A “Let’s Pretend” Land Grant University Not Acceptable
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
Since the announcement of the proposed idea of ending the University of Nevada, College of Agriculture, the matter of a suitable and effective response has been the number one priority. Although the status quo of the current educational opportunities provided by the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources have not been what most Nevada agricultural interests would consider completely acceptable – not having a College of Agriculture offers even less opportunity.
We’ve been told and it has been pointed out again here, that the plan of the University of Nevada officials is to continue to be a Land Grant University, maintaining the College of Cooperative Extension and the Ag Experiment System. It isn’t explained fully how the emphasis on agricultural research will be accomplished, especially given the plans to “close” the Main Station Experiment Station in Reno.
Some would suggest that closing the College of Agriculture is more about the linkage to the Main Station Experiment Station than anything else. University officials have been drooling over the prospects of doing something other than agricultural research on that facility for some time (cue the cash-register sounds and prepare to back up the Brink’s truck). Taking out the organizational structure which operates the station and there is no reason for the experiment station to be there.
How the needs of agricultural producers will be met in regard to agricultural research is very uncertain, even though we’re supposed to rest confident that the function is going to be continued. Perhaps pretending to be a Land Grant University is a priority even if actually being such an institution isn’t – afterall the provisions of the Nevada Constitution and the Morrill Act require that failure to operate as a Land Grant University means paying back the federal government all the funding that was provided to establish the institution. Perhaps some research is needed on what that amount of repayment might be. Further research into the actual details of criteria of what is a real Land Grant University and whether there is an evaluation process to determine an institution’s worthiness might also be in order.
Although we really haven’t seen the actual financial details for the proposed actions, it is completely understandable that actions need to be taken to address the $11 Million reductions that are necessary to meet the financial obligations of the University. It is also completely understandable that appropriate priorities be funded in order to be the best institution as possible within the restraints of the funding system. It is also somewhat understandable (especially given the status quo) that the College of Agriculture might not be one of the priority areas in the vision of what the University elites would like to have for their institution.
There are ramifications for all decisions and in making choices some things might be connected that you don’t want. However, if you aren’t going to be something you are supposed to be -- you don’t get to pretend that you are simply so you don’t have to incur the consequences of making the change you are intent on pursuing.
If UNR doesn’t want to be the Land Grant University it was created to be, let’s get on with determining how they are going to pay back the obligations required to not be the Land Grant University for Nevada…
Since the announcement of the proposed idea of ending the University of Nevada, College of Agriculture, the matter of a suitable and effective response has been the number one priority. Although the status quo of the current educational opportunities provided by the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources have not been what most Nevada agricultural interests would consider completely acceptable – not having a College of Agriculture offers even less opportunity.
We’ve been told and it has been pointed out again here, that the plan of the University of Nevada officials is to continue to be a Land Grant University, maintaining the College of Cooperative Extension and the Ag Experiment System. It isn’t explained fully how the emphasis on agricultural research will be accomplished, especially given the plans to “close” the Main Station Experiment Station in Reno.
Some would suggest that closing the College of Agriculture is more about the linkage to the Main Station Experiment Station than anything else. University officials have been drooling over the prospects of doing something other than agricultural research on that facility for some time (cue the cash-register sounds and prepare to back up the Brink’s truck). Taking out the organizational structure which operates the station and there is no reason for the experiment station to be there.
How the needs of agricultural producers will be met in regard to agricultural research is very uncertain, even though we’re supposed to rest confident that the function is going to be continued. Perhaps pretending to be a Land Grant University is a priority even if actually being such an institution isn’t – afterall the provisions of the Nevada Constitution and the Morrill Act require that failure to operate as a Land Grant University means paying back the federal government all the funding that was provided to establish the institution. Perhaps some research is needed on what that amount of repayment might be. Further research into the actual details of criteria of what is a real Land Grant University and whether there is an evaluation process to determine an institution’s worthiness might also be in order.
Although we really haven’t seen the actual financial details for the proposed actions, it is completely understandable that actions need to be taken to address the $11 Million reductions that are necessary to meet the financial obligations of the University. It is also completely understandable that appropriate priorities be funded in order to be the best institution as possible within the restraints of the funding system. It is also somewhat understandable (especially given the status quo) that the College of Agriculture might not be one of the priority areas in the vision of what the University elites would like to have for their institution.
There are ramifications for all decisions and in making choices some things might be connected that you don’t want. However, if you aren’t going to be something you are supposed to be -- you don’t get to pretend that you are simply so you don’t have to incur the consequences of making the change you are intent on pursuing.
If UNR doesn’t want to be the Land Grant University it was created to be, let’s get on with determining how they are going to pay back the obligations required to not be the Land Grant University for Nevada…
Posted by Doug Busselman at 3/4/2010 5:46 AM 
Categories: Agriculture
Tags: Nevada Nevada College of Agriculture Land Grant University System
Categories: Agriculture
Tags: Nevada Nevada College of Agriculture Land Grant University System
I am very sympathetic to the need of rural Nevada for the services provided by UNR's College of Agriculture, and I know the college is full of good, productive faculty. But I think I remember at least one column on this website in the last year which opposed raising any taxes to replace the ones tourists are no longer paying. You can't have it both ways, to not be willing to fund the university but demand that it keep providing services. Certainly, if Nevada's farm community were willing to support the College of Agriculture, UNR would be willing to listen to their proposals.
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My gosh, Doug ... don't you sound like a hypocrite.
At this same blog site, just Saturday of this past week, you write an entry titled "The Unwillingness of Our Elected Leaders to be Fiscally Responsible," and for the last three days you've been whining -- and that's definitely the operative word for it -- about a University President making a fiscally Draconian step.
It may not be likable -- but you and the Farm Bureau had better take that blue reality pill, because that's the ONLY way that the UNR budget is going to get the sort of support that it needs to uphold the CABNR budget. You can't have it both ways -- federal and state largess for an industry that includes 0.2% of the Nevada population.
I've been involved in ranching for 35 years. I know the realities. You'd better learn them, too.
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There are other alternatives. you can combine the college of biology with the college of agriculture and extension. You will save money by not having to pay high dollar wages to a dean of a college. The thing we need to remember is that the 0.02 percent of Nevada's population helps feed the other 99.98 percent. We should also remember that mining and agriculture are two things that create new wealth in Nevada's economy.
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