The Responsibility Of Remaining Engaged
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
Since the March 1st announcement of the proposed plan to close the University of Nevada College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR) there may have been a record set for meetings to discuss the future of the agricultural education and research programs at the state’s Land Grant University. Prior to the announcement there would be a couple of meetings each year for members of the stakeholders, formed into an advisory committee. These meetings would mostly consist of power point presentations to update the members on the activities going on within CABNR and seldom having anything to do with advice or input on what Nevada agriculture needed or wanted.
As we have been stressing during the unfolding discussions, relevancy to Nevada agricultural needs has to be the focus of going forward, regardless of the form or structure which comes from the final decisions involving the proposals. Obtaining that outcome can only come as the result of those committed to saving the College staying just as engaged after the decision as they have been.
Some would suggest that maintaining the College designation is essential to preserving prestige and recognition for the status of agriculture in the Land Grant mission. They have valid justification for their points of view, especially given the threats of anti-agricultural interests who would like nothing better than using agricultural research dollars to diminish the availability of natural resources necessary to allow for agricultural production to remain viable.
Based on past experience, there is not any guarantee that remaining a College will assure Nevada agriculture that their interest will be served or that the future of the programs will be interested in what Nevada farmers and ranchers require. Even if the final decision is made to incorporate agriculture into a School of Agriculture, within the College of Science, there should not a resignation that agriculture will be able to count on the demise or the evaporation of agricultural emphasis in the future.
Maintaining agriculture as a priority at the University of Nevada is a responsibility of Nevada agriculture, pressing forward with institutional leadership as well as researchers and professors to stress the principles of there being a profitable and sustainable industry within the state’s future. It’s not just keeping a College as a College, it’s making whatever form or structure there might be an effective and connected set of on-going relationships with maximum concentration on determining needs within the context of Nevada agricultural production (current and future).
The idea has surfaced that building a stronger agricultural research and educational program will take on a less department approach, transitioning to an intertwined programmatic system. Such an applied model should be pursued with emphasis on these program elements:
Since the March 1st announcement of the proposed plan to close the University of Nevada College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR) there may have been a record set for meetings to discuss the future of the agricultural education and research programs at the state’s Land Grant University. Prior to the announcement there would be a couple of meetings each year for members of the stakeholders, formed into an advisory committee. These meetings would mostly consist of power point presentations to update the members on the activities going on within CABNR and seldom having anything to do with advice or input on what Nevada agriculture needed or wanted.
As we have been stressing during the unfolding discussions, relevancy to Nevada agricultural needs has to be the focus of going forward, regardless of the form or structure which comes from the final decisions involving the proposals. Obtaining that outcome can only come as the result of those committed to saving the College staying just as engaged after the decision as they have been.
Some would suggest that maintaining the College designation is essential to preserving prestige and recognition for the status of agriculture in the Land Grant mission. They have valid justification for their points of view, especially given the threats of anti-agricultural interests who would like nothing better than using agricultural research dollars to diminish the availability of natural resources necessary to allow for agricultural production to remain viable.
Based on past experience, there is not any guarantee that remaining a College will assure Nevada agriculture that their interest will be served or that the future of the programs will be interested in what Nevada farmers and ranchers require. Even if the final decision is made to incorporate agriculture into a School of Agriculture, within the College of Science, there should not a resignation that agriculture will be able to count on the demise or the evaporation of agricultural emphasis in the future.
Maintaining agriculture as a priority at the University of Nevada is a responsibility of Nevada agriculture, pressing forward with institutional leadership as well as researchers and professors to stress the principles of there being a profitable and sustainable industry within the state’s future. It’s not just keeping a College as a College, it’s making whatever form or structure there might be an effective and connected set of on-going relationships with maximum concentration on determining needs within the context of Nevada agricultural production (current and future).
The idea has surfaced that building a stronger agricultural research and educational program will take on a less department approach, transitioning to an intertwined programmatic system. Such an applied model should be pursued with emphasis on these program elements:
- Animal Science
- Range Management
- Agricultural Economics
- Plant Science
- Wildlife/Natural Resources
Posted by Doug Busselman at 4/11/2010 5:35 AM 
Categories: Agriculture
Tags: University of Nevada Nevada College of Agriculture closing Agriculture
Categories: Agriculture
Tags: University of Nevada Nevada College of Agriculture closing Agriculture
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