Purdue College of Agriculture enrollment increases
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Undergraduate enrollment in the Purdue University College of Agriculture increased for the 2010-11 academic year, reflecting the array of educational and research opportunities offered to students.
Figures released this week show that enrollment increased by 100 students, to 2,675, from the fall of 2009. Of that number, 2,161 students, or 81 percent, are from Indiana.
Enrollment among graduate students also increased, from 579 last fall to 601 this academic year.
"There is a wide range of opportunities available in our college," said Jay Akridge, Glenn W. Sample Dean of the College of Agriculture. "With our broad focus on the food, agricultural, life and natural resources sciences, the College of Agriculture is a great place for a passionate student with a wide range of interests."
Careers of the college's graduates include managerial jobs in food and agribusiness companies, product development for the food industry, a wide range of research positions, foresters and landscape architects, agricultural educators, and production agriculture.
About 30 percent of Purdue's agriculture students move on to professional and graduate schools, training to be researchers, veterinarians, physicians and attorneys, among other careers.
"The college is known for providing an exceptional experience for undergraduate students," Akridge said.
"One goal in the new college strategic plan is for every student to have a transformational learning experience before they graduate," he said.
This includes study abroad - more than 25 percent of last year's graduating class studied abroad - internships, research lab experiences and the college's leadership development certificate program, which pairs students with a mentor to develop and execute a personal leadership development plan.
"We are continually exploring new ways to enhance the quality of the student experience here to help prepare the next generation of leaders in the food, agricultural, life science and natural resources fields," Akridge said. "Our placement numbers consistently show that the agricultural industry likes hiring Purdue Agriculture students, even in the tough market of the last couple of years. And placement has certainly played a role in the strong enrollment trends."
Writer: Keith Robinson, 765-494-2722, robins89@purdue.edu
Source: Jay Akridge, 765-494-8391, akridge@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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