Program Review for Agribusiness (M.S.)

2007-2008 Recommendations

I. Strengths:

1. Significant potential for program development.

2. Recent positive trends in successful recruitment of students into the program – especially at the undergraduate level – which could serve as a springboard for recruitment of students into the graduate program.

II. Weaknesses/Concerns:

1. Specific objectives of the Agribusiness program do not appear in the current Graduate Catalog.

2. Unfilled faculty positions.

3. Low enrollment.

4. Low number of graduates completing program.

5. Lack of functioning graduate committee within the department or college.

III. Recommendations:

1. To identify and foster interest in the Agribusiness program, the objectives of the program should be clearly stated in the University Graduate Catalog. There currently is demand for graduates in this area. Therefore, greater visibility for the program – aimed at both prospective students and potential employers – is important.

2. To hire two faculty members to support this program. As indicated in the report, replacement of recent hires who are no longer faculty in this program is essential. Filling these positions with qualified, research-oriented faculty will facilitate program building, as well as recruitment and retention of students in the program. Also, SACS requires that a graduate program have a minimum of four graduate faculty, and the Agribusiness program will only have two in the fall of 2008. The TAMUK administration needs to investigate and resolve this issue.

3. Based on increased enrollment at the undergraduate level, it appears there is significant potential for building enrollment at the graduate level, once existing faculty lines are filled and faculty have a chance to establish research programs and begin to recruit graduate students to work with them. As new faculty are hired, recruitment and retention plans need to be developed and implemented to support the Agribusiness program.

4. Per the proceeding recommendation, it appears that as existing faculty lines are filled and faculty research programs are established, students can actively be recruited into the program, and the number of graduate students completing the program will follow. This also will be facilitated by allowing students the option of completing Plans I, II, or III.

5. Create a formal Graduate Committee to address, monitor, and facilitate action plans to overcome current program weaknesses.

IV. Program Recommendation:

The Agribusiness Master’s program is recommended for probationary continuation. It is recommended that the two current vacant faculty positions be filled as soon as possible, and that the new faculty members aggressively recruit new students for the fall of 2008. The program should then be reviewed each year for the next three years to ensure that it can meet the Coordinating Board’s requirements.

V. Dean’s Comments (Allen Rasmussen):

The Agribusiness Master’s program is recommended for probationary continuation. There are currently two faculty searches being conducted. One will be finalized by April 2008 and the other by May 2008. These two faculty members will be given three years to establish the program to meet the Coordinating Board’s requirements. The college will work with the new faculty members by providing 2 of the University Presidential Scholarships per year for 3 years to help recruit students. The program will be reviewed at the end of each year to ensure it establishes and maintains the recruitment and retention plans.