Colleges of agriculture at the land grant universities : public service and public policy / Committee on the Future of the Colleges of Agriculture in the Land Grant University System, Board on Agriculture, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on the Future of the Colleges of Agriculture in the Land Grant University System.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Agricultural colleges--United States.

Agricultural colleges.

Agricultural education--United States.

Agricultural education.

State universities and colleges--United States.

State universities and colleges.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (138 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1996.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Since their inception in 1862, the U.S. land grant colleges have evolved to become the training ground for the nation's and the world's agriculturists. In this book, the committee examines the future of the colleges of agriculture in light of changing national priorities for the agricultural, food, and natural resource system. The effects of federal funding constraints also are examined, as are opportunities for growth presented by developments in science. The committee's preceding volume, Colleges of Agriculture at the Land Grant Universities: A Profile , is a compilation of the data that helped formulate the specific questions to be addressed. Colleges of Agriculture at the Land Grant Univerisities: Public Service and Public Policy is the deliberative report, rating conclusions and recommendations for institutional innovation and public policy. It addresses these and other questions: What education mission should colleges of agriculture adopt--and what strategies should they use--in light of significant changes in the agricultural complex? Research in agriculture is expected to respond to consumer demands, environmental concerns, world population growth, and increasing pressure on agricultural lands. Is the century-old structure of land grant university-based research up to the task? What is the role of extension in light of today's smaller farming communities and larger farming conglomerates? This volume is the culmination of a landmark evaluation of land grant colleges of agriculture, an American institution. This document will be of value to policymakers, administrators, and others involved in agricultural science and education.

Contents:

Colleges of Agriculture at the Land Grant Universities

Copyright

Preface

Acknowledgements

Contents

Executive Summary

THE COLLEGES' CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Relevance and Accessibility of the LGCA System

A New Geography for the LGCA System

Reinvigorating the Tripartite Mission

Federal Funding: Levels and Guiding Principles

Federal Policy versus Institutional Leadership

SUMMARY

1 Introduction

UNIQUENESS OF THE LAND GRANT COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE SYSTEM

THE CHANGING CONTEXT OF THE LGCA SYSTEM AND THE NEW NATIONAL INTEREST

KEY ISSUES FOR THE FEDERAL SECTOR

Methodology Used to Develop This Study

Organization of the Remainder of This Report

2 A Land Grant System For Tomorrow: Overarching Themes and Recommendations

AN EXPANDED AND INCLUSIVE VIEW OF THE MODERN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM

Characteristics of the Food and Agricultural System

Consumer Driven

Ecosystem Accountability

Global Markets

Biotechnology's Role

Economic Inequities

The Farm": A Changing Perspective

Implications for the Future

Involving the Stakeholders

Working with producers

Understanding the Growing Role of Privatization and Developing the Knowledge Base

A NEW GEOGRAPHY AND NEW PARTNERSHIPS

The Case for a New Geography Has Several Foundations and Dimensions

Regional Research

Coordination Could Create Synergism in Teaching

A Market-Based Agricultural Extension System

Multifaceted Issues Require New Partnerships

RENEWING THE TRIPARTITE MISSION: INTEGRATING TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND EXTENSION

Linking Teaching to Research and Extension

Research-Extension Linkages

ACCOUNTABILITY AND PRINCIPLES FOR THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS

Performance Goals and Standards

Principles for the Use of Public Funds

3 Teaching.

THE NATIONAL INTEREST IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM EDUCATION

THE FEDERAL ROLE

CHARACTERISTICS OF STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Students

Accessibility and Relevance to Precollege Students

Accessibility and Relevance to a Diverse Set of Students

Faculty

Faculty-Student Contact and Teaching Incentives

Academic Programs

Problem-Solving Orientation

OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISTINCTION

Environmental Science and Systems Approaches: Programs Built on a "Sense of Place

Service to the University

A Marketplace for Ideas

SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

4 Research

THE NATIONAL INTEREST

Ensuring a Sustainable High- Quality, Productive System

The Federal Role

STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE OF THE CURRENT LAND GRANT RESEARCH SYSTEM

Federal Research Funds and Allocation Mechanisms

Encouraging Participation and the Potential for Success

Revising the Formula

The Status of the 1890 Institutions

Public-Private Partnerships in Research Funding at LGCAs

Alternative Mechanisms for Allocating Competitive Grants

Preproposals

Chunk Grants

Percentage Funding

Performance-Based Funding

Summary

Funding Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary Research

CONCLUSIONS

5 Extension

THE NATIONAL INTEREST IN PUBLIC ACCESS TO FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH

Important Roles for the Federal Partner

Who Is the Federal Partner?

EXTENSION'S ROLE IN THE MODERN CONTEXT

Challenges and Opportunities for the Future

Private versus Public Roles in Agricultural Extension

Complementarily between Public and Private Extension Providers

Roles for which Extension Is Most Qualified

Serving Urban, Suburban, and Nonfarm Rural Clientele

Federal Mandates

Program Evolution

The Research Link

Rural Economics

Conclusions.

Financing Public Extension

ALLOCATION FEDERAL EXTENSION FUNDS

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

References

About The Authors

ABOUT THE STAFF

Index

Recent Publications of the Board on Agriculture

POLICY AND RESOURCES

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS SERIES AND RELATED TITLES.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 105-110) and index.

ISBN:

9786610210732

9780309175791

0309175798

9781280210730

1280210737

9780309588935

0309588936

9780585001913

058500191X

OCLC:

42328485