A Proactive Model for Recruiting Students into Agriculture Disciplines

Recruitment of students into any field of agriculture is sometimes hampered by traditional perceptions of agriculture as being a study of “cows, sows, and plows”.  Contrary to this misperception, modern agriculture encompasses discipline specializations that appeal to almost every student.  Dispelling this myth of agriculture and replacing that image with the dynamic and cutting edge reality is the first challenge that we face in recruiting students. A second challenge that exists is the decline in the numbers of high school graduates entering college as evidenced by static and even declining higher education enrollments occurring in the last couple of years.  We have developed a cadre of effective strategies for recruitment of high quality students that have enabled us to sustain an enrollment growth of 50% since 2007.  These include peer reviewed print material, aggressive use of social media,  hiring of a student communications assistant, targeting primary influencers, generous scholarship support, broad communication about job opportunities,  and  AgAmbassador peer-led tours ending with personal contact with professors in each discipline area.  Today’s students are driven by a desire to ‘make a difference’ and impact the world around them in a positive manner.  Agriculture and all of its subdisciplines offer an excellent opportunity to satisfy those needs.