New Agricultural Science Degree Offers Flexibility
This coming spring, a new undergraduate Agricultural Sciences degree will be offered to students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The degree program will educate students for careers in agricultural-related fields, including business, education, Extension, and international programs.
"Students will have flexibility and in many ways tailor make their own degree," said John Hillison, head of the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education. "Graduates will have combination of depth and breadth which will prepare them for flexibility in careers. Industry also emphasized the desire for enhanced communication and leadership skills. Both will be incorporated in the new degree."
The new degree program will offer undergraduates preparation for careers in agricultural education and Extension. Professionals in these fields have been looking for a degree program more specific to their needs that encompasses study across a broad spectrum of the various specialties within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Hillison said.
All of the students in the Agricultural Sciences program will take the same core courses plus 12 credit hours in agricultural communications, leadership, and seminar courses. Students will then have a choice of selecting two minors offered in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Natural Resources, and the Department of Biology. Students will take an additional 15 hours of courses from other departments and still have 13 to 15 hours for free electives.
"Graduates with this new degree will be prepared for careers in the dynamic agricultural and life science industries," said Sharron Quisenberry, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. "Students will gain a broader background in multiple disciplines giving them the flexibility to adapt to their future careers."
For more information about the new Agricultural Sciences degree, contact John Hillison at hillison@vt.edu or (540) 231- 6836.
Alumni Celebrate Homecoming
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Organization had a busy Homecoming weekend on October 7 and 8. The first "Scramble for Scholars" golf tournament, which was held at Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech, kicked off the weekend. Sixty-two golfers turned out on a drizzly morning to support this fund-raising project for the Ag Alumni Scholarship Fund and raised more than $4,500 for the John White Scholarship Fund.
Alumni and friends gathered at the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Teaching Arena that evening for the annual awards banquet and silent auction. Capping the awards presentation was the induction of John White into the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Hall of Fame.
The alumni organization board announced a new fundraising project. The board commissioned Virginia artist Edwin Talley to create pen and ink drawings of the six buildings that form the historic Ag Quad. Prints of these drawings are available for purchase with proceeds to benefit the Ag Alumni Scholarship Fund.
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Organization held its annual meeting October 8 in Litton Reaves Hall. Members present heard encouraging reports from virtually every department in the College. Student enrollment is up and faculty hires are ongoing. Officers for 2005-06 were elected as follows: President - Bob Pitman, Vice President - Buster Beier, and Secretary/Treasurer - Marilyn Jarvis. Morning activities concluded with a tailgate party in front of Litton Reaves. Alumni then adjourned to Lane Stadium for the football game with Marshall.
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Organization is selling unframed prints of Edwin Talley's pen and ink drawings of the buildings surrounding the Ag Quad. Proceeds from the sale of these prints will benefit the Ag Alumni Scholarship Fund. A 16" x 20" composite drawing of all six buildings (shown left) is available for $100, and 10" x 13" prints of individual buildings are available for $50 each. There is a $5.00 shipping and handling charge for each print. More information about the prints and how to purchase them is available at www.cals. vt.edu/alumni/ or by contacting Chastity Warren at (540) 231-6481 or ckwarren@vt.edu.