7/29/97

Contacts:
Brad Skaar, Animal Science, 515/294-2242
Susan Anderson, Agriculture Information, 515/294-0705

ACTION PLAN OUTLINED FOR UPDATING ANIMAL SCIENCE CURRICULUM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Changes in the needs of students and their future employers led to significant changes in the Iowa State University animal science curriculum. Those changes were outlined in a presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) in Nashville July 29-Aug. 1.

"Each year we get more students with strong interests in science and business, and less interest in production agriculture," said Brad Skaar, the ISU associate professor who led the effort to update the department's offerings. "We found students had less animal experience, and that an increasing number of them have interests in companion animals and the equine industry."

At the same time, employer surveys and comments showed they want college graduates who have stronger, more effective interpersonal skills.

Skaar was involved in an education planning workshop in his local school district and was struck by the idea that a comprehensive planning process was needed to help analyze the ISU animal science program. "We invented the process as we went along," he said.

At the ASAS meeting, Skaar outlined a multi-step "action planning" process that was adapted so a large number of faculty and students could contribute cooperatively. "We wanted everyone to feel a sense of ownership in the final program," he said.

The first step was to list the groups the department serves. From there, 10 major program goals were developed and more than 600 learner outcomes that would meet the needs of students and the department's clientele were outlined.

"We then grouped these learning experiences, and were able to develop course titles and objectives for our renewed curriculum," Skaar said. "Courses were sequenced into a four-year plan, and credits were restricted to increase elective opportunities."

The new curriculum was unveiled for the 1997 fall semester. Fifty-three classes are offered by the department, including 12 new courses. Another 15 courses received major overhauls and now include more hands-on and decision-making opportunities.

There will also be what Skaar calls "a stronger, more purposeful attention" to the personal development of students. New courses will use study of the issues facing animal agriculture to help students set career goals and develop their communications and leadership skills.

Skaar said he's especially pleased that almost all of the 60-some members of the animal science faculty got involved in developing the new curriculum. "We think students will respond favorably and we think employers will be pleased with the changes," he said.

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