The Future of Land Grant Universities and Their Colleges of Agriculture

jpa ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Massengale
Keyword(s):  
Land Grant ◽  
Land Grant Universities ◽  
The Future ◽  
Colleges Of Agriculture

Rural Sociology

Sociology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Garcia ◽  
Linda Lobao
Keyword(s):  
Rural Poverty ◽  
Institutional Development ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rural Sociology ◽  
Land Grant ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Land Grant Universities ◽  
Colleges Of Agriculture ◽  
Sociology Departments

Rural sociology is a unique area of sociological inquiry. Its institutional development leaves it perhaps the most independent of all sociological subfields. Rural sociology in the United States emerged in the early 20th century when federal funding was earmarked to the land grant universities (public universities) to study and assist the farm population. Separate “rural” sociology departments appeared gradually within colleges of agriculture that paralleled the substantive areas found in general sociology departments. Thus, one finds in rural sociology a replication of many core areas in general sociology but with a rural twist—inequality, demography, work/labor markets, race/ethnicity, gender, community, and so forth. Over time, additional rural-oriented specialty areas emerged, notably the sociology of agriculture and natural resource/environmental sociology. Rural sociology has also expanded globally. As a consequence, the substantive scope of contemporary research is large and varied. What knits the work together is a focus on the geographic periphery, that is, the places, populations, and forms of social activity found in rural areas globally which has provided boundary and meaning to the field. In addition to its broad substantive scope, rural sociology is characterized by a distinct research approach. Research tends to be comparative: rural places and populations are often set in contrast with regard to their urban counterparts to ascertain similarities and differences. In this way, rural sociological research is often said to challenge the urban bias of general sociology. Disciplinary practice is also distinct. While there are few departments with rural sociology in their name today, courses and specializations in the field are found across many land grant universities. There is a long tradition of cross-disciplinary linkages particularly with agricultural economics, the environmental sciences, and more recently geography. Rural sociologists have been highly active in federal, state, and local public policy circles and in public sociology efforts that contribute to community development, sustainable agricultural and food systems, and social and environmental justice. In terms of work in the profession, rural sociologists also work outside of colleges of agriculture, within government agencies, international development agencies, and across governmental and non-governmental institutions. Although rural populations will continue to decline globally, there is reason to think that rural sociology will have broad influence in the future because the research areas it encompasses are of growing interest to social scientists, policymakers, and the public at large. Issues addressed by rural sociologists pertaining to the sustainability of the food system, climate/environmental change, and rural poverty are among the most pressing public concerns today.

scholarly journals Professional Diversity in Agricultural Economics: Salvation or Suicide?

1991 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence W. Libby
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Agricultural Economics ◽  
Land Grant ◽  
The South ◽  
Land Grant University ◽  
Land Grants ◽  
Land Grant Universities ◽  
The Future ◽  
Uncertain Future

The theme of my address is diversity in the profession of agricultural economics. I address diversity as a response, a strategy, not as an end in itself but as a conscious approach by ag economists in land grant universities seeking a useful role in the future.I chose this theme because I am genuinely concerned about our future in the 1862 and 1890 land grants. I acknowledge up front that not all ag economists work in land grant universities but all have a stake in them as our primary reservoir of human capital. Most practicing ag economists have roots in a land grant university and depend on their products for “new blood” in business or government. My interest in diversity has been influenced by the writings of several prominent ag economists, reviewed briefly below, by recent conversations with Jim Hildreth, John Holt, and Jim Bonnen regarding the future of the land grants and by personal observations of the painful manifestations of tensions within departments in the South and elsewhere as faculty try to position themselves for an uncertain future.

scholarly journals 408 PB 045 WHAT WOULD A LEARNING UNIVERSITY LOOK LIKE?

HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 489d-489
Author(s):  
Ray D. William ◽  
Larry Lev ◽  
R. N. Mallick
Keyword(s):  
Learning Process ◽  
Learning Organizations ◽  
Land Grant ◽  
Continuous Learning ◽  
Land Grant Universities ◽  
Effective Learning ◽  
The Future

In a world of rapid and unpredictable change, land grant universities must refocus their efforts on becoming more effective learning organizations. This poster addresses the critical opportunities, challenges, and tensions LGUs will face as they seek to enhance the continuous learning process and thereby flourish in the future.

scholarly journals 1037 DESIGNING THE NEW LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY

HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 577a-577
Author(s):  
D. C. Sanders
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Land Grant ◽  
National Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Land Grant University ◽  
Land Grant Universities ◽  
American Institution ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Impact

Land Grant Universities have undergone tremendous change during the late 1980's and early 1990's. These changes are due to declining resources, changing social needs, the decreasing agricultural components of society, and globalization. Faculty and support positions have been reduced. Research programs have embraced more complex areas of study, leaving adoption of new technologies to extension faculty. The Agricultural Industry has declined in political power as fewer farmers feed more people. All of these conditions lead to many changes in `THE LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY'. These changes have been the subject of extensive and intensive, previous and continuing study, because of Land Grants' dramatic influence on both American and global society. Representatives of various institutions within and on the periphery of these institutions will provide their vision for the future of this great American institution. The objectives of this workshop are as follows: Articulate and illuminate the major changes that face The Land Grant Universities and provide a glimpse of these institutions in the future. How these institutions will and should deal with and respond to these challenges will be discussed in order to provide a picture of the future that will affect all of our membership at the very core. The impact of these changes on various aspects of these universities will be presented as follows: Research and science, by Representative of National Academy of Sciences; Outreach/extension and regional cooperation, Representative of The New England Consortium; Private foundations, Representative of Kellogg Foundation; The greater university view, Chancellor Emeritus UCD. The observations of these speakers should generate important discussions that will affect our society, its members, and American society, as we come face to face with major changes in the paradigm of the Land Grant University.

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