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About a year ago, concerned with 10 years of declining agricultural enrollment at the University of Nebraska, NC President Tom Hansen formed a task force to see how this association could help out the college.
Whether it was raising money for professors and research projects, or recruiting new agriculture students, NC pledged during several early meetings with UNL administrators to assist where it could.
In fact, the task force adopted this mission statement: To assist UNL in maintaining prominence as a leading agricultural university in the world while enhancing the beef industry in Nebraska and the United States.
Between 1995 and 2005, UNL’s agricultural enrollment dropped by 10 percent. Since revenue is tied to enrollment, the college could not afford to replace some educators, nor fund some research projects.
In some respects, it’s been a vicious circle; faced with tight budgets across all state agencies, the Nebraska Legislature cuts UNL funding. That leads to tuition increases, which causes enrollment to drop. University programs face termination.
Already, more than 23 agricultural positions important to our industry have been recently vacated at UNL and not yet filled. NC grew concerned last year because prominent agricultural scientists like Dr. Terry Klopfenstein, Dr. Jim Gosey, Dr. Roger Mandigo and Dr. Ivan Rush have either retired or are facing retirement. Would the university have enough money to hire replacements?
With our priorities of improving education, faculty and research, the Task Force established three committees to tackle the problems. The following is a short synopsis of each.
Recruitment Committee
Long-term success of the task force will be measured by increased agricultural enrollment and turning out well-prepared students who will play vital roles in the beef industry.
Initial discussions in this area have yielded these points:
* Utilize NC and its local affiliates to promote UNL agriculture around the state. NC has offered to be UNL’s “boots on the ground” and will be forming local recruitment committees in our affiliate areas. Chris Kalkowski is chair of the recruitment committee. We welcome input from not only members, but also non-NC members.
* Make more use of the UNL Judging Teams as a recruitment tool, including hiring a permanent, full-time coach who is also an outstanding recruiter. Judging team alumni will be asked to play a role in restoring this vital part of the UNL program. Dave Hamilton is the leader of this effort and would welcome your help.
* Review of admission requirements
* Work closely with community colleges in the state
* Review all recruiting strategies and tactics
* Work to get potential students to visit the campus, to see for themselves what a great choice it is
* Portray a positive image to both students and parents
* Use programs like 4-H and FFA to promote IANR
* Utilize NC members and UNL alumni to promote IANR
Advisory Committee
Nebraska Cattlemen will form an advisory committee consisting of four or five members to act as a liaison between UNL and the Task Force. It will meet bimonthly with appropriate UNL department heads and administration. Chair is Nancy Peterson.
The committee will establish open communications between the industry and UNL, uncover the fundamental problems that led to recruitment shortfalls and search for solutions in concert with UNL personnel.
It will be an advocate and voice for industry concerns and provide input on filling critical faculty positions, bring focus to the industry’s problems that require theoretical and/or applied research, and help UNL understand what the industry and its allied businesses require of entry-level employees, possibly leading to changes in curriculum and/or externships.
Fundraising Committee
Fundraising is a priority. Realistically, the university relies on contributions – and the Nebraska beef industry needs to participate. If we contribute funds as part of our overall program (advisory, recruitment, judging team), we can leverage those dollars and be effective. Co-chairs are Jay Wolf and George Cooksley.
The Nebraska Cattlemen Research & Education Foundation (NCREF) has already stepped up to the plate. NCREF has committed to contribute $150,000 over a three-year period. NCREF now needs our members to join in by contributing to this cause. We have already raised a third of the $150,000 and are confident that our members will see the value of pitching in.
Our task force has had multiple meetings with the highest levels of UNL administration, including Regents chairman Jim McClurg, President J.B. Miliken, Chancellor Harvey Perlman, Vice Chancellor John Owens, Dean Steve Waller and Animal Science Department head Don Beerman. Many more meetings will no doubt follow. We are encouraged by some of the developments that have resulted, some of which were described above. Some additional actions are worth mentioning.
* Don Adams has been appointed director of the West Central Research & Extension Station at North Platte. We are delighted that Don has received this much-deserved promotion. What makes this truly good news is that his research mission will continue since UNL has committed to fill his old position. That was a great concern and we are relieved to know that hiring is assured despite the scarcity of staffing dollars right now.
* The Animal Science Department has voted to designate itself as a Center of Beef Excellence. The move signals that the department itself acknowledges that in these times of limited resources, it cannot be all things to all segments of agriculture. We are pleased it has put a priority on beef.
* The 2006 Unicameral passed some key bills that will help UNL. LB 605 provides funds for remodeling and needed maintenance for the Animal Science Complex and the Agronomy Building (Keim Hall). Funds will also be available for an EPA-required cleanup at Mead and for a utility expense supplement. If these dollars had not been provided, more program cuts could have resulted. NC lobbied for these bills.
To summarize, many positive things have already begun to happen and more will follow with the plans that have been developed. One more critical ingredient needed is YOU! If NC is to be successful and reach our UNL goals, we need your help. Please volunteer your time or money to ensure that post-secondary education in Nebraska is second to none. By doing that you will be helping to ensure that Nebraska’s beef industry is also second to none.
Sandhills rancher Homer Buell is chairman of NC’s UNL Task Force.
Sidebar: How Can You Help?
NC’s UNL Task Force is a long-term commitment to the university, not a short-term project. This is not just a university problem, nor a UNL alumni issue. This is an issue that affects every cattle producer within the state of Nebraska.
The beef industry takes from the university. It takes its graduates, its research and its outreach. Now it’s time for the industry to give back. A strong UNL agricultural program is vital to the long-term viability of cattle producers in Nebraska.
NC encourages every cattleman in the state to contribute.
If you would like to donate money or help in fundraising, contact Jay Wolf (402-395-2178) or George Cooksley (308-749-2413).
If you would like to help with recruiting new students, call Chris Kalkowski (402-934-1646). To help bolster the judging team, contact Dave Hamilton (308-645-2521).
To assist the overall Advisory Committee, call Nancy Peterson (308-360-1996).
A meeting of the recruitment committee is planned for early September. |