Department of Horticulture Funding Priorities

Endowed Chair in Production Ecology/Plant Pest Ecology (jointly with Crop and Soil Sciences, Entomology, Forestry and Plant Pathology) Expansion of interdisciplinary research and education programs in production and plant pest ecology is needed to diversify and sustain agricultural productivity. An endowed position would expand linkages among crop production and protection disciplines to address fundamental research that links commodity and resource issues and to prepare undergraduate and graduate students for the complex issues facing plant production and related industries. Endowment may be designed to enhance an existing program or to create a new program.

Endowed Public Horticulture ChairWith the continuing growth and popularity of gardening, home horticulture, and public interest in science and science education, an endowed chair in public horticulture would enable the department to meet the growing interests and needs of the gardening public as well as for training the next generation. A chair will be a spark for collaboration within the department and across college boundaries by engaging resources from Botany and Plant Pathology, Entomology and the Beal Gardens, and will help facilitate programs such as the Master Gardener and other outreach programs.

Horticultural Teaching and Outreach Center Faculty members in the Department of Horticulture teach 18 courses utilizing the HTRC that was established in 1964. Several of these courses with practicum sections meet at the facility for the entire term. The newly initiated and very popular Ag. Tech. program in Viticulture and Enology, for example, utilizes the winery and vineyard exclusively throughout the program. With sponsorship from the Kellogg Foundation, a student farm has been established at this facility for growing organic products (CSA). This facility could also be used to host outreach programs, meetings for ornamental/landscape groups, wine industry, organic and community crop production (unheated greenhouses), etc. Outside guests could be charged a fee to use the facilities to help defray maintenance costs.

Endowed graduate fellowshipsAttracting top-level graduate students strengthens the horticulture program while enabling research faculty to address industry needs. Fellowships are particularly needed in integrated fruit and vegetable crop production, post harvest physiology, viticulture and enology, and floriculture.

Scholarship endowmentsUndergraduate scholarships are needed to assist with tuition and to facilitate participation in study abroad programs. Ten such scholarships are needed at $30,000 each.

Undergraduate student professional enhancement endowment This initiative will focus on expanding educational opportunities by providing undergraduate students in Horticulture with greater hands-on experience and an enhanced perspective of the professional world. The goal is to help graduates enter the job market better prepared to respond to the rapidly changing industry. Examples of activities designed to enhance the educational experience include field trips, lectures by practicing professionals, trips to professional conferences and workshops, judging teams, biotechnology laboratories, web site development, mock interviews, and other participatory learning experiences.

Gardens in the C. E. Lewis Arboretum Various garden areas are available within the arboretum and may be named and endowed. Students participate in designing, building and maintaining the features. Opportunities are available from $15,000 to $150,000. Smaller gifts for benches or gifts for the endowment to help with scholarships and maintenance may be made.