Employer Reimbursement

Why your employer should enroll you in the Veterinary Forensics distance education program

One of the most successful ways to get management support for education is to submit a formal proposal to your direct supervisor outlining why you believe you and your organization will benefit from this type of training.

As a first step, find out if your organization has a professional development policy. If so, determine if there is a form to fill out and if there is a specified amount of funding available per employee. Next, review the certificate program website and/or contact a professor to determine what aspects of this training will help you in your daily role and will help your organization. Third, begin preparing your proposal.

Why take courses in Veterinary Forensics?

In the last several years, the penalties for animal cruelty convictions have gone from non-offenses to misdemeanor and felony offenses, which can carry significant sentences. As such, juries expect animal forensic investigations to present the same kind of evidence as human forensic investigations.

This program is tailored for working professionals. Online courses are convenient and affordable. Students are accepted to the program year-round, so they can apply and start when it is best for their life and career.

How to Create a Successful Proposal

  1. You can make your proposal more impactful by listing your organization’s goals and objectives and linking how they relate to the curriculum’s educational objectives. Use the learning outcomes for each class to determine what points you would like to emphasize. To find these, click on the individual courses on the curriculum page.
  2. Read through the syllabus for each class with an idea of how you can help your organization grow or improve.
  3. You’ll need to address the cost of the program, and all of the costs for the courses are included in the tuition section of the website. Remember, no travel is necessary. You can also continue to work full-time while you earn this certificate.
  4. Even if you choose to have a conversation with your manager/owner, rather than writing a formal proposal, it would be a good idea to have a list of the reasons the program will enable you to perform your job at a higher level and make your organization more successful. Going through the exercise of looking through the curriculum for details that will teach you new concepts or improve your organization.

Overcoming Objections

Many of our students have overcome objections before starting our program. Here is how to handle them:

My employer says it is too expensive and we lack the funds.

  • The education provided from the University of Florida will become an invaluable tool for you and your employer.
  • You may also be eligible for private education loans. We recommend doing an Internet search for “private education loans” for part-time graduate work.

My employer would prefer me to just attend a free webinar.

  • The University of Florida has led the charge to create a curriculum for vet forensic professionals. Our one-of-a-kind program is internationally known and respected for its strong academic reputation, pioneering research, and service to the animal welfare community.
  • By using the latest online delivery tools, this is not a passive webinar; it’s an interactive virtual classroom with discussion forums, live chat, and access to leading educators and your peers in the field of veterinary forensics. You’ll gain useful ideas that can be implemented immediately in your shelter environment, and you can participate on your own schedule, wherever you have an Internet connection.

I have worked in shelters for years. Why should I take this now?

  • During the University of Florida Veterinary Forensics program, you’ll learn best practices that are immediately applicable to your daily role. Our students report using lessons in their work within days of learning them in class.

My employer just wants me to attend a conference instead.

  • Conferences are a great place to network and learn, but it is difficult to dig in as deeply to this content at the graduate level as you will in this program. During this series of courses, you’ll be exposed to some familiar and new concepts, and you’ll still have the opportunity to network with your fellow students and professors. You’ll learn from a mix of videos, readings, live discussions, presentations, and quizzes.
  • We suggest going through the curriculum to find examples of learning outcomes that would be useful to you or to your organization. Look for ideas that will either save time and money, improve your efficiency, or another topic that is important to your organization’s goals.