Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, College of (CASNR)
Date of this Version
July 2007
Abstract
It is our pleasure to provide the Fourteenth Annual Report for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR). We believe in the importance of reflecting on the accomplishments of our faculty, staff and students. The annual report offers the opportunity to review the year, and serves as an archive of accomplishments for our College. This report covers the period August 1, 2006 to July 31, 2007.
We can be very proud of our University. Seventy-three schools competed for recognition as innovators in undergraduate education. Only 16 were selected. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is one of the 16--the only one in our peer group as well as the only one in the Big 12. In fact, UNL is one of only five major research universities to be named >first tier= for our innovative programs for students. The other universities are Duke University, the University of Michigan, the University of Southern California and the State University of New York at Stony Brook. We are also one of only 16 universities in the nation that are designated both land-grant and the Association of American Universities (AAU).
Over the past decade our UNL Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) scientists are among the most-cited agricultural scientists in the world. The ISE Essential Science Indicators Report, 1994-2004, indexes nearly 9,000 journals, tracking how often articles are cited by other authors. IANR is 16th in the world, 10th among universities worldwide, and 8th among American universities. The UNL Extension leads the nation in 4-H participation of age-eligible youth. Dean Elbert Dickey has been serving as the national Adviser for extension in Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) and Dan Cotton (Communications and Information Technology [CIT]) has been leading the national eXtension effort. The College has exceptional partners in the land-grant mission. In IANR, our faculty and staff so thoroughly integrate teaching, research and extension education that the success of each is the success of all. UNL is a very special place for undergraduate education and CASNR is unique among the colleges of UNL.
• All of our students have a faculty adviser and/or mentor. Our students are also fortunate to have outstanding professional staff serving as academic advisers in some degree programs.
• We have 39 student organizations that enrich the undergraduate experience. • DSEL (Dean’s Scholars in Experiential Leadership) offers freshmen a forum to explore different types of leadership. In addition, students learn about volunteerism, mentoring, shadowing and undergraduate research opportunities.
• CASNR Cares (Caring Attitudes and Respect for Every Student) is a unique program in our College. It is a resource for family and faculty/staff to identify students that may need assistance in enhancing their educational experience.
• The Justin Smith Morrill Scholars Learning Community is designed for freshmen to make a successful transition into college by promoting a residential learning community concept. The purpose of the program is to encourage and empower students to embrace and engage in life-long interdisciplinary learning and education, plan and participate in civic engagement and service activities, and exhibit and model the qualities of a successful leader, and act in a leadership role when and where needed and appropriate.
• Forty-eight percent of CASNR students have college and/or departmental scholarships. During the 2006-07 academic year, the College awarded 895 scholarships to 611 students amounting to over $876,000.
• There is a loan program that accrues no interest while students are in school available through the College to assist qualified students in meeting their financial need.
• CASNR has a global campus with 71 students studying in 10 countries last year.
• We are the only College at UNL—and the only College among our peers—that has the Ensuring Your Future program which guarantees a job offer within the first six months after graduation for those students fulfilling the requirements.
• Our College has the only satellite office of Career Services dedicated to assisting CASNR students with finding internships and post-graduation employment. Over 85% of our students find jobs in their fields or continue with their professional education.
• We offer an Employment Seminar and a Job Survival course to prepare students for their job search and internships.
• We routinely have one of the largest Career Fairs on campus with 378 students visiting with representatives from 54 employing organizations about internships and full-time positions last fall.
The College has a tradition of innovative academic programming, exceptional faculty advising, and successful alumni. CASNR is truly a community of scholars where faculty and students are both teachers and learners.