REQUEST FOR DECISION
PRESENTED BY: Beth Bilson, Chair, Planning Committee
DATE OF MEETING: October 20, 2005
SUBJECT: College of Agriculture: Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness
DECISION REQUESTED: That Council approve the Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness degree proposal.
SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL:
The Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness will be a four-year degree in the College of Agriculture, with the department of Agricultural Economics responsible for delivering the program. It is made up of courses in science, economics, agricultural economics and business. Graduates will understand the structure and organization of the agri-food sector and will possess business skills with particular application to the value-chain extending from farm inputs through on-farm businesses, to processing, transportation, credit and marketing.
New Courses:
The proposal includes two new courses:
AGEC 346.3 Principles of Selling
AGEC 495.3 Agribusiness Venture Management
In addition, AGEC 298.3 Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness, now being taught as a Special Topics course, will be revised and made a permanent course at the 200-level.
Admission requirements: Complete secondary-level standing in Saskatchewan or the equivalent. Prerequisite subjects: Mathematics B30, Mathematics C30, one approved 30-level science chosen from Biology, Chemistry or Physics.
RATIONALE:
The transformation of Canadian agriculture had created new demands for knowledge and education. Productivity improvements in primary production combined with global competition have decreased the price of agricultural products while farm size has grown dramatically. Consumers and the food service industry are demanding a wide variety of high quality, safe foods that are convenient to prepare. Many new agribusinesses are now involved in supplying new technology, in processing agricultural products and in developing new food products. Growth in these activities is seen as essential, as this offers the potential to offset employment loss on farms. If the growth potential for the agribusiness sector is to be realized, these new businesses will require employees and entrepreneurs who can combine business skills, economics and agricultural science. These circumstances have created an economic need, a business demand and a student demand for an Agribusiness degree. With this business and entrepreneurial approach to their education, graduates will be better prepared for the challenges they will face in the agricultural industry.
IMPACT AND RELATIONSHIPS:
The introduction of a new Agribusiness degree program is consistent with the university and college objective of increasing enrolment. An important aspect of the College enrolment plan is to recruit more students from urban backgrounds and more Aboriginal, out-of-province and international students. To accomplish this, the college needs to develop programs that attract students who are not interested in careers in “traditional” agriculture.
The College of Commerce and the Department of Economics in the College of Arts & Science have both expressed support for the Agribusiness program.
COMMITTEE COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATION:
Academic Programs Committee
The Academic Programs Committee discussed the proposal with Professor Tom Allen, from the Department of Agricultural Economics. The main point discussed by the Committee was the issue of nomenclature for this degree. Committee members agreed that its designation as a “science” degree was acceptable because this conforms to established precedent at the University: such degrees are not restricted to the College of Arts & Science, and the use of the “science” terminology is not restricted to natural science subjects. As well, the other Agriculture degree is also a Bachelor of Science program. Overall, the Academic Programs Committee agreed that this proposal represented a good direction for the College of Agriculture.
At its September 30, 2005, meeting, the Academic Programs Committee approved the following motion: That the Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness program be recommended for approval.
Budget Committee
The Budget Committee established a Subcommittee which reviewed the proposal and which requested additional survey and focus group summaries from the College to provide evidence of demand for the program. The Subcommittee noted the College of Agriculture has the capacity to increase enrollment and is bearing any risk associated with the proposed program. This risk is judged to be low as enrolling three students new to the University of Saskatchewan in the program alone would generate tuition revenue in excess of the incremental costs identified over a four-year period. The Budget Committee agreed that the proposed $1,500 marketing budget was thought to be low, particularly if it is to be used for recruiting of Aboriginal and international students to the program.
At its September 26, 2005, meeting, the Budget Committee approved the following motion: That the Budget Committee recommends to the Planning Committee the Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness be approved, and that consideration be given to marketing efforts, in particular the recruitment of and marketing of the program to Aboriginal and international students.
Planning Committee
At its Special Meeting on October 12, 2005, the Planning Committee of Council agreed to recommend that Council approve the Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness degree proposal.
ATTACHED: Proposal documentation and memos.
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