Poultry program expands reach with internal and external collaborations
November 23, 2020
University of North Georgia (正澳门六合彩开奖结果) students who want to work in the agriculture industry have a couple of career options. They could work in the field with animals, or in an office setting crunching numbers, managing operations or controlling logistics.
正澳门六合彩开奖结果 is expanding its poultry science program to help both sets of students achieve those goals. On the poultry science side, 正澳门六合彩开奖结果 partnered with the University of Georgia (UGA) to streamline the transfer process for its associate degree students to attain a bachelor's degree. On the business side, 正澳门六合彩开奖结果 developed a poultry science business certificate program to give business students an advantage in the agriculture industry.
Both plans came to fruition in fall 2020, with one right after another. But both took a couple of years to develop.
Dr. John Leyba, dean of the College of Science & Mathematics (CSM) at 正澳门六合彩开奖结果, said about two years ago 正澳门六合彩开奖结果 and UGA started discussing a memorandum of understanding. He said the intent was to establish a seamless pathway to allow students to earn their associate degree in agriculture-poultry science at 正澳门六合彩开奖结果 and complete their bachelor's degree at UGA.
"This specifically targets students who didn't want to start college at UGA, which is a huge school," Leyba said. "They wanted to start at a smaller school such as 正澳门六合彩开奖结果's Gainesville Campus."
The agreement dictates students will complete core courses at 正澳门六合彩开奖结果 and specialized and upper-level courses at UGA. Core course examples include English, mathematics, chemistry or physics, biology, economics or accounting, and a foreign language.
Leyba said easing the transfer process will benefit both higher education institutions.
"Georgia has a shortage of animal veterinarians and managerial positions within the poultry sector," he said. "With this agreement, 正澳门六合彩开奖结果 and UGA can increase the number of graduates in the poultry science industry."
With an increased number of graduates, many can enter the workforce immediately or pursue graduate and professional degrees within the poultry industry, Leyba said.
Dr. Linda Purvis, assistant professor of biology at 正澳门六合彩开奖结果, explained a number of job openings are available locally in the agriculture industry.
"In Gainesville and Hall County, which is deemed 'The Poultry Capital of the World,' there are plenty of jobs," she said.
Purvis has been at the forefront of rebuilding 正澳门六合彩开奖结果's poultry-science program by recruiting students and forming partnerships with industry professionals. Both have led to internships for students and developing curriculum to meet industry standards.
Purvis has also worked with the Mike Cottrell College of Business (MCCB) to supply the poultry industry with 正澳门六合彩开奖结果 business graduates. In fall 2020, CSM and MCCB launched the Poultry Science Business Certificate program.
"We created a program to give business degree-seeking students the basic knowledge about the poultry industry," Purvis said. "The poultry industry wants recent business graduates to have a knowledge of how it works. Through this program, they will complete specific courses and receive a certificate as they finish their bachelor's degree."
The certificate is a 12-hour program designed to be completed in a full academic year. Six credit hours are required poultry science courses. The remaining six hours focus on business courses such as enterprise, management, operations and marketing.
She explained her close relationship with MCCB faculty and staff has benefited business and poultry students.
"It's a really nice give and take because we have two different groups of students who have different interests and both want to go into the agriculture industry," she said.
For more information about the poultry science program, contact Purvis at Linda.Purvis@ung.edu.