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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

USDA Funds Development of Pathways to Agriculture Careers


The U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted $33,488 to MCC for the development of the "Pathways to Agriculture Careers" program that will identify, advise and track students interested in agriculture studies.

The program responds to agricultural and environmental employers’ growing demand for educated workers in fields such as food product development, alternative fuel technology, agricultural business development and natural resource planning. The grant funds will be matched and enhanced with resources and personnel from MCC’s Division of Science, Health and Business and the Agriculture and Life Sciences Institute.

The program will be developed in partnership with Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Dual admission agreements with Cornell University and other colleges are also being developed to attract students to the field, provide strong academic career paths and facilitate transfer into agriculture and life sciences degree programs.

The Pathways to Agricultural Careers program is directed by Timothy Tatakis, Ph.D., chair, MCC Biology Department, and Bob King, Ph.D., director, MCC’s Agriculture and Life Sciences Institute. The grant will fund the design of an introductory course, recruitment and advisement materials and a Web site. It will also encourage faculty in other disciplines to include content relevant to agriculture in their courses.

For more information, please call Bob King at x2065.

Rosanna Condello
College and Community Relations
12/12/2008