Administration

Goals and Accomplishments for 2004-2005

Josef M. Broder
Interim Dean and Director
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Goal 1. Finalize reorganization plans for the Tifton and Griffin Campuses as provided for in the new strategic plan and implement the new organizational structure; also launch an Athens Campus reorganization planning effort.

Reorganization plans for the Tifton and Griffin campuses have been finalized and budgetary adjustments have been made. Implementation of the plans on the Tifton and Griffin campuses are proceeding but not complete. An Athens Campus reorganization planning effort has not been initiated due to a change in the Dean’s Office.

Goal 2. Continue to promote the importance of extramural funding and enhance this funding source by 20% per EFT over the past year in teaching, research and extension.

Extramural funding increased by approximately 5.5% during FY’04. On a University-wide basis, the College remains a leader in extramural funding. Income derived from intellectual property also continues to increase. A multi-state workshop on grantsmanship was conducted in Atlanta. Attendance from several states was good and long-term effects are being evaluated. The Experiment Stations provided, on a competitive basis, $200,000 for groups of faculty to strengthen their competitive position for extramural funding.

Goal 3. Continue to redirect appropriated resources into higher priority, higher productive areas of research, extension and teaching.

Additional resources have been provided for NESPAL in Tifton, the Center for Urban Agriculture in Griffin and the fruit and vegetable research initiative in Tifton. The latter effort has been assisted by a special grant from USDA/CSREES. Budgets have precluded additional resources being provided to the Center for Food Safety. The Center for Applied Genetic Technology, administered by the Office of the Vice President for Research, continues to advance with the hiring of an additional Eminent Scholar in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. All remaining redirection funds for FY’04 - FY’05 were returned to the state to meet budget cuts or allocated to current positions across the board to meet the FY‘05 budget shift.

The Technology Development Center, a partnership between the CAES Tifton Campus, the Tift County Development Authority and the One-Georgia Authority is now open and home to the Georgia Center for Innovation in Agriculture.

Extension has redirected resources for agents to assume greater roles, including state leadership for conservation and farm programs, state pecan specialist and area forage specialist. Additional resources are being redirected to create positions in development and grants and grant writing.

Fall semester 2003, the Tifton Campus teaching program increased by 21 students to a total enrollment of 43. In fall 2004, the Agricultural Education Major was added to the initial major in Agriscience and Environmental Systems. Four students earned their degrees in December 2004 and 12 additional student will graduate spring 2005. The Tifton Campus Curriculum Committee was established and was given voting privilege on the College Faculty Council Curriculum Committee. Faculty positions and operating funds were allocated to the Tifton and Griffin teaching programs.

Instructional programs were redirected from low demand majors to newly establish majors. Specifically, the undergraduate majors in Crop and Soil Sciences, Landscape and Grounds Management and Plant Pathology were deactivated. New majors in Avian Biology and Environmental Chemistry were established in the College. A new major in Water and Soil Resources was jointly established with the School of Forestry.

Goal 4. Downsize and consolidate operations at Research and Education Centers and field operations on the Griffin, Tifton and Athens Campuses.

Funds have been allocated for the consolidation and construction of new animal facilities for the Double-Bridges Farm. Plans are being made for some consolidation of the Plant Sciences Farm and the Horticulture Farm. Downsizing of beef cattle programs and the numbers of the Tifton Campuses are underway.

Goal 5. Develop the teaching program on the Griffin Campus if appropriates become available.

The USG Board of Regents approved the offering of two undergraduate programs on the Griffin Campus: the Major in Biological Sciences leading to a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture (B.S.A.) and the Major in Environmental Resource Science leading to a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Sciences (B.S.E.S.). These programs will offer upper division courses (3rd and 4th year curricula) on the Griffin Campus and are in partnership with Gordon College and other transfer institutions. Efforts are underway to launch these programs for fall semester 2005. A Griffin Campus Academic Programs Office and Faculty Curriculum Committee were established, a recruiting program was implemented and renovations for classroom and laboratory space has begun.