Enhancing Agricultural and Applied Economics Educational Programs

Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Aug 2005 by White, Fred C

* Food and Fiber Marketing

* Natural Resource Economics

These minors are attracting new students to the program and increasing student credit hour production.

The Environmental Economics and Management degree has been changed to a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences (BSES). This change, which enhances student perception of the major, is being advertised to increase student enrollment.

Participation in new University of Georgia interdisciplinary majors, some of which are at Tifton and Griffin, offer this department an opportunity to increase the number of student credit hours. The purpose of the off-campus majors are to use the unique College resources at Tifton and Griffin to attract additional students to the College. Several Agricultural and Applied Economics courses have been taught at Tifton and others will be taught in the new program in Griffin. These interdisciplinary programs provide an opportunity to involve extension and research faculty in the instructional program.

Student Recruitment

The department has developed new recruitment materials, including exhibits, brochures, and posters. Attractive and unique illustrations for our three majors-Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, and Environmental Economics and Management have been developed by an artist from the College. These illustrations are used in the various recruitment materials.

The Department sponsors exhibits and representatives (faculty, staff, and students) at numerous recruitment opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students. These activities include 4-H and FFA conventions, major fairs, etc. Departmental majors are advertised in student newspapers, on campus buses, and in other outlets. The advertisements are based on the theme of "Dynamic Majors for Business Careers." All relevant information on majors and minors are readily accessible on the web. The departmental web page features current students and alumni to help recruit students.

The department is using internships to help recruit high school minority students. In the summer, students are involved in paid internships in the department. Departmental faculty and staff have worked with these students to expose them to our programs and hopefully recruit these students for the department and university.

Personal letters have been sent to new students who have gone through UGA orientation and expressed an interest related to the department's instructional program. The specific interests targeted include business, environment, and pre-law. Also, students who were undecided were contacted and informed about the department's majors. The recruitment letter called the students' attention to the department's web page, which has been updated for the recruitment effort. The students were also invited to contact faculty in the department for more information on our majors.

The department communicates with advisors in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Business School, and College of Arts and Sciences to present our majors and to describe changes in curriculum.