By Chris Calkins

 

 

Change is hard. For many, it’s more comfortable to settle into a routine than it is to forge ahead into new territory. Memories and pride make it difficult for us to critically evaluate programs we helped create long ago. There’s no doubt it takes much more effort to create new, successful programs. Some folks embrace these new challenges and others resist. There is healthy skepticism that new initiatives will accomplish their intended purpose.

I had a department head many years ago who told me, “Change is the new normal.” That is, we live in a dynamic time, and change is constant. It takes some practice to get comfortable with this, but it’s real. As the old Bob Dylan song says, “The times they are a-changin’.” 

If you haven’t been to the UNL Animal Science Department recently, I encourage you to visit. The facilities have changed. We’ve added a new program in veterinary medicine, the arena has been dedicated to R. B. Warren and has undergone a face lift, and the students are different.

The students we seek to recruit and serve are different from what we’ve been used to, so it’s difficult to know exactly what recruiting techniques will work and what won’t. This group of students is used to getting information in a different way than we did. They work on computers as a natural part of their learning, listen to podcasts and manage their time differently. They have different expectations and little patience for information and activities that are not pertinent. They need perspective, encouragement and guidance. To me, all of this spells opportunity. But success must be earned. It won’t come easily.

The department faculty and programs have changed, too. In the past two years, the institute has filled key positions, including a feedlot nutritionist at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff, a nutritionist at the Gudmundsen Sandhills lab, a reproductive biologist, a companion animal specialist, a lecturer in equine sciences, an Extension beef cattle veterinarian, a new beef Extension geneticist, an Extension educator dedicated to the livestock judging team, a veterinary epidemiologist at the Great Plains Veterinary Education Center and a non-ruminant nutritionist. There is also new faculty in veterinary and biomedical sciences to teach the first two years of veterinary medicine.

Some of these represent new programs and new directions for the Animal Science Department. This redirection does not come without giving up some established programs and refocusing effort. Hopefully these are fruitful. Either way they will be reevaluated along with the rest of our programs as we strive for continuous improvement.

Fortunatly, we can point to some changes that have had a positive impact. The equestrian team is nationally competitive. We have produced a number of all-American livestock judges over the past few years. The online meat culinology™ program is attracting new enrollment. We have a growing interest in companion animals, and the innovative 2+2 veterinary medicine program with Iowa State University is proving to be positive. The Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium is nationally recognized for training high school juniors and seniors. Last year, Kentucky held a statewide competition to identify five top students to attend our program. They came away very impressed and highly complimentary of our program. Our Beef Industry Scholars program is also very popular – attracting outstanding animal science students into a beef emphasis with special seminars, interaction with outstanding industry professionals, and a connection with the Nebraska Cattlemen and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

The Animal Science Department is continuing to evolve. We are beginning to develop a strategic plan, built in part with the help of a newly structured external advisory committee. We are prioritizing new position requests and looking for opportunities to serve our students and state. Enrollment is up. This past year, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources led all colleges in the university with an 11 percent increase in students and the Animal Science Department had one of the biggest gains.

We know a large part of this success is because of your efforts. The good you do in identifying and talking with potential students is immeasurable. The recently developed Nebraskans for Nebraska is another recruiting structure helping out the entire college. So are the efforts of NC’s Education Committee. We’ve also been able to expand the scholarship program for incoming freshmen as well as existing students. Please continue to be involved. One of my wishes for 2008 is for more students and parents to experience the passion of my peers, understand the value of a four-year college education and to comprehend the breadth of programs available in UNL’s Animal Science Department and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

We have the opportunity to hire a new department head this year. Thanks to all of you who offered support and suggestions, and to those who served on the search advisory committee. Your input is critical to our success. I look forward to innovative, visionary guidance from our new leader. By the time you read this, the committee will be evaluating the candidate pool.

Speaking of changes in facilities, you should be aware of the adjustments that will be needed as we reap the benefits of LB 605. This bill provided funding for renovation of our building’s air handling and fire safety systems. Although you won’t see a lot of the changes when we are done, know that this improvement in infrastructure was essential and timely. However, these renovations will displace us from our offices throughout summer and fall 2008. We will do what we can to minimize the inconvenience to you, students and our programs, but recognize that sometimes progress requires short-term inconvenience.

The start of a new year is a time when many of us reflect on what has been accomplished in the previous year and to resolve to make some changes in the coming year. I, too, have some New Year’s resolutions. Professionally, they involve recruiting students (both graduate and undergraduate students), sustaining an aggressive and productive research program, continuing to communicate with stakeholders, to grow professionally and to contribute to the economic success of Nebraska’s beef producers. Personally, I hope to strike a better balance between work and family (too many weekends spent at the office tend to have an impact at home) and to focus on my relationships with people. Sometimes, I am so task-oriented that I bypass opportunities to connect with those around me. I hope to do better in 2008.

This February we will be taking four students to the annual Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show. You have always been supportive of this important growth activity for the students and recruiting activity for the college. I hope to see you there! Y  By Chris R. Calkins, Neb. Beef Industry Professor of Animal Science.