The 2012 ASHS Annual Conference

Many departments are facing consolidation as universities strive to have a more efficient organizational structure. Undergraduate horticulture programs contained within these consolidated units could soon lose identity or face management and direction from those not familiar with horticulture as a field of study. In May, 2012, horticultural leaders from approximately 20 institutions from across the county, including two-year schools, gathered in Ithaca, NY, for the purpose of identifying core competencies and learning outcomes that should be expected of any horticulture program. If available, learning outcomes were solicited from all institutions prior to the meeting, and these were consolidated into a set of outcomes and ranked according to their commonality or uniqueness. The participants then identified those outcomes that are essential for any horticulture program, those that are desirable, and those that programs should strive to achieve if resources permit. The hope is that this set of learning outcomes will be useful in guiding the maintenance and development of horticulture curricula during this time of change across institutions of higher education.