U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., has formally requested information from 36 accredited colleges of veterinary medicine, raising concerts about student workload and clinical training practices. Letters sent last week to schools across the country are seeking details on how institutions monitor clinical duty hours, ensure student welfare and prevent students from being overextended during required rotations.
While colleges should provide rigorous curriculums that guarantee students will receive the best education and experience possible, we must also ensure students are not being exploited.
— Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (@repcleaver) December 10, 2025
With numerous allegations of abuse at veterinary schools, I’m demanding answers.…
“I write today concerning troubling allegations of systemic abuse taking place within American veterinary medicine schools,” Cleaver wrote. “Despite a relatively small number of veterinary schools across the country, recent years have seen an explosion of students speaking out about the conditions at these programs.”
In December 2023, fourth-year veterinary students from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania penned a letter to their administration outlining how they were consistently working 100 hour weeks, when the Student American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines call for a cap of 80 hours per week. A similar situation was revealed at the College of Veterinary Medicine Iowa State University, with students lacking the required eight hour rest period between shifts and not having proper time for meals while on shift, despite university policies on duty hours.
“I believe strongly that our higher education institutions should provide rigorous curriculums that guarantee students will receive the best education and experience possible, ensuring they are capable and qualified when they enter into the workforce,” Cleaver said in a press release. “However, just as we have taken steps to ensure colleges and universities are not taking advantage of student athletes for institutional monetary benefit, we must ensure that students at veterinary medicine schools are not being exploited. Unfortunately, with numerous allegations of abuse, it appears we have more work to do, and I’m hopeful that these institutions will provide information to address these concerns and ensure proper protections are in place.”
The letter underscores the tension in academic medicine of balancing clinical service demands with student learning, supervision and well-being. Excessive duty hours are not only a student wellness issue, but could also affect patient safety and education quality, particularly when fatigue limits learning or decision-making.
What Veterinary Schools are Being Asked to Provide
Rep. Cleaver’s letter requests information on:
- Policies governing veterinary student clinical duty hours
- How schools track and enforce workload limits
- Mechanisms for students to report excessive hours or unsafe conditions
- Protections against retaliation for students who raise concerns
- How institutions balance educational objective with clinical service demands
Cleaver requested a response from schools by year-end.
