Strategic Goal 1
Prepare thoughtful, informed, marketable individuals for careers in agricultural education, technology, innovation and related fields.
Strategies to achieve goal:
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Establish a recruitment and retention plan to increase student enrollment and retention.
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Integrate technology and environmental changes in curriculum revision.
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Enhance student services and learning experiences.
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Seek student nominations for awards and honors.
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Secure financial support for student advancement.
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Deliver high quality, market-informed, and competency-based undergraduate and graduate curriculum.
Actions to Achieve Goal:
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Prepare, develop, and update recruitment and retention plan. (Ongoing)
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Engage industry, alumni, and education partners. (Ongoing)
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Partner with UA and CALES units for undergraduate and graduate curriculum needs. (Ongoing)
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Cultivate relationships with perspective and current students via the Student Undergraduate and Graduate Advisor. (Ongoing)
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Arrange for student/faculty interactions through social gatherings and activities. (Ongoing)
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Update marketing and promotional materials and social media outreach. (Ongoing)
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Secure scholarships through relationships and partnerships with alumni and industry. (Ongoing)
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Encourage faculty and staff to attend workshop or training opportunities related to diversity and inclusion. (Ongoing)
Inputs needed to achieve the goal:
• Dedicated undergraduate student advisor
• Faculty and student engagement
• Instructional Specialist
• Six graduate research assistantships
• Student worker(s)
• Stakeholder and advisory group input and collaboration
• Marketing and promotion materials
Objective Metrics that will be used to track progress towards attaining goal:
- To increase total undergraduate enrollment by:
- 5% in five years (FY25)
- 15% in ten years (FY30)
- 25% in 15 years (FY35)
- To increase total graduate enrollment by
- 30% in five years (FY25)
- 50% in ten years (FY30)
- 75% in 15 years (FY35)
- Achieve and maintain an overall retention rate of 85% (FY25)
Note: Use 2020 enrollment and retention data as the benchmark metric.
Gap Analysis: Current Versus Desired Situation
Current:
- Non-traditional student backgrounds
- Unrealized career opportunity
- Low student numbers
- High tuition cost
- Limited scholarship opportunity
- Curriculum (content) changes
Desired:
- An increased number of students in each option area
- Concentrated efforts on recruitment and retention of a diverse student body
- Increased financial support for students in all option areas
- Expanded experiential opportunities
- Enhanced facility resources
- Increased graduation rate