Glossary
The Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVM&S) makes use of a number of acronyms.
Glossary for BVM&S degree
| AB1 | Animal Body 1 (BVM&S course) (NB there are also AB2, AB3, AB4 courses) |
| AFHEA | Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy |
| AHWFS | Animal Health Welfare and Food Safety (old BVM&S course, often pronounced ‘A-WAFS’) |
| ALFS | Animal Life and Food Safety (BVM&S course – new name for AHWFS course) |
| ASSET | Assessment Executive |
| AVMA | American Veterinary Medical Association |
| AVS | Association of Veterinary Students |
| BVM&S | Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (R(D)SVS degree) |
| CFC | Clinical Foundation Course (BVM&S course) |
| DOPS | Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (assessment method) |
| DR | Dissection Room |
| EMS | Extra Mural Studies |
| EBVM | Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine (BVM&S course) |
| EdTA | Edinburgh Teaching Award (staff development programme leading to HEA accreditation) |
| EEVeC | Edinburgh Electronic Veterinary Curriculum (‘old’ vet school virtual learning environment) |
| EUCLID | University of Edinburgh online student management tool |
| EUSA | Edinburgh University Student Association |
| FHEA | Fellow of the Higher Education Academy |
| Formative Assessment | help students identify their strengths and weaknesses and target areas that need work and to help staff recognise where students are struggling and address problems |
| FYP | Final Year Preparation (BVM&S course) |
| GEP | Graduate Entry Programme |
| GPA | Grade Point Average (academic measure of achievement in North America) |
| HEA | Higher Education Academy |
| Hofstee | Standard Setting method used for assessments at R(D)SVS |
| IAD | Institute for Academic Development |
| ICA | In-Course Assessment |
| ICC | Integrated Clinical Course |
| JMICAWE | Jeanne Marchig Centre for International Animal Welfare Education |
| Learn | Virtual learning environment |
| MCQ | Multiple Choice Question |
| NAVLE | North American Veterinary Licensing Examination |
| NSS | National Student Survey |
| NVS | New Vet School (R(D)SVS teaching building) |
| OSCE | Objective Structured Clinical Examination (assessment method) |
| OSPRE | Objective Structure Practical Examination (assessment method, vet specific term for OSCE) |
| Peer Supporters | Peer-based pastoral support programme (specific to R(D)SVS) |
| PFHEA | Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy |
| PT | Personal Tutor |
| RCVS | Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (professional body) |
| R(D)SVS | Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies |
| RVC | Royal Veterinary College (Veterinary school in London) |
| SAMO | School Academic Misconduct Officer |
| SCC | Special Circumstance Committee |
| SFHEA | Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy |
| SRC | Student Research Component (BVM&S course) |
| SSAG | Student Support and Advisory Group |
| SSC | Student Selected Component (BVM&S course) – old name for SRC courses |
| SPOTS | Practical assessment set round a series of timed stations (also known as Steeplechase) |
| Standard setting | Process used to decide ‘cut-point’ (or pass mark) for an assessment |
| Steeplechase | See SPOTS |
| Summative Assessment | Evaluate student learning at the end of a unit, comparing performance to a benchmark or standard |
| VetPALs | Peer-based study skills support programme (specific to R(D)SVS) |
| VLE | Virtual Learning Environment (e.g. Learn or EEVeC) |
| VMED | Veterinary Medical Education Division (Academic Division, Research and Development) |
| VPH | Veterinary Public Health |
| VTO | Veterinary Teaching Organisation (administrative team) |
| WSE | Ward Simulation Exercise |