New Agriculture Emphasis to Begin This Fall

Beginning this fall there will be a new opportunity at East Central College that will appeal to many high school FFA students and local 4-H members.

Agriculture was added as an emphasis option area for an Associate of Arts (AA) transfer degree.

ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer said the AA degree will offer the first two years of a bachelor’s degree for students majoring in Agriculture Systems Management and Animal Science, as well as a foundation for other agriculture degree programs.

“This is a really attractive option for students,” Dr. Bauer said.

On March 20, the ECC Academic Council approved the additional student option of agriculture, which is in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) pathway.

Franklin County has the largest 4-H enrollment numbers in the state with over 600 members, 200 volunteers and 20 clubs.

In addition, high schools in the area have thriving FFA programs.

Robyn Walter, ECC vice president of academic affairs, said the college can work with high schools prior to the Fall 2020 semester and spread the word about the degree pathway.

“We’re very excited about this and we are ready to start with students this fall,” she said. “This is a great opportunity for high school students in this area.”

“ECC is collaborating with the University of Missouri – Columbia to establish degree program transfer guides for a seamless transfer and articulation,” Dr. Bauer added.

Further goals will include articulation with other four-year universities in Missouri offering agriculture degrees.

For more information about the agriculture pathway, contact Ann Boehmer, dean of arts and science, at Ann.Boehmer@eastcentral.edu; or Dr. Parvadha Govindaswamy, associate Professor of biology and environmental science, at Parvadha.Govindaswamy@eastcentral.edu.