Surveying Incoming Undergraduate Horticulture Students about Their Horticulture Backgrounds and Career Concerns

Horticulture program enrollments across the nation, including the Horticulture Department at Kansas State University, have been in decline. This is concerning as there is an ever-increasing need for graduates for the increasing number of career opportunities in the horticulture field. The objective of our research was to better understand the horticulture backgrounds of incoming freshman and transfer students and identify their concerns related to horticulture as they begin their undergraduate program at Kansas State University. With this information, our aim is to evaluate and assess our program’s current recruitment activities and consideration for new recruitment activities, in order to better direct limited resources to increase student enrollment in our undergraduate program. A survey was administered in the HORT 190 Preparing For Your Horticulture Career Course in the fall 2014 (F14; n=40) and 2015 (F15; n=46) semesters. Descriptive data was collected. In addition, students were asked open-ended questions, along with a list of several statements about horticulture and our program, in which they rated their responses (Strongly Disagree =1; Disagree =2; Neither Agree or Disagree =3; Agree =4; and Strongly Agree =5). Sixty-eight percent and 67%, F14 and F15 students, respectively, indicated their high school did not have a horticulture course or program. When asked whether “The general public perception of horticulture is positive”, 68% (F14) and 76% (F15) agreed or strongly agreed with the statement. When asked whether they “had a good idea of a salary as a horticulture graduate” for the horticulture field, 43% (F14) and 57% (F15) agreed or strongly agreed with the assertion. This was interesting; as several students in each semester indicated that the amount of pay or salary was a major concern in response to an open-ended question about major concerns in their decision to get a horticulture degree. Another question asked if “I need a college degree to succeed in horticulture.” In the F14 and F15 semesters, 40% and 28%, respectively, of the students neither agreed nor disagreed, while 18% and 33%, respectively, either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the need for a college degree to be successful in the field. Based on our initial findings, it is clear that many horticulture students at Kansas State University are choosing the major, without any previous experience through their high school curriculum. Moreover, they are majoring in horticulture without a strong understanding of job opportunities available, salaries, and whether or not the degree will be necessary.