEP TARGETED OBJECTIVES ARE IN THREE AREAS: 1) CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT, 2) PROGRAM READINESS, AND 3) INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS. GRANT ACTIVITIES FOR PROGRAM PREPAREDNESS INCLUDES DEVELOPMENT OF 31 NEW VETERINARY COURSES; PROGRAM-RELATED POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND HANDBOOK; AND A DUAL ENROLLMENT PATHWAY. GRANT ACTIVITIES FOR INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDES CREATING MOUS FOR WORK-BASED LEARNING; SECURING A MINIMUM OF 10 VETERINARIAN PARTNERS, AND DEVELOPING A FORMAL ONBOARDING AND TRAINING PROCESS FOR THE VETERINARY PARTNERS.