The College of Agriculture Newsletter
Iowa State University
November 18, 1994 No. 6

C O N T E N T S

COLLEGE NEWS
- Ag ambassadors trained
- Honor to AST Club

COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK

- What employees want

INFOGRAZING

- Providing computers to freshmen
- Requiring computers for freshmen

EXTERNAL VOICES

- Effective recruitment/retention

MARGINALIA

- Dean for a day
- Rural anthropology

C O L L E G E N E W S

AG AMBASSADORS TRAINED
Forty-seven students attended a Nov. 16 training session for the Agricultural Student Ambassador Program. Ag ambassadors visit high schools, giving presentations to students on the College of Agriculture and answering questions about college life and career opportunities. In the training session, ambassadors receive information on the college, admission policies, financial aid, job opportunities and presentation skills.

HONOR TO AST CLUB
Add the Agricultural Systems Technology Club to the list of student groups receiving honors this fall. The club was first runner-up for student technology and management branches in the annual Equipment Manufacturers Institute trophies competition. Awards go to American Society of Agricultural Engineers clubs with outstanding records of activities and achievements.

C O M M U N I C A T I O N S K I O S K

WHAT EMPLOYEES WANT
Managers rate good pay and job security at the top of the list of what employees want from their jobs, according to studies of employee communication and staff morale. But employees often put those two items in the middle of their top-10 needs. Most studies show they desire recognition for work performed, a feeling of being "in" on things and interesting work. (From Communication Briefings.)

I N F O G R A Z I N G

PROVIDING COMPUTERS TO FRESHMEN . . .
The University of Washington has granted 65 first-year students a free Apple Powerbook and software as part of the "UWired" project, demonstrating the value of computerized information services and their incorporation into teaching and learning. Students can buy their machines next summer or turn them in. If the project is successful, officials hope to expand it to all freshmen, but not necessarily by providing them all with $4,300 laptops. The university is working with vendors to come up with affordable options. (Chronicle of Higher Education, Nov. 9.)

. . . REQUIRING COMPUTERS FOR FRESHMEN
In California, three state universities have requested permission to require that incoming students have their own PCs, potentially doubling first-year expenses. If approved, Humboldt State, Sonoma State and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo could set the trend for other public schools. Some educators say the prerequisite could be a financial hardship for lower-income families. (San Jose Mercury News, Sept. 8)

E X T E R N A L V O I C E S

EFFECTIVE RECRUITMENT/RETENTION PROGRAMS
David R. Treadwell, Jr., president of a Massachusetts communications company, says research shows reputation, cost and location are the most important factors in selecting a college. He estimates a top-notch recruitment/admissions program can result in a maximum 10-percent gain in admissions, compared with a run-of-the mill program. What can hurt admissions: Student word of mouth, bad publicity (campus crime, academic dishonesty), bad job market in campus specialty areas, ranked sports teams at rival campuses and bad weather on prospective student days. What to do: Conduct research and evaluate whole recruitment/retention picture honestly; concentrate on retention -- it's easier to keep students than attract them. (Chronicle of Higher Education, Nov. 2.)

M A R G I N A L I A

DEAN FOR A DAY
While Korry Hintze, a junior in animal science (pre-vet), led the Ag Cabinet meeting today (Friday), Dean Topel attended Chemistry 331. Korry won the drawing for Switch-A-Day with the Dean of Agriculture.

RURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
In the July 1994 issue of Harper's, David Foster Wallace describes a visit to the Illinois State Fair. "I suspect," he writes, "that every so often editors at East Coast magazines slap their foreheads and remember that about 90 percent of the United States lies between the coasts, and figure they'll engage somebody to do pith-helmeted anthropological reporting on something rural and heartlandish."


HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO AG ONLINE

Send your name, e-mail address and the message "Ag Online subscribe" to bmeyer@iastate.edu (or if you're on the college server, AGCOLLEGE/BMEYER). To unsubscribe: Same thing, with "Ag Online unsubscribe." Comments? Call, write, e-mail or fax to the addresses below.

Ag Online is a bimonthly electronic newsletter for ISU College of Agriculture faculty and staff. Editors: Brian Meyer (bmeyer@iastate.edu) and Ed Adcock (eadcock@agcollege.exnet.iastate.edu), Agriculture Information Services, 304 Curtiss Hall, Ames, IA 50011. Phone: 515-294-5616. Fax: 515-294-8662.

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