Slide 1

Agricultural Economics at TAMU: Shared
Vision and Administrative Philosophy
Mark Waller
Prof. and Assoc. Dept. Head - Extension
May 24, 2012


Slide 2

Outline
 Texas

A&M and the Land Grant Mission, and Department of
Agricultural Economics

 Vision

and Recent Reviews

 Vision

and Administrative Philosophy

 Funding
 My

and our Future

Qualifications


Slide 3

Texas A&M, the Land Grant Mission, and Department of
Agricultural Economics
 Purpose

of the land grant system

 In 1862, passage of the Morrill Act laid the groundwork for the democratization
of public higher education
Grew out of our industrialized societies’ increasingly complex problems,
deficiencies and demands
As critically important today as it has ever been
 Major

sponsoring legislation

Morrill Act (Teaching)
Hatch Act (Research)
Smith Lever Act (Extension)


Slide 4

Texas A&M, the Land Grant Mission, and Department of
Agricultural Economics


Slide 5

Texas A&M, the Land Grant Mission, and Department of
Agricultural Economics
 Mission

of the land grant system

 In 1862, passage of the Morrill Act laid the groundwork for the democratization
of public higher education
Grew out of our industrialized societies’ increasingly complex problems,
deficiencies and demands
As critically important today as it has ever been
 Major

sponsoring legislation

Morrill Act (Teaching)
Hatch Act (Research)
Smith Lever Act (Extension)


Slide 6

Texas A&M, the Land Grant Mission, and Department of
Agricultural Economics
The

University’s mission of excellence

Vision 2020: Creating a Culture of Excellence-Serving the Public
Good
 Be one of the 10 best public universities in the nation by 2020
 Be an invaluable resource to the state, nation and the world

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 2010-2015 Strategic Plan





Elevate our faculty (teaching, research, scholarship)
Strengthen graduate programs
Enhance the undergraduate experience
Build engaging connections beyond the University


Slide 7

Texas A&M, the Land Grant Mission, and Department of
Agricultural Economics
 Department

of Agricultural Economics

The department’s stated vision, mission, and goals are well aligned with the landgrant mission
Desire to attain a top 10 ranking matches well with the universities vision
 We question how good we are

We are good, but there is room for improvement
 How do we measure our relative position and progress
 We may be better than we think we are

We, as a department, must decide what we want to be in the future
 Our Department and our profession’s history would suggest this is not uncommon


Slide 8

Vision and Recent Reviews
 We

have a large undergraduate program

 Nationally recognized for its size and quality
 Strong agricultural economics and agribusiness degrees
 Nationally recognized teaching faculty
 Many classes taught by faculty

 Highly regarded advising program
 Clubs, competition, travel and study abroad opportunities
 Things

to consider

 Can we maintain quality at this size
 Graduate student teaching opportunities
 Targeted opportunities such as Action 2015: Education First
 High Impact Learning
 Advising Support


Slide 9

Vision and Recent Reviews
We

have a large graduate program

Nationally recognized for its size at the MS and PhD levels
Strong agricultural economics and agribusiness Masters degrees
Nationally recognized Graduate faculty

Things

to consider

Can we have the quality we want at this size
Graduate student advising, funding, publication output, job placement,
and degree completion times


Slide 10

Vision and Recent Reviews
 The

department is considered strong overall

One of the larger agricultural economics departments in the US
Highly respected senior faculty, promising junior faculty
Relationship with the business school, Intercollegiate Faculty of Agribusiness
Strong undergraduate and masters programs
Nationally respected Extension program

 Things

to consider

Funding challenges
Current and future faculty turnover
PhD program issues
Department’s future direction and priorities


Slide 11

Vision and Administrative Philosophy
 Leadership

through service to faculty, staff, students, and clientele to
achieve the stated vision and priorities of the Department, College,
Agencies, and University community

 Encourage

input from faculty, staff, and students about a shared vision,
goals and process for achieving them

 Build

a professional that is environment conducive to teamwork and
respect, where all stakeholders can be heard, and their opinions and
contributions are valued
Everybody matters (Faculty, Staff, Students)


Slide 12

Vision and Administrative Philosophy
 Build

a reputation and expectation of clear communication,
transparency, consistency, and equity across the department

 Advocate

for the department across the University, the
agricultural economics profession, the former students, extension
clientele, and commodity and industry leaders
We should not keep our good work and outcomes a secret!!
 Submission and recognitions of Awards for faculty, former students, etc.
 Reports to administration, press releases, etc.


Slide 13

Vision and Administrative Philosophy
 We

have an effective administrative and committee structure
that can be used to delegate duties
A department this large requires delegation of duties
A-Team (Associate Department Heads, leader of research, chair of
intercollegiate faculty)

System of approximately 21 committees

 Continue rotation of personnel on committees to share duties/opportunities
 Some restructuring may be needed


Slide 14

Vision and Administrative Philosophy
 We

hire top quality professional faculty that need to be given a
degree of flexibility in research, teaching, and extension program
development
Departmental needs must be covered
 Teaching assignments
 Extension and research programmatic areas

Flexibility is needed for faculty to develop their full potential and build
on their strengths


Slide 15

Funding and Our Future
 The

Department has a strong history of Centers providing a
focus for Research/Extension and industry interactions
Mission and focus of Centers continues to evolve with changing departmental and
clientele needs
Changing structure of funding
Importance to the graduate program

 Research experience, industry contacts, publication opportunities


Slide 16

Funding and Our Future
Endowed

Chairs

Can we expand the number in our Department
Learn from our past attempts, and from other successful Departments
and Universities
Is there an incentive system that might help


Slide 17

Funding and Our Future
 The

need for external funding will continue to increase as traditional
sources remain flat or decline in the near future

Need increased cooperation across the department’s faculty and with
interdisciplinary and multi institution groups, to pursue larger multi-year grants
such as NIFA/AFRI
Help faculty to develop/increase longer-term funding relationships with industry,
commodity organizations, and other entities that need analytical services
Maintain contact and relationships with former students and clientele through
various forms of communication, recognition/award opportunities, and other
activities
Work with the Development Foundation to build a network of former students,
clientele, former faculty, and other potential donors


Slide 18

My Qualifications
 Over

17 years as Extension Economist-Grain Marketing and
Policy

 Participation in development of award-winning Extension programs

 Teamwork, and commitment required to build high-quality enduring programs
 Secure grants and contracts, and build industry relationships
 Evaluation of programs and report results to funders, administrators, legislators


Slide 19

My Qualifications
 Over

7 years as Associate Department Head-Extension

Served as a member of the department’s Administrative Team
Provided administrative supervision for the Agricultural Economics Extension
Program Unit, with oversight and approval of the Department Head





Prioritizing positions/hires
Management of the Extension budget
Oversight of grant and contract activity within the Extension unit
Conduct annual performance evaluations of professorial rank Extension faculty with the
Department Head
 Conduct on annual performance evaluations of Program Specialists and selected staff

Coordination of monthly and annual planning conferences
Coordination/oversight of monthly reporting, quarterly highlights reporting,
Extension Strategic Plan revision and reporting
Participate with the Department Head in the department’s annual review with the
Dean and Directors