Equipment                                                    

List of Major Equipment by Location

1. SAFETY MEASURES

In 1998, the Dean appointed a Health and Safety Committee for the College with the responsibility of reviewing and developing the safety programs for all areas. This committee has representation from all departments. The duties and responsibilities required that the committee be sub-divided into the following sections, a) biological, medical and infectious waste, b) chemical waste, c) fire safety, and d) student vaccination program.
Presently, each department has a formal safety plan and an appointed faculty safety representative to coordinate safety efforts. Guidelines to minimize student and employee exposure to potential hazards (biological, chemical, radiological and physical) have been established. Copies of the departmental safety plans are on file in the office of the associate dean for academic affairs.
Tuskegee University has prepared a manual for emergency fire response and protection, disasters (natural and man-made), civil disturbances, bomb threats and ground safety and accident prevention. These manuals are located in the offices of the department heads. The University's Biohazards Manual outlines the necessary steps to be taken to prevent laboratory/hospital acquired infections from pathogenic microorganisms, and to safely use potentially toxic chemicals in laboratory work.
In summary, the following procedural manuals are revised or developed as guides on safety measures:

Health and Safety Program for the School of Veterinary Medicine
Tuskegee University Manual for Emergency Operations
School of Veterinary Medicine's Departmental Safety Plans
Handbook, School of Veterinary Medicine

In 1993, the following additional safety programs were developed:

Hazard Communications Program
Respiratory Protection Program
Chemical Hygiene Program
Safety Standards and Procedures for the Veterinary Teaching Hospital

The following actions have been taken to comply with basic health and safety standards:

• formulated written procedures for laboratory safety;

• appointed a safety officer for the veterinary medical school complex; (This person works closely with the newly appointed safety officer of the University.)

• conducted "Safety in the Work Place" seminars for the instruction of students, staff and faculty;

• continual monitoring of anesthetic gas levels in surgery suites and the student surgery laboratories;

• continual monitoring of solvent levels to minimize human exposure to formaldehyde and xylene in appropriate laboratories:

• instituted guidelines for fire drill and emergency response;

• routinely inspect fire alarm systems and smoke detectors throughout the veterinary school complex;

• maintain disposal boxes for used syringes and glassware in wet laboratories;

• installed safety lights in buildings and upgraded emergency generators;

• made all primary entrance doors accessible to the handicapped and installed emergency crash bars; and

• designated additional parking spaces for the handicapped.

2. ADEQUACY OF EQUIPMENT FOR CLASSROOMS, LABORATORIES AND OTHER TEACHING AREAS

The equipment available for use in the classrooms, student laboratories and other teaching areas is adequate for the educational programs of the School. New audiovisual equipment, microphone systems, projection screens, and other teaching aides have been purchased for use in all classroom/laboratory areas. Laboratory and clinical instrumentation for student and faculty use have been upgraded and are adequate to meet the demands of the curriculum. For example, new anesthetic vaporizers have been added to the current student surgery laboratory located in the Large Animal Care Center and efforts are underway to purchase additional surgical equipment, especially for orthopedic procedures.
Conversion of the Biomedical Sciences Laboratory in the Rosenwald Center to a completely computerized laboratory facility is scheduled to be completed in the Fall of 1999. The hardware and software for the establishment of this laboratory have been purchased and will be installed at the completion of the renovation of this building. This laboratory will provide state-of-the-art facilities for the conduction of experiments in physiology, pharmacology and toxicology and will greatly reduce live-animal experimentation in the School's teaching program.

3. ADEQUACY OF CLINICAL EQUIPMENT

Equipment is adequate to support the teaching and outreach components of the VTH. Considerable equipment has been, and continues to be, purchased to improve the quality of education for students and to give better service to the School's clients. For example, hand-held chemistry units have been purchased for both the large and small animal hospitals to provide data acquisition in emergency and after-hours situations. New endoscopic and ultrasound instrumentation has been purchased to aid in clinical diagnosis. The continuous care ward is being updated with new equipment to assure that this area is suitable for the care of critically ill patients and postoperative patients. Additionally, the computerized IDEXX system has been installed and will provide improved record keeping and better tracking of clinical information. During the summer of 1999, all major analyzing instrumentation in the clinical pathology diagnostic laboratory is scheduled to replaced and updated to better meet patient needs.

4. CURRENT EXPENDITURES FOR NEW AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT

Total funds utilized for equipment expenditures from 1993-94 through 1997-98 are listed in Table 9. The School will continue to purchase new equipment for the teaching, research, and service programs as need arises and funds become available. Concerted efforts will require close cooperation with the University's central administration to identify, investigate and pursue a broad array of project and program funding opportunities. The School also will take steps to secure funding from the public and private sectors to meet critical needs.

                                           Table 9: Equipment Expenditures (1994-95 Through 1998-99)

                                                                                       years

Capital budget items are part of a long-term program (10 years or more) of capital resource development activities. Renovations and rehabilitation of present buildings and the acquisition of new equipment are part of this program. The past sources of capital cost funding, i.e., government agencies, foundations, and corporations, are expected to continue in the future.