College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Strategic Planning 2011 - 2016

Participant Questions The following questions will be asked during the listening session to help gather input from stakeholders Proposed Goal: Develop and disseminate science-based knowledge and innovative services through engagement with stakeholders and partners Enhance the profitability and sustainability of Virginias agriculture Preserving Virginias Natural Resources and the Environment Facilitate youth development through youth programming Strengthen Virginias Families and Communities Cultivate community vitality and promote capacity Questions: 1. How can VCE work with our communities and partners to more effectively engage the people of the Commonwealth? 2. In what ways can Virginia Cooperative Extension use volunteers and volunteer training efforts like Extension Master Gardeners to expand our programming capacity? 3. How can Virginia Cooperative Extension use technology to expand our programming capacity to more effectively deliver education and information to our clientele? 4. How will Virginia Cooperative Extension measure success towards achieving our goals? Proposed Goal Strengthen research capabilities to successfully address local, state, national, and global needs Sustain the diversity of the disciplines in CALS Strengthen the interdisciplinary capacity in CALS Enhance regional, national, and international collaboration Enhance research excellence in agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability, and healthy lifestyles Questions: 1. How can the college, faculty, and stakeholders sustain diversity of disciplines in CALS?

2. How can the college, faculty, and stakeholders strengthen the interdisciplinary capacity in CALS? 3. How can the college and university enhance regional, national, and international collaboration? 4. How can the college enhance research excellence in agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability, and healthy lifestyles? Proposed Goal Provide a comprehensive agriculture and life sciences undergraduate and graduate educational experience Questions 1. What do we want our students to look like at graduation? a. Importance of critical thinking? b. Interdisciplinary programs? c. Essential technological (or laboratory) skills? d. Specific work experiences that will benefit our students? e. Engagement through service activities as part of the learning process? 2. How do we get them there? a. Incorporate critical thinking and analytical skills in the classroom and laboratory? b. Integration of academic areas? c. Incorporating service activities into academic programs? d. Ensuring engagement in global and ethnic issues? e. Growing the number of majors? f. Insuring retention? 3. How do we evaluate how we are doing? a. SPOT Surveys to evaluate classroom teaching? b. Effectiveness of exit interviews? c. Surveying job-readiness? d. Markers of professional and graduate school readiness and acceptance?