In January 1927, the Michigan State College Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SCAVMA) was founded. Prior to this chapter, there were other veterinary student organizations, however, there are no records on them. The Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SCAVMA) has served as a link between Michigan State University veterinary students and the professional organization, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The mission of the organization is to introduce veterinary students to the concept of professionalism, exchange ideas, encourage involvement in veterinary medicine organizations, and to support veterinary medical education. The club originally served as the sole organization for veterinary students, including organized medicine, financial counseling, and international issues. Today it serves as a parent organization for veterinary students with other organizations falling beneath it such as the Veterinary Practice Builders Association and the Student Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. The name has changed over the years. Originally, the group was known as Junior American Veterinary Medical Association (Jr. AVMA). After 1940, the name Junior AVMA continued as a local moniker, but officially the name was changed to the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SCAVMA). The use of the name Jr. AVMA seems to have fallen out of usage during the 1950s, when SCAVMA was more widely adopted for common usage.

Early meetings of the Jr. AVMA in the 1920s and 30s consisted of presentations about infectious diseases and talks with veterinarians doing fieldwork. In the 1950s the organization held banquets and medicine balls. The professional veterinary fraternity, Omega Tau Sigma, hosts similar events (as of 2005). However, consistently throughout the years SCAVMA has been assisting veterinary students in preparing for the board examinations, setting up awards such as the teaching award, attending conferences, and assisting in creative student projects. Conferences include the annual symposium that is held once a year by a chosen college’s student chapter. This national organization of student chapters is called the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA). In 1997, Michigan State University was chosen as the site for the SAVMA annual conference.

Most noteworthy of the creative student projects includes the Vet Gazette that was a student run newsletter during the 1990s and Vet Rap, a talent variety show put on by veterinary students and faculty. It began in 1988 and is still held annually. MSU-SCAVMA has been active in legislature supporting bills that involve veterinary medicine.