Erin Rounds, of Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, at the Rowan event

Dogs, cats, birds and other furry creatures, South Jersey’s got your back. Rowan University has announced plans to establish New Jersey’s first veterinary school. With $75 million in state funding earmarked for construction, the Rowan University School of Veterinary Medicine expects to welcome its inaugural class of 60 students in the fall of 2025. Of 33 accredited veterinary schools in the United States, only 5 are on the East Coast. Rowan plans to establish undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and internship/residency programs so students can train with some of SJ’s seasoned animal healthcare workers, says Rowan University President Ali Houshmand.