Benefits

SAVMA Symposium reimbursement - =$150/yr
Note: You must be registered for and attend symposium for reimbursement.

Coat program - $50
Lab coats and laundry service provided during clinical rotations.

Surgery Didactic Lab Instruments, etc. - >$200
The third year surgery didactic lab instrument packs are purchased (and replaced as needed) by SCAVMA. Members are allowed use of the instruments free of charge. To purchase an entire instrument pack would currently cost >$2K! Also, many of the disposables used in the lab (i.e. gloves, masks, caps, etc.) are purchased by SCAVMA.

Rabies Titers/Boosters - $50
For any students requiring titers and/or boosters (not the series vaccinations).

Exit Legal Counseling - $150
Seniors are provided with funds for one hour of legal consultation for new employment contracts.

Reduced AVMA dues - $425
Upon graduation as a SCAVMA member in good standing, the AVMA grants the first year of dues free of charge ($225 value) and the next two years at a $100/year reduction.

Senior Certificate - $3

10 meetings/year (and dinner) - $80

T-Shirt - $10
Free T-Shirt with volunteer time @ the MU Football concession stand. Other than paying dues, working one football game your first and second years, is the only requirement for membership.

TOTAL* ~ $1,118

*This is only a monetary listing of benefits on an individual member basis. SCAVMA also provides the administrative structure to represent vet students at all levels. Much financial support is also given for many student events, and for most other student organizations. For even more benefits of membership, please see the “opportunities” page provided.

Opportunities with membership. . .

•Salaried Positions: Hill’s Sales Managers, Concession Stand Managers, Instrument Stewards

•Leadership Opportunities: There are many ways you can become involved w/ SCAVMA including: serving on the exec board, or participating/organizing one of the many student events that SCAVMA financially supports. These events include: Jr/Sr Banquet, Smoker, Spring Social/End of Block BBQ, Mentor program, Wellness committee events, Exotics Symposium, Phi Zeta Research Day or Alumni weekend. . .just to name a few.

•Outstanding speakers @ monthly meetings.

•Door prizes @ every meeting (including the Dean’s lot parking tag, and two $25 gift certificates to the bookstore-w/the purchase of Hill’s food). You must be present to win ?

•Travel stipend: MU SCAVMA has an annually budgeted amount to fund student travel to conferences, conventions, etc, up to 2 conferences with $100 reimbursement.

•Access to the AVMA member center online. This includes: the Network of Animal Health (NOAH), the Career Center (where student members can post their resume free of charge), National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues (NCVEI.org), and Intervet (the SAVMA newsletter).

•Discounted rates on relocation services: Atlas Van Lines and United Van Lines

•MBNA credit card applications (1-800-get-MBNA). Intro rate: 2.99% and standard rate of 9.99%. Please Note:As I’m sure you heard from our financial advisor, Cheri Marks, --don’t get it, unless you need it! ?

•PLIT/GHLIT: Health Insurance coverage options provided by the AVMA, and professional liability for students (only $10/year!). Also, new grads are guaranteed coverage w/SCAVMA membership.

•Discounted rates on the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA). The student member rate is $40/year (24 issues), while non-members will pay $120/year.

•American Veterinary Medical Foundation student loan fund, available to SCAVMA members only. (See SAVMA brochure for more info.)

•Award Opportunities: The AVMA and SAVMA offer many awards that are available only to members of SCAVMA, such as: Student Externship program in Washington, DC that includes a $1K stipend; Human Animal Bond essay award, two recipients share $1500; JAVMA cover art; PLIT ambassador; published in Intervet; International Veterinary Student Association (IVSA) student exchange program; Government Action Committee essay award of $250; Public Relations grant; Native American Project internship program in AZ, NM, or UT; Economic Issues Committee essay award; Multicultural Student Fund Scholarship of $400 or grant of $100; the list goes on and on. Note: for more information on any of these awards, see an executive board member, and we will try to get you the applications you need.

Requirements

1)Pay Dues.
Baseline dues are $20. The $20 fee is the combined dues for SAVMA, the national organization ($10) and for your local MU SCAVMA Chapter ($10). Dues must be paid by the annual deadline of October 1; after October 1, a penalty fee of $50 is assigned.

In addition to #1, members may choose either option #2 or #3 to fulfill membership requirements.

2)Work a football concession stand.
SCAVMA needs volunteers to donate 2-3 hours at its concession stand for home MU football games. Each student, for both VM-1 and VM-2 classes, need only work one 2-3 hour shift each year. However, feel free to sign up for more games if you wish—after all, you are allowed to see the game for free! Go to www.mutigers.com for a Tiger Football Season schedule.

3)Pay the additional $35 dues.
These dues are required in addition to the baseline dues and includes any late fee penalties which might apply.

*** To become an active member of the AVMA upon graduation, you must either be an active SCAVMA member in good standing or go through a rigorous application process and pay a lot of fees. It is much easier to stay an active member of SCAVMA. If you wait until your VM-3 year to apply for active status, you will owe back dues ($20 x 3yr = $60), plus restitution for not working at the concession stand ($35 x 2yr = $70), plus the late fee from every year ($50 x 3yr = $150), and the AVMA’s fee for re-instatement ($50), so your total quickly rises to $330. According to our constitution, you cannot apply for active status after your VM-3 year. We know this sounds confusing, so if you have any questions, please feel free to contact the SCAVMA Executive Board.

Wellness Committee

Stressed?
Want to help plan activities to relieve stress for you and your classmates?

Join the Student Wellness Committee
We have formed this committee with the purpose of advancing the wellness of the members of the College of Veterinary Medicine. We define wellness as intellectual, physical, social, spiritual, and emotional well-being.

Little commitment, help others, get involved, have fun!