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- Title
Creating Context and Vision in Animal Science Graduates.
- Authors
Wickersham, Tryon A.
- Abstract
Increasingly undergraduate and graduate students enter animal science programs with relatively little experience in production agriculture. Often, students arrive with the expectation or hope of admission to vet school only to have that dream smacked against the realities of organic chemistry and biochemistry or changing aspirations. These two factors: 1) limited background, and 2) unrealized goals coupled with others lead to frustration, confusion, and anxiety. Furthermore, a lack of background makes it difficult for them to contextualize information presented in lectures, laboratories, reading, and research. This makes it challenging for students to determine what's next, what route they should pursue for a career. It creates uncertainty as they seek internships, consider graduate school, and begin to ponder life after graduation. Connecting students to industry professionals and experiences can go a long way towards helping students create context and begin the process of mentally exploring careers. In the university setting having a faculty with an extensive network of industry professionals and a willingness to share those contacts and work with students is essential. As a faculty member, I have focused on addressing this need in four ways: 1) being present, 2) taking them on a trip, 3) providing safe experiences, and 4) giving them a tribe. Additionally, whenever possible, I try and give them an industry role model with a similar background. To accomplish these things, I must step outside of the university and my comfort zone to engage industry stakeholders in a variety of ways. During the course of my presentation, I will discuss the four ways I help students create context for learning and a vision for themselves while also covering the methods I use to engage with industry. Ultimately, a faculty that creates and maintains connections with industry is essential for developing course content, curriculum, research questions, and, most importantly, well-rounded animal science graduates.
- Subjects
ANIMAL science; VETERINARY colleges; SCHOOL admission; UNIVERSITY faculty; INTERNSHIP programs; LOW vision
- Publication
Journal of Animal Science, 2023, Vol 101, p322
- ISSN
0021-8812
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/jas/skad281.384