Enrollment at 30 Year High at ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

AMES, Iowa — For the first time in 30 years, undergraduate enrollment has exceeded 3,000 at Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. This fall's numbers are at 3,082, an increase of 237 students since last fall. Enrollment in the college in 1980 was 3,126. The college's undergraduate enrollment peaked in 1977 at 3,623. In 1987, it fell to 1,895 due in large part to Iowa's farm crisis. Enrollment was at 2,065 in 1990 and in 2000 enrollment was at 2,758. For the past five years, the college has admitted a larger number of new students, both freshmen and transfer students. David Acker, dean of academic and global programs, said the continued increases are due in part to an aggressive effort to recruit students. "We listened to what alumni, industry representatives and other stakeholders told us, about the importance of attracting and training more young people to help meet the demands of food, agriculture, natural resource and life sciences industries." Acker said. "Their advice has added a special urgency to our efforts in recruitment over the past five years, and it certainly made a difference this year." Tom Polito has been director of student services since 1978. He said some of the majors such as agronomy, animal science, animal ecology, horticulture, forestry and public service administration continue to be part of the college's curriculum. Other majors, such as biology, culinary science, genetics, global resource systems, microbiology, dietetics and environmental science have been added to reflect the broader world of agriculture. "There are new opportunities emerging for the college's students that are complementing our traditional and continuing strengths in production agriculture — the bioeconomy, plant and animal genomics, environmental stewardship, food and nutrition and pre-health options, which are all grounded in the basic life sciences," Polito said. That science-based focus is reflected in the name of the college, which changed from "agriculture" to "agriculture and life sciences" in 2007. Polito said he's also seen changes in gender ratio. In 1967, there were only 42 women in the college, which represented 1.8 percent of the undergraduate enrollment. In 2008, there were 1,303 women or 46 percent of total enrollment. Andy Zehr began as the college's first marketing and recruitment director in 2007. He said building relationships with prospective students and their parents is essential in recruiting and retaining students. "That's a strength in our college because everyone is really student focused. People are excited about talking to prospective students and their parents," Zehr said. Zehr said the college's bragging points include: * 26 majors to choose from at a college considered a national leader in agriculture and life sciences. * Individual attention to students and strong academic advising. * Offering more than $1.4 million in scholarships at both the college and departmental levels. * The largest ag career fair in the nation, which is held in the fall. A second career fair was organized and offered in the spring of 2008 and 2009. * A 98 percent placement rate, which means graduates from the fall of 2007 and spring and summer of 2008 were either employed or pursued graduate degrees within six months of graduation. * An ag study abroad program that is ranked second in the nation in numbers of students getting international experience. * Numerous internship opportunities. * Undergraduate research programs that allow students to get paid and receive credits for their research. * Inclusive and award-winning clubs. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences also has nearly 87 percent of its first-year students participating in learning communities, which allows students to network with peers. It also maintains one of the highest retention and graduation rates at Iowa State. For more information about the college, go to www.ag.iastate.edu. For information about the college's majors and opportunities, go to www.agstudent.iastate.edu.