| Present at the signing of the new agricultural education partnership agreement were Dr. Richard Nelson, Director of UMC's Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources (standing); Dr. Roland Peterson, Head of the Division of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Education, U of M, Twin Cities; Dr. Don Sargeant, UMC Chancellor; Dr. Alan Hunter, Professor of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science, U of M, Twin Cities; and Patrick Plonski, Executive Director, Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council. |
Posted 03/13/2000
Contact: Andrew Svec, 218-281-8380
Agricultural Education Partnerships And Scholarships Expanded
A series of major initiatives will significantly expand the scope of agricultural education in Minnesota, it was announced February 24 at the State Capitol in St. Paul. Key to the expansion is a new Agricultural Education partnership agreement between the Twin Cities and Crookston campuses of the University of Minnesota, and a new $20,000 Scholarship Program initiated by the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC). State agricultural education leaders made the announcement at a signing ceremony held in conjunction with FFA Day at the Minnesota State Capitol.
Under the terms of the new partnership agreement, students at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) will now be able to enroll in the Agricultural Education programs offered by the University of Minnesota Division of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Education (AFEE) based on the St. Paul campus. Agricultural Education teacher preparation will be key to the new partnership, as Minnesota continually has more new positions than available graduates annually for teachers of middle and high school agricultural education, Farm Business Management programs, and agribusiness needs. "We just have a tremendous shortage of well-trained personnel in agricultural education fields, and this new partnership reflects the needs for expanded graduates in these areas," said Dr. Charles Muscoplat, U of M Dean of COAFES and Vice President for Agricultural Policy.
Don Sargeant, Chancellor for the University of Minnesota, Crookston, was present for the signing ceremony and announcement. "UMC enrolls a number of students each year who express interest in Agricultural Education," Sargeant said. "This agreement will encourage more of them to complete Ag Ed degrees without leaving the University of Minnesota system and it will attract a new group of future teachers into the profession. With UMC's technology focus and strong agriculture curriculum, we are in an ideal position to complement the strengths of our St. Paul partners and provide a higher level of service to the state," Sargeant continued.
Dr. Roland Peterson, Head of the Division of AFEE stated that students can now opt to utilize any one of three different education options for completing their initial teaching licensure program in Agricultural Education. "We look forward to working together in this partnership," Peterson said. "It will be a great opportunity for students
interested in pursuing a career in Agricultural Education. However, of most importance will be the increase in supply of teachers so that more students in grades 5-12 across Minnesota may experience the wonderful context agriculture provides in making their education more meaningful," Peterson continued.
"With UMC's growing collegiate FFA chapter and the close connection between FFA and Agricultural Education programs, FFA Day at the Capitol is the perfect opportunity to highlight this exciting new educational opportunity at the University of Minnesota, Crookston," said Dr. Richard Nelson, Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UMC.
Rep. Tim Finseth of Angus, Minnesota, noted that the new partnership between UMC and the AFEE Division on the St. Paul Campus will be very attractive in Northwestern Minnesota for potential students and their families. "The University of Minnesota, Crookston enjoys a tremendous reputation in Northwestern Minnesota and many students prefer to study closer to home," Finseth said. "Expanding the reach and scope of Agricultural Education programs will help ensure a high-quality curriculum close to home and this will be popular," Finseth continued. Finseth serves as Co-Chair of MAELC and is the Chair of the House Agriculture Policy Committee.
"This key partnership reflects the desire of the University of Minnesota to continually strive to improve its delivery system for agricultural programs," said Dr. Stanley Sahlstrom, Regent Emeritus of the University of Minnesota and former long-time Chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Crookston. "The University of Minnesota, Crookston will now serve as a key regional site to help train the Agricultural Education graduates in such demand in Minnesota schools, colleges, and agribusiness," Sahlstrom continued.
In conjunction with the new partnerships in Agricultural Education programs, MAELC also announced a new $20,000 Agricultural Education Scholarship Program to attract more students into Agricultural Education fields of study. "We simply need more students in agricultural education to meet the needs of Minnesota's diverse agricultural economy," said MAELC Co-Chair Senator Dallas Sams of Staples, Minnesota. "We have a tremendous worker shortage in Minnesota in general, and in the new high tech agricultural fields this shortage is especially acute. New Ag Ed partnerships and the new MAELC Scholarship Program -- combined with our ongoing efforts to retain funding for high school agriculture programs -- will help to bring in the highly trained personnel we need right now in Minnesota agriculture," Sams continued. The MAELC Scholarship Program will be targeted towards attracting students to new Agricultural Education partnership programs. MAELC will provide 10 $2,000 scholarships for first-year Agricultural Education students this fall.
Recently, the Agricultural Education Division has established partnerships with a number of MnSCU institutions including Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minnesota; and South Central Technical College in Mankato, Minnesota. Partnership opportunities continue to be explored with Central Lakes College in Brainerd; and Minnesota West College in Worthington.
For further information about the new Agricultural Education partnership programs, contact Dr. Roland Peterson, Division of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, at 612-624-4736. For more specific information about the University of Minnesota-Crookston program, contact Dr. Richard Nelson, Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UMC, at 218-281-8100. For further information about the MAELC Scholarship Program, contact Patrick Plonski, Executive Director, MAELC, at 612-624-6249.