Summer/Fall 2013 PDF - University of Minnesota College of ...

STUDENT COUNCIL
Student
council:
providing a bridge for
students and faculty
Andy Kryzer, class of 2015, didn’t waste any
time getting involved in student government.
As a second-year veterinary student, he
became president of the student council.
Now one of 16 elected council members, he
excels at relating to his fellow students, as
well as to professors, department heads, and
college administrators.
Council members act as representatives
of the college’s DVM student body to
the Graduate and Professional Student
Assembly, the Academic Health Center, the
St. Paul Board of Colleges, the University
of Minnesota, and the public at large.
The council has four main purposes:
serving as a liaison between the
administration of the College of Veterinary
Medicine and veterinary students;
providing a forum for both academic
and extracurricular student concerns;
organizing philanthropic events for
worthwhile veterinary medical student
associations; and providing social
activities and events for fellow students.
“We hold regular meetings with
department chairs to cover any big
issues, and we look for ways to create
new programs and social events so
that students can enjoy a well-rounded
education,” says Kryzer. The student
council also meets every other week to
discuss strategy, events, and issues.
“The student council is perceived as—
and functions as—an unbiased group
of student representatives to help us
understand any issues or problems that
arise,” says Dr. Laura Molgaard, associate
dean for academic and student affairs.
“The council acts both proactively and
reactively as issues come up.”
One recent accomplishment of the council
was to lend advice in the establishment
of a noon-hour plenary session called
Case Presentations From Basic Science
to Clinical Medicine. During this session,
several faculty members from various
disciplines presented a case study,
providing information and questions
tailored to each class level in attendance.
The student council gave input in the
planning stages as well as valuable
feedback on student perceptions of
what worked and what could be done to
enhance future sessions.
The council also provides a forum for
students to interact with each other and
with faculty in a social setting. This past
February, for example, the council rented
20-plus lanes at Flaherty’s Arden Bowl
in Arden Hills, Minnesota. The four-hour
event drew a crowd.
“We made sure it was low-cost to attract
a large number of students,” says Kryzer.
“And we made sure that on each lane
there were both students and faculty, so
the faculty could share their personal
experiences, challenges, and successes of
attending veterinary school.”
By interacting with faculty members,
Kryzer says, students can learn more about
which academic track they want to pursue:
food animal, small animal, mixed animal
(including wildlife, zoo, and exotic),
equine, or research/public health.
“Determining which academic route to
take can be a real challenge,” says Kryzer.
“Having an opportunity to talk to and get
to know faculty who can offer suggestions
and talk about their research can stimulate a
student to pursue a specific academic track.”
In April, the council hosted a barbeque
for approximately 300 people as part of
Student Appreciation Week.
“The barbeque was the student council’s
idea,” says Molgaard. “They really wanted
to host a fun event to allow students and
faculty to have another opportunity to
interact in an informal setting.”
While the council advocates for student
needs, Molgaard says the students on
the council are true liaisons. “They do a
great job by acting in a cooperative and
supportive role,” she says. “They work to
understand the issues and to find solutions.
Then they work with us for the best
interest of both the faculty and students.”
STUDENT PROFILE
Andy Kryzer
CLASS: 2015
HOMETOWN: Lewiston, Minnesota
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS:
president, CVM Student Council;
bovine chair, Production Animal
Medicine Club; junior delegate,
American Association of Bovine
Practitioners; class representative,
CVM class of 2015; coordinator,
CVM blood drive; member, CVM
Swine Group and Student Chapter
of the American Veterinary Medical
Association
PROFESSIONAL GOALS: Kryzer
hopes to practice food animal
medicine in rural Minnesota
with an emphasis in bovine and
swine. He will strive to not only
excel in disease prevention,
diagnosis, and treatment of food
animals to ensure a safe food
supply, but also to work with
producers to improve their bottom
lines. He also plans to act as a
liaison between animal caretakers
and governmental policymakers for
the betterment of animal care. In
addition, he plans to maintain his
farming roots by expanding his
family’s beef herd and building his
own swine fi nishing barns.
Profiles Summer/Fall 2013 27