Students

Cowboys without boots
Students bring diversity to the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
By Lora Young, Lansing, N.C.

Through the corridors of Oklahoma State University's Agricultural Hall, the echoes of boot steps increasingly are replaced by the squeaks of sneakers, the taps of stilettos and the rhythmic slaps of flip flops.

Enrollment in the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is evolving to include students without rural backgrounds but with interests in the diversity of programs.

"In the 1960s, there were about four men to every woman in the college of agriculture," said Ed Miller, associate dean of CASNR. "Most students were from traditional agricultural backgrounds."

Now, the college has more women than men. An increasing number of students are not from farm backgrounds, Miller said. This trend is driven by the pre-vet and pre-med programs offered through biochemistry, agricultural economics and animal science.

"In the 2007 freshman animal science class, 68 percent were from non-farm backgrounds," said Mariette Benage, animal science coordinator for student success. "Most are girls interested in the pre-vet option to specialize in small animals and exotics."

The expansion of food science to a major also has attracted students to the college. Benage said many students interested in food research changed from the nutrition program to food science.

CASNR students from non-agricultural backgrounds also enroll in traditional agricultural majors. Yuriko Mori, plant and soil science junior, originally enrolled at OSU in environmental science but switched to get more background in science.

"Environmental science has too many policy classes for me," Mori said. "Policy in the U.S. is different than other countries. I wanted more science-based classes to apply knowledge everywhere."

Born in Fuji, a mid-sized Japanese city, Mori had no agricultural experiences before moving to Oklahoma. She said CASNR made her realize the importance of food security and climate change.

Mori said she plans to return to Japan to work for a company concerned with international ecosystems. Her focus is studying the correlations between soil, forests, nature and food systems.

"One of CASNR's strengths is we have continued to offer strong traditional agricultural programs," Miller said. "We do not simply create new majors but enhance programs as needed."

Amy Simmons, CASNR prospective student recruitment coordinator, said trends in enrollment change with societal changes in job availability. She also said CASNR enrollment increased 26 percent this year while every other OSU college decreased.

"Not one thing specifically contributed to this increase," Simmons said. "It could be a result of joint college fairs in rural communities or a result of individual departmental recruitment."

The agricultural programs at OSU not only attract non-agricultural students from Oklahoma but also from around the world.

Christelle Huck and Gautier Simonin are foreign exchange students from a university in Lille, France; neither is from a farm, but they both are food engineering majors in France. They came to OSU for a semester to study agricultural economics.

"Economics is important," Huck said. "When combined with agriculture and food, I can also study world markets and trade."

Simonin said in agriculture he can find many ways to apply his knowledge and wanted to use his foreign exchange experience to increase his skills.

"I wanted to have another point of view of agriculture," Simonin said. "In France, my major dealt specifically with food processing; here, I can study markets, trade and other global issues in the agricultural industry."

The curriculum is not the only feature of the college that attracts students. Andrea Hesser, animal science pre-vet sophomore, said she decided to be in the college because of the professors.

"It was easy to pick a major because the professors were so nice," Hesser said. "They go out of their way for their students."

Hesser said she not only enjoys the professors in CASNR but also feels accepted by the agricultural students.

"I'm the ag kid who doesn't know anything about what she's doing," Hesser said. "But still, I have made so many friends. The people, students and professors in this college are just happier."

Hesser said the college helps students financially with more scholarship opportunities through CASNR than other colleges.

Like Hesser, Mori said she was impressed with the availability of scholarships within the college and the openness of the professors. She said she also enjoys the job opportunities within the plant and soil sciences department.

"Faculty members are very open," Mori said. "They are willing to work with you to find jobs in your area and to create projects that suit your goals."

Whether it is a result of majors, trends, scholarships, jobs, professors or friends, an increasing number of non-agricultural students are attracted to CASNR.

"The biggest recruitment tool is students having a positive experience and taking it home to share with others," Simmons said.

With supportive faculty, expanding programs and a progressive mind-set, CASNR attracts students from all walks of life, wearing all types of footwear.

Bowties, buckles and strings are replacing boots in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. (Photo by Lora Young)