Options
abound in Ag School
"The
College of Agriculture has many unique majors that most students
don't even know about. Our scouts are helping us introduce students
to the wide range of opportunities we have to offer," says
Dale Whittaker, director of Academic Programs in Agriculture.
The school has 45 majors in its 10 academic departments. In addition
to majors related to production agriculture, students can major in fields
such as:
- Landscape architecture
- Biochemistry
- Food industry marketing & management
- Wood products manufacturing technology
- Applied meteorology
- Fisheries and aquatic science
- Turf science
- Natural resources & environmental science
- Food process engineering
- Environmental plant studies
- Urban and industrial pest control
- Plant genetics and plant breeding Wildlife
- Horticultural production and marketing
Forestry
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And finding students like Dorroll is just the start. An equally important
goal of the "GO in AG" campaign is making sure the students
who apply and are accepted to Purdue this winter actually enroll in
the College of Agriculture in the fall of 2003.
"Every year," says Whittaker, "there is a significant
number of students whom we accept, but for one reason or another, don't
show up in the fall. Typically, about 70 percent of the accepted applicants
show up in the fall, but we want to change all of that. After all,
they are so close, but we have to do a better job of being there between
the time they apply and the time school starts in the fall to answer
any questions, or help solve any problems they may have.
"We are going to work on creating and maintaining a network of
students and parents of students who can call these applicants and
just ask them if they have any questions or concerns, if they would
like a guided tour of campus whatever it takes. We want each of them
to get three or four phone calls between the time they apply in the
fall through the winter."
Whittaker doesn't take credit for developing the "GO in AG" program.
It was in the works even before he arrived on campus from Texas A&M
to replace Karl Brandt last summer. And if the program succeeds in
finding 100 Phil Dorrolls across Indiana, then everybody in the state
will benefit.
"We obviously have a core of people throughout the state we rely
on for help," Whittaker says. "With 'GO in AG,' we're just
utilizing our network of supporters throughout Indiana better than
we ever have before. We've always been sending out these messages,
but we want to acknowledge that we have a powerful network in this
state and we want them to help us do our job better, which is preparing
our people for the future.
"Partnering with the scouts is a better use of our vast resources.
These scouts will benefit us for years to come, in ways we don't even
know yet. These people will be recognized as the go-to people in their
schools or communities."
And what's in it for the scouts?
"Philanthropy," says Whittaker. "They can help us find
students who will contribute in a positive way to bettering our future,
and they will have a personal hand in helping those students become
successful."
Contact Dale Whittaker at dwhittak@purdue.edu
