AMES, Iowa — Most agriculture colleges associated with land grant universities in the Farm World region saw enrollment increases this fall. College officials point to the diversity of their offerings and the demand for graduates in areas covered by their programs as keys to the higher numbers.
Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has had a 97 percent or more placement rate for graduates over the last 15 years, said Tom Polito, director of student services for the college. The rate is for students finding a job within 3-6 months of graduation.
"We have done things here to enable us to tell our story," he noted. "Others may have a ‘here we are, come if you want to’ attitude, but we say to them, ‘this is what you get.’ In my view, we’ve got a pretty good product – students – that’s in demand."
The recruitment message for The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences emphasizes why students should further their education and why they can best do that at OSU, said Jill Tyson, the college’s coordinator of prospective student services.
"There’s a lot of good happening at OSU," she stated. "We talk about future job openings and the variety of jobs available. We want to be sure they’re choosing a major they’ll find a job in."
Included in Purdue University’s recruitment material for its College of Agriculture is an employment summary which lists the number of graduates who have been hired and starting salaries by major, said Timothy Kerr, senior assistant director of academic programs for the college.
Recruiters also emphasize the college isn’t just for those with a farm background. "We make sure they understand that many of our students don’t come from a rural or agriculture background," he said.
"We have so much to offer in the college, and we think we can help them find a home. We do a good job of making sure students understand that."
Officials with Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources work to hone their message for today’s incoming students, said Kelly Millenbah, associate dean and director for academic and student affairs for the college.
"The word agriculture has a stigma with this generation of students," she explained. "They hear ‘agriculture’ and think of a farmer on a tractor. They think that’s the only thing you do if you’re in agriculture.
"We try to honor that side of the equation, but we’re adapting words like food energy and environment, which we use in our recruiting and promotional materials. It’s squarely on our shoulders to get that message out there."
Potential students are still showing a strong interest in colleges of agriculture even if the nation’s farm economy isn’t as robust as it has been, Polito said. "Enrollment continues to grow. It’s the perfect storm, though part of the storm is starting to wane," he explained. "With $7 corn, all the news is very positive (for farming). It’s different when you have $3 to $4 corn.
"I don’t think the farm economy may be as strong as it was a few years ago. But young people want to make a difference. The current generation is interested in leaving the world a better place than they found it. There’s renewed interest in being able to feed the world."
While animal science and agribusiness and applied economics lead enrollment figures in OSU’s agriculture college, there have been increases pretty much across the board, Tyson noted. Some students come to the university understanding the diversity of the offerings of the college, but others don’t think of potential applications to such careers as food science or environmental science.
"We’re not the College of Agriculture anymore," she said. "A lot of graduates and undergraduates currently enrolled do not have a background in agriculture."
Competition among hiring companies is strong for top graduates from colleges of agriculture, said Jill Cords, career consultant with MSU’s agriculture college.
"Employers are trying to build a brand earlier for the students," she said.
"They’re hiring interns and after the internship is over, those interns are coming back with job offers. It’s a struggle for companies that don’t offer internships. Employers are very aggressive, and they have to be."
