Vision and Change in Biology Undergraduate Education: Chronicling Change, Inspiring the Future A USDA Perspective By Muquarrab Qureshi, DVM, M.Sc., PhD

USDA’s Education Portfolio Spans Across Several Agencies NIFA ARS NASS ERS FSA FSIS FNS APHIS RD FS NRCS COMMON THEMES Learning and Engagement Trainings and Education Internships Capacity Building Educational Campaigns and Outreach

National Institute of Food and Agriculture - NIFA USDA’s principal extramural scientific Research, Education and Extension agency

The Morrill/Land-Grant Act Foundational knowledge in humanities and sciences Practical education in agriculture and mechanical arts Military leadership Cognitive Skills Noncognitive Skills

Our Academic Partners  1862 Land Grant Institutions  Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian- Serving Institutions, Insular Areas  1890 Land Grant Programs  1994 Land Grant Tribal Programs  Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) NIFA

Vision InputOutput Learning & Engagement Workforce Next Generation of Scientists Capacity Building K-20 Continuum Target Audience Youth Students Educators Farmers Public Global Dimension

NIFA’s Formal Education Investment 2012 Annual Summary # of Programs: 12 # of awards made in 2012: 228 Amount : $ 41 million LGU Partners : 1862s = 57; 1890s = 18; 1994 = 34; HSIs = 311 (HSACUs = ~80)

So, What “Keeps USDA Awake” at night??

Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Agriculture and Food, : Shortfalls of qualified graduates are anticipated

Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Agriculture and Food, :

Multiple Education Assessments and Reports AAAS : “Vision and Change – A Call to Action” NAS: “ Universities and the Future of America: Ten Breakthrough Actions Vital to Our Nation’s Prosperity and Security” PCAST: Report to the President: “Engage to Excel: Producing One Million Additional College Graduates With Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics” PCAST: “Report to the President on Agricultural Preparedness and The Agriculture Research Enterprise” NSTC Committee on STEM Education: “Federal Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education 5-Year Strategic Plan”. 2013

Human Capital Recommendations for U.S. Agriculture from PCAST The primary concern is support for a well-trained workforce –Currently, the best students do not view agriculture as an attractive career option –Relatively few graduate students enter into agricultural fields Industry has difficultly recruiting the technical employees for its research programs - Often turning to foreign students and workers This situation must be reversed Report to the President on Agricultural Preparedness and the Agriculture Research Enterprise. President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, December 2012.

Human Capital Recommendations for U.S. Agriculture from PCAST At the baccalaureate level we need comprehensive array of undergraduate programs that are Relevant to agriculture and the food industry Must remain strong and well-supported

“VISION AND CHANGE – A CALL TO ACTION” “Take biology out of the realm of the abstract and relate it to the real world” AAAS Summary of Recommendations, 2009

NIFA is Outcome Driven Translation Discovery Solution Innovation A Package Deal !!!!