Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
{{Short description|Agricultural school of Virginia Tech}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Virginia Tech College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences
| image_name = Virginia_Tech_College_of_Agriculture_and_Life_Sciences_Logo.svg
| image_size = 255px
| motto = Ut Prosim (Latin)
| mottoeng = That I May Serve
| established = 1903{{cite web|url=http://www.cals.vt.edu/about/history/college-deans.html|title=CALS History|date=30 October 2015|work=vt.edu}}
| type = Public
| affiliations = Virginia Tech
| head_label = Dean
| head = Mario G. Ferruzzi
| faculty =
| students = 3,154{{cite web|url=https://vt.edu/about/factbook/student-overview.html|title=Factbook: Student Overview|access-date=11 August 2018|work=vt.edu}}
| city = Blacksburg
| state = Virginia
| country = U.S.
| coordinates = {{coord|37|13|31.8|N|80|25|23.3|W|region:US-VA_type:edu|display=title}}
| endowment =
| free_label = Total Alumni
| free = More than 21,000{{cite web|url=http://www.cals.vt.edu/about/cals-factsheet.pdf|title=Alumni|work=vt.edu}}
| colors = Chicago Maroon and Burnt Orange{{cite web|url=https://www.branding.unirel.vt.edu/2015-brand-guide.pdf|title=The Brand Guide: Virginia Tech Identity Standards and Style Guide |date=February 2015|page=10|publisher=Virginia Tech|access-date=November 4, 2015|quote=The burnt orange and Chicago maroon are the university's official colors that were adopted in 1896.}} {{color box|#660000}} {{color box|#FF6600}}
| website = {{url|www.cals.vt.edu}}
}}
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is one of eight colleges at Virginia Tech with a three-part mission of learning, discovery, and engagement and it is one of the best agriculture programs in the nation. It has more than 3,100 undergraduate and graduate students in a dozen academic departments. In 2013, the National Science Foundation ranked Virginia Tech No. 6 in the country for agricultural research expenditures, much of which originated from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.{{cite web |url=http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2015/05/052015-cals-nsf.html| title=Virginia Tech agricultural sciences programs rise in National Science Foundation rankings| website=Virginia Tech News |publisher=Virginia Tech|access-date=21 May 2015}}
As part of Virginia Tech's land-grant mission, the college administers Virginia Cooperative Extension in partnership with Virginia State University.
Departments
The college is home to ten academic units:
- Agricultural Technology Program (only associate's degree program at VT)
- Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics{{cite web |url=http://www.aaec.vt.edu/ |title=Home |website=aaec.vt.edu}}
- Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education{{cite web |url=http://www.alce.vt.edu/ |title=Home |website=alce.vt.edu}}
- Department of Biochemistry (formerly shared with the College of Science){{cite web |url=http://www.biochem.vt.edu/ |title=Home |website=biochem.vt.edu}}
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering (shared with the College of Engineering){{cite web |url=http://www.bse.vt.edu/ |title=Home |website=bse.vt.edu}}
- Department of Entomology (graduate programs only){{cite web |url=http://www.ento.vt.edu/ |title=Home |website=ento.vt.edu}}
- Department of Food Science and Technology{{cite web |url=http://www.fst.vt.edu/ |title=Home |website=fst.vt.edu}}
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise{{cite web |url=http://www.hnfe.vt.edu/ |title=Home |website=hnfe.vt.edu}}
- School of Animal Sciences
- Dairy Science{{cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.dasc.vt.edu/ |website=dasc.vt.edu}}
- Animal and Poultry Sciences{{cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.apsc.vt.edu/ |website=apsc.vt.edu}}
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences{{cite web |url=http://www.spes.vt.edu/ |title=Home |website=spes.vt.edu}}
- Crop and Soil Environmental Scienceshttp://www.cses.vt.edu/ {{Dead link|date=March 2022}}
- Horticulturehttp://www.hort.vt.edu/ {{Dead link|date=March 2022}}
- Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Sciencehttp://www.ppws.vt.edu/ {{Dead link|date=March 2022}}
History
| class="wikitable" border="1" align="right"
|+Deans of the CALS{{cite web|url=http://www.cals.vt.edu/about/history/deans.html|title=College Deans - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech|access-date=2009-01-27}} | |
| Andrew M. Soule | 1903–1906 |
| W.J. Quick | 1906–1908 |
| Harvey L. Price | 1908–1945 |
| Thomas B. Hutcheson | 1946–1950 |
| Leander B. Dietrick | 1952–1962 |
| Wilson B. Bell | 1962–1968 |
| James E. Martin | 1968–1975 |
| James R. Nichols | 1975–1991 |
| Andy L. Swiger | 1992–2003 |
| Sharron S. Quisenberry | 2003–2009 |
| Alan L. Grant | 2009–2024 |
| Mario G. Ferruzzi | 2024-present |
Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college named Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, Virginia Tech has evolved into a large public university with numerous degree offerings. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences provides the kind of education intended under the Morrill Act of 1862, making it the center of the land-grant tradition at Virginia Tech. Closely associated with the college are the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, established in 1886, and Virginia Cooperative Extension, established in 1914.{{cite web |url=http://www.cals.vt.edu/about/history/|title=History - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech|access-date=2009-01-27}}
Today, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has more than 21,000 alumni.{{cite web|url=http://www.cals.vt.edu/about/cals-factsheet.pdf|title=Alumni|work=vt.edu}}
Academics
File:Eastern Shore Ag Research 1.jpg, previously unknown to exist in the area, have infected soybean fields throughout the region. (2010)]]
The college offers bachelor's degrees in 13 majors as well as an undecided option.{{cite web|url=http://www.cals.vt.edu/news/pubs/connections/winter11/index.php#story13/|title=New Academic Programs Available to Undergraduates|access-date=2011-05-24}} The Agricultural Technology Program prepares students for careers in the agricultural and green industries with a concentrated, two-year degree experience that leads to an associate degree. Students specialize in either applied agricultural management or landscape and turf management.{{cite web |url=http://www.cals.vt.edu/agtech/options.html |title=Areas of Interest (Options) - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech|access-date=2009-01-27}}
Research
The college's Research division has identified six program areas as a focus for development and investment.Greiner, Lori. [http://www.cals.vt.edu/keyareas/documents/transforminglives.pdf "Transforming lives through learning, discovery, and engagement."] [http://www.vtmagazine.vt.edu/ Virginia Tech Magazine.] Spring 2005. Pp. 22-23.
Together with the Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment and the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, the college administers the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, which allows faculty to investigate food and fiber systems, their impact on the environment, and natural and human resource issues. Eleven agricultural research and Extension centers, which are dispersed throughout Virginia's five geographical areas, support this research system.{{cite web|url=http://www.vaes.vt.edu/arecs/index.html|title=Agricultural Research and Extension Centers|access-date=2011-05-24}}
Virginia Tech's research expenditures in the agricultural and life sciences have consistently ranked among the top in the nation. In 2009, these expenditures exceeded $91.6 million and accounted for more than 23 percent of Virginia Tech's research spending.{{cite web|url=http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2011/05/050211-cals-researchranking.html|title=National Science Foundation ranks Virginia Tech No. 5 for agricultural sciences|access-date=2011-05-24}} Through research and Extension efforts, the college helped elevate the state's agricultural exports to record numbers. In 2013, exports in the commonwealth reached $2.85 billion.[http://www.vt.edu/about/factbook/measures-excellence.html CALS Research]
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.cals.vt.edu/}}
{{Virginia Tech}}
Category:Agricultural universities and colleges in the United States