Lyon College to locate dental school in LR’s Riverdale neighborhood, vet school in Cabot

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Lyon College officials announced Tuesday (May 7) the locations of their planned dental and veterinary schools with one locating in Little Rock and the other in Cabot.

In November 2023, an original plan to locate the dental and vet schools in the Heifer International headquarters in downtown Little Rock fell through.

OneHealth Companies, the school’s original partner in the venture, failed to meet the deadline to buy the Heifer International facility, according to numerous published reports. OneHealth is no longer involved with Lyon on the project.

Lyon College to locate dental school in LR’s Riverdale neighborhood, vet school in Cabot

Deal for Lyon College’s vet and dental school campus in Little Rock falls through

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

The sale of the proposed Little Rock-based campus for the about-to-be-formed dental and veterinary schools at Lyon College in Batesville has fallen apart. OneHealth Companies, the school’s partner in the venture, failed to meet the deadline to buy the Heifer International facility, according to numerous published reports.

Lyon College President Melissa Taverner told Talk Business & Politics the school is now searching for another site in Little Rock to house the newly formed Lyon College Institute for Health Sciences. Both schools are slated to start classes in the late summer or early fall of 2025.

The inaugural classes are expected to have about 100 students each. The accreditation process for both is on schedule and now the school needs to find a campus, she said. School officials didn’t comment on the state of the partnership with OneHealth Companies after the campus deal collapsed.

Deal for Lyon College’s vet and dental school campus in Little Rock falls through

Cabot partnering with Lyon College veterinary medicine school

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Students at Arkansas’ first veterinary school will get hands-on experience thanks to a new partnership.

The agreement between Batesville-based Lyon College and the City of Cabot will see students work directly with the city’s Animal Support Services as part of their studies.

Speaking with Little Rock Public Radio ahead of Tuesday’s announcement, Lyon College President Melissa Taverner said working in a clinic setting will help give students a leg up after graduation.

“They are going to become what we call ‘practice-ready’ upon graduation. They will get the skills and the experience to make them effective immediately, and then Cabot will have access to a ready supply of students and faculty and cutting-edge technologies that are going to help them be more effective in their clinic,” Taverner said.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-09-06/cabot-partnering-with-lyon-college-veterinary-medicine-school

Michael Noble Jr. For NPR

Veterinarian Dr. Remington Pettit and veterinarian assistant Zack Harmon check up Oreo on Dec. 12, 2022, in Stillwater, Okla.

Lyon College provides update on Little Rock dental and veterinary schools

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Lyon College in Batesville is moving forward with its plans to build a dental and veterinary school in downtown Little Rock.

On Tuesday at the Little Rock Rotary Club, officials described the building design and curriculum plans for the school as they continue their work to earn accreditation. The two schools will be built near the Sixth Street corridor at the headquarters of Heifer International.

Merritt Dake is CEO of OneHealth Companies, which is partnering with Lyon College on the effort. He said there is an "under supply of veterinary schools."

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-05-03/lyon-college-provides-update-on-little-rock-dental-and-veterinary-schools

Heifer International/Heifer.Org

A new dental school will be located in Heifer International's current headquarters in downtown Little Rock.

Arkansas State University announces plans for veterinary college

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas State University intends to start a College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and now it plans to undergo the endeavor without the help of any outside entity. Once it’s completed, the A-State veterinary program would be the second in the state.

Batesville-based Lyon College is in the process of forming its own vet training program in Little Rock, the school announced in May.

The new college will cost about $15 million to start. A specific timeline of when the college will become accredited and when it will start training students was not released.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/arkansas-state-university-announces-plans-for-veterinary-college/

Michael Noble Jr./NPR

Veterinarian Dr. Remington Pettit and veterinarian assistant Zack Harmon check up Oreo on Dec. 12, 2022, in Stillwater, Okla.

Lyon College President Resigns Amid Furor Over White Supremacist Comments

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Lyon College President W. Joseph King resigned Thursday (Aug. 26). King, who was under fire for comments about President Donald Trump supporters and white supremacist in the Ozark Foothills tendered his resignation to the Lyon College Board of Trustees.

“I’m writing to let you know that the Lyon College Board of Trustees has accepted President W. Joseph King’s resignation effective immediately. We are thankful for Dr. King’s service and guidance during his presidency. The College has established numerous programs and initiatives that have flourished under his leadership including the College’s ROTC program and military science concentration. We are also grateful for Dr. King’s leadership in keeping our campus and our students safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are especially grateful for his leadership in establishing our ongoing exploration of a strategic partnership with the University of the Ozarks,” Board of Trustees Chairman Perry Wilson noted in a statement.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/08/lyon-college-president-resigns-amid-furor-over-white-supremacist-comments/