Vision and Change in Biology Undergraduate Education:

Chronicling Change, Inspiring the FutureA USDA Perspective

By

Muquarrab Qureshi, DVM, M.Sc., PhD  

USDA’s Education Portfolio

Spans Across Several AgenciesNIFAARSNASSERSFSAFSISFNSAPHISRDFSNRCS

COMMON THEMES

•Learning and Engagement•Trainings and Education•Internships•Capacity Building•Educational Campaigns and Outreach

National Institute of Food and Agriculture - NIFA

USDA’s principal extramural scientific

Research, Education and Extension

agency

The Morrill/Land-Grant Act

• Foundational knowledge in humanities and sciences

• Practical education in agriculture and mechanical arts

• Military leadership

Cognitive Skills

Noncognitive Skills

Our Academic Partners1862 Land Grant InstitutionsAlaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-

Serving Institutions, Insular Areas1890 Land Grant Programs1994 Land Grant Tribal ProgramsHispanic Serving Institutions (HSI)

NIFA

Vision

Input Output

Lear

ning

& E

ngag

emen

t

Wor

kfor

ce

Nex

t Gen

erat

ion

of S

cien

tists

Cap

acity

Bui

ldin

g

K-20 Continuum

Target Audience

YouthStudentsEducatorsFarmersPublicGlobal Dimension

NIFA’s Formal Education Investment

2012 Annual Summary

• # of Programs: 12• # of awards made in 2012: 228

• Amount: $ 41 millionLGU Partners: 1862s = 57; 1890s = 18; 1994 = 34; HSIs = 311

(HSACUs = ~80)

So, What “Keeps USDA Awake” at night??

Employment Opportunities for College Graduatesin Agriculture and Food, 2010-2015:

Shortfalls of qualified graduates are anticipated

http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/USDA/employment/Documents/USDAEmployOp2010.pdf

Employment Opportunities for College Graduatesin Agriculture and Food, 2010-2015:

http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/USDA/employment/Documents/USDAEmployOp2010.pdf

Multiple Education Assessments and Reports

AAAS: “Vision and Change – A Call to Action”. 2009

NAS: “Universities and the Future of America: Ten Breakthrough Actions Vital to Our Nation’s Prosperity and Security”. 2012

PCAST: Report to the President: “Engage to Excel: Producing One Million Additional College Graduates With Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics”. 2012

PCAST: “Report to the President on Agricultural Preparedness and The Agriculture Research Enterprise”. 2012

NSTC Committee on STEM Education: “Federal Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education 5-Year Strategic Plan”. 2013

Human Capital Recommendations for U.S. Agriculture from PCAST

•The primary concern is support for a well-trained workforce

– Currently, the best students do not view agriculture as an attractive career option

– Relatively few graduate students enter into agricultural fields

•Industry has difficultly recruiting the technical employees for its research programs

- Often turning to foreign students and workers

•This situation must be reversed Report to the President on Agricultural Preparedness and the Agriculture Research Enterprise. President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, December 2012.

Human Capital Recommendations for U.S. Agriculture from PCAST

• At the baccalaureate level we need comprehensive array of undergraduate programs that are

• Relevant to agriculture and the food industry

• Must remain strong and well-supported

“VISION AND CHANGE – A CALL TO ACTION”

• “Take biology out of the realm of the abstract and relate it to the real world”

AAAS Summary of Recommendations, 2009

NIFA is Outcome Driven

Translation

Discovery

Solution

Innovation

A Package Deal !!!!