College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources

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College of Agriculture Building, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn. College of Agriculture Building, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn (82426).jpg
College of Agriculture Building, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn.

The University of Connecticut's College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR) is the oldest of UConn's fourteen colleges, and teaches a wide range of subjects. It is the oldest agricultural school in Connecticut, originally established with two purposes, conducting agriculture research and teaching practical skills to modernize farming. [1] [2] The college describes its mission as working "toward a global sustainable future." [3] To that end, besides conducting research and teaching, the college's faculty also work together with Connecticut communities on projects related to food systems, agriculture, human health, nutrition and physical activity, and environmental science.

Contents

Today the college has academic departments in areas such as the sciences of animals, plants, and nutrition; pathobiology and veterinary science; landscape architecture; resource economics, and others fields. [4]

As of 2020, there were 22,522 graduates of the CAHNR. [5] Undergraduates earn Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees, with the exception of Environmental Studies (EVST), which leads to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). Students at the Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture (RHSA) grants Associate of Applied Sciences (A.A.S.) degrees in Plant Science, Animal Science, and Urban Forestry and Arboriculture. [4] [5] Students from both RHSA and CAHNR take their courses together although the programs are different schools of the university. [4] [5]

History

Horsebarn Hill, UConn campus, Storrs, Conn. University of Connecticut (UConn) main campus, Storrs, Connecticut LCCN2012630537.tif
Horsebarn Hill, UConn campus, Storrs, Conn.
Jacobson Barn, acquired by the Storrs Agricultural College in 1911, on Horsebarn Hill, Storrs, Conn. StorrsCT JacobsonBarn.jpg
Jacobson Barn, acquired by the Storrs Agricultural College in 1911, on Horsebarn Hill, Storrs, Conn.

The Morrill Land-Grant Act, passed by Congress in 1862, provided each state with federal land grants. [6] The profits from the sale of these lands were used to establish an agricultural college in each state. [6] In addition, brothers Charles and Augustus Storrs of Mansfield, Connecticut, donated 170 acres of farmland, $6,000, and several barns to create the agricultural school. [2] The brothers were born into a family of farmers and Augustus eventually purchased the family-owned farm to develop into one of his own. The brothers’ passion for agriculture and husbandry led to the establishment of what became the University of Connecticut. [7] In 1881, the Storrs Agricultural School was established solely for the purpose of teaching and researching agriculture and related topics. In 1893, the name was changed to Connecticut Agricultural College and became Connecticut's land-grant university after a battle with Yale University over which school would be granted the public funding for agricultural education. [8] The college was renamed a few more times until permanently becoming the University of Connecticut in 1939. [1]

Women first attended classes at the college in 1891, and were allowed to enroll as students in 1893. The first woman forestry major in the United States graduated from the University of Connecticut. [9]

In 1956, Frances Osborne Kellogg, an industrialist, dairy farmer and conservationist, made a bequest to the University of Connecticut that was later used to fund construction of the Kellogg Dairy Center on Horsebarn Hill Road in Storrs in 1991. [10] The Kellogg Dairy Center is a free-stall facility accommodating over 100 milking animals (Holstein and Jersey cows). The building has a Voluntary Milking System (VMS; robotic milking system) and robotic feeders, so cows decide when they want to be milked. There is also a laboratory, animal surgery facility, and an area for the public to observe the milking. [11]

Research programs

UConn's agricultural program has been at the forefront of research in a number of scientific areas. UConn scientists sent experimental tomato plants in the Space Shuttle to study plant growth in zero gravity in 1988. Faculty at the school developed the first high-efficiency poultry feed, “Connecticut Ration.” Animal science professor Jerry Yang was the first to clone a calf from non-reproductive cells, a major, if controversial, achievement in stem cell research. [12]

The college's research programs are supervised by the Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station and follow federal and state mandates. Faculty and students research how food, natural resources, and human and animal health are interconnected. Today, there are more than 750 UConn Extension public engagement programs at eight centers across the state with over 100,000 participants in their programs. [13] Extension public engagement programs provide a wide range of topics related to the CAHNR strategic priorities: Ensuring a vibrant and sustainable agricultural industry and food supply, enhancing health and well-being locally, nationally, and globally, advancing adaptation and resilience in a changing climate, and designing sustainable landscapes across urban-rural interfaces. [14] The programs obtain over 100 educators and many volunteers. The programs work to build more sustainable communities through educational initiatives. Additionally, there are 36 student clubs and activities that fall under the CAHNR interests. [14]

Notable alumni

In 2020, alumnus Dr. Steven Were Omamo, who graduated with a Masters of Science in 1988, led the World Food Programme to a Nobel Peace Prize in 2020. [15] [16]

Departments and areas of study

Undergraduate students take courses for a variety of majors and minors in agriculture, health, and natural resources through the college's eight academic departments. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Connecticut</span> Public university in Connecticut, U.S.

The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university system with its main campus in Storrs, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1881 as the Storrs Agricultural School, named after two benefactors. In 1893, the school became a public land grant college, then took its current name in 1939. Over the following decade, social work, nursing, and graduate programs were established. During the 1960s, UConn Health was established for new medical and dental schools. UConn is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agricultural Research Service</span> Research agency of the US Department of Agriculture

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). ARS is one of four agencies in USDA's Research, Education and Economics mission area. ARS is charged with extending the nation's scientific knowledge and solving agricultural problems through its four national program areas: nutrition, food safety and quality; animal production and protection; natural resources and sustainable agricultural systems; and crop production and protection. ARS research focuses on solving problems affecting Americans every day. The ARS Headquarters is located in the Jamie L. Whitten Building on Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C., and the headquarters staff is located at the George Washington Carver Center (GWCC) in Beltsville, Maryland. For 2018, its budget was $1.2 billion.

UConn Health is a healthcare system and hospital, and branch of the University of Connecticut that oversees clinical care, advanced biomedical research, and academic education in medicine. The system is funded directly by the State of Connecticut and the University’s financial endowment. Its primary location, UConn John Dempsey Hospital, is a teaching hospital located in Farmington, Connecticut, in the US. In total, UConn Health comprises the hospital, the UConn School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, and Graduate School. Additional community satellite locations are located in Avon, Canton, East Hartford, Putnam, Simsbury, Southington, Storrs, Torrington, West Hartford, and Willimantic, including two urgent cares in both Storrs and Canton. UConn Health also owns and operates many smaller clinics around the state that contain UConn Medical Group, UConn Health Partners, University Dentists and research facilities. Andrew Agwunobi stepped down as the CEO of UConn Health in February 2022 after serving since 2014 for a private-sector job. Bruce Liang was UConn Heath's interim CEO for 2022-2024 and remains dean of the UConn School of Medicine. Andrew Agwunobi returned to UConn Health as Executive Vice President of Health Affairs and CEO beginning May 31, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal science</span> Interdisciplinary science dealing with the biology of animals

Animal science is described as "studying the biology of animals that are under the control of humankind". It can also be described as the production and management of farm animals. Historically, the degree was called animal husbandry and the animals studied were livestock species, like cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, and horses. Today, courses available look at a broader area, including companion animals, like dogs and cats, and many exotic species. Degrees in Animal Science are offered at a number of colleges and universities. Animal science degrees are often offered at land-grant universities, which will often have on-campus farms to give students hands-on experience with livestock animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Illinois College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences</span> College of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) is part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Most of the ACES buildings are located on the South Quad. In terms of staff, ACES has 186 tenure-system faculty, 78 specialized faculty, 26 postdoctoral researchers, 493 academic professionals, 565 civil service staff, 323 assistants, and 956 hourly employees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences</span> Florida University-linked organization

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is a teaching, research and Extension scientific organization focused on agriculture and natural resources. It is a partnership of federal, state, and county governments that includes an Extension office in each of Florida's 67 counties, 12 off-campus research and education centers, five demonstration units, the University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, three 4-H camps, portions of the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, the Florida Sea Grant program, the Emerging Pathogens Institute, the UF Water Institute and the UF Genetics Institute.

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The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) is one of seventeen colleges and professional schools at the University of Minnesota. The College offers 14 majors, 3 pre-major and pre-professional majors and 26 freestanding minors for undergraduate students and a variety of graduate study options that include master's, doctoral and joint degree programs.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences</span> Agricultural school of the University of Wisconsin-Madison

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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is one of eight colleges at Virginia Tech with a three-part mission of learning, discovery, and engagement and it is one of the best agriculture programs in the nation. It has more than 3,100 undergraduate and graduate students in a dozen academic departments. In 2013, the National Science Foundation ranked Virginia Tech No. 6 in the country for agricultural research expenditures, much of which originated from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is the agricultural and environmental sciences college of the University of Maryland and operates the Maryland Sea Grant College in cooperation with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vietnam National University of Agriculture</span> University

Vietnam National University of Agriculture, until 2014 Hanoi University of Agriculture (HUA), is an education and research university specializing in the agricultural sector. The university is located in Trau Quy town, Gia Lam district, a Hanoi suburban area, about 12 km far from Hanoi city centre.

Gordon Lee McClymont AO was an Australian agricultural scientist, ecologist, and educationist. The originator of the term "sustainable agriculture", McClymont is known for his multidisciplinary approach to farm ecology. McClymont was the foundation chair of the Faculty of Rural Science at the University of New England, the first degree program of its kind to integrate animal husbandry, veterinary science, agronomy, and other disciplines into the field of livestock and agricultural production. In 1978, in recognition of his work and contributions to his field, he was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia.

The Washington State University College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) is one of the 11 colleges of Washington State University that offer undergraduate and graduate programs. Established as Washington Agricultural College and School of Science, the college started instructions on January 13, 1892. The college is in Pullman, Washington, and became a land-grant college after the passage of Morrill Act. The college provides education, research and services through fifteen academic departments, four research and extension centers, and thirty-nine county extension offices across the state of Washington. The college is known for apple production, grape growers and small grain genetics and breeding.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry L. Garrigus</span> American educator, animal scientist, and breeder

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The Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station (SAES) is an American agricultural experiment station operated by the University of Connecticut and founded in 1887. Part of UConn's College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, the SAES directs agriculture-related research while the university's Cooperative Extension Service engages in community education and outreach. Kumar Venkitanarayanan is the Station's associate director. Its offices are located in the W. B. Young Building on the main UConn campus in Storrs.

Delia Grace is an epidemiologist and a veterinarian. Grace joined the University of Greenwich in May 2020 as Professor of Food Safety Systems at the Natural Resources Institute. She is also Joint Appointed Scientist, Animal and Human Health Program at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya.

References

  1. 1 2 "UConn and the Evolution of a Public University". Connecticut History | a CTHumanities Project. 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  2. 1 2 waltwould (2019-09-28). "September 28: The Seed That Became UConn Planted at Mansfield". Today in Connecticut History. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  3. ↑ Dunnigan, Brian (2020-01-24). "About the College | College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources" . Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Buck, Marianne (2014-06-05). "College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources | Undergraduate Catalog" . Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  5. 1 2 3 Bonsack, Kara (2021-02-04). "Overview | Environmental Studies" . Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  6. 1 2 "U.S. Senate: The Civil War: The Senate's Story". www.senate.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  7. ↑ "The Storrs Homestead – Mansfield Historical Society" . Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  8. ↑ "The Storrs Agricultural School". The New York Times. 15 April 1887. p. 1.
  9. ↑ "UConn Forest". University of Connecticut College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  10. ↑ Jones, Jean Crum (2011). "The Story of Frances Osborne Kellogg: Education Patron, Conservationist, Farmer" (PDF). Connecticut Woodlands: The Magazine of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association. 75 (4): 22–23.
  11. ↑ University of Connecticut (n.d.). "Frances E. Osborne Kellogg Dairy Ctr". maps.uconn.edu. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  12. ↑ Hathaway, William. "At Uconn, A Star Is Born. As His Fame Grows, So Does Moral And Political Opposition To Stem Cell Research. Meanwhile, A Tumor Grows". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  13. ↑ "Home | College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources". cahnr.uconn.edu. 2019-12-06. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  14. 1 2 Stearns, Stacey (2020-04-28). "UConn Extension by the Numbers | Extension News" . Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  15. ↑ Markey, Kevin. "Farms = Food = Life". UConn Magazine. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  16. ↑ Thurner, Geoff (June 2021). "Noble Work, Nobel Prize". Fresno State Magazine.
  17. ↑ Fallahi, Mahdi (2018-01-17). "Home | Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics". are.uconn.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  18. ↑ "Home | Department of Natural Resources and the Environment". nre.uconn.edu. 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  19. ↑ "Plant Science and Landscape Architecture › CANR › UConn". plantscience.uconn.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  20. ↑ "Animal Science". animalscience.uconn.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  21. ↑ Stearns, Stacey (2021-01-31). "Welcome | Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science" . Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  22. ↑ "Home | Department of Allied Health Sciences". alliedhealth.uconn.edu. 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  23. ↑ Bonsack, Kara (2013-07-15). "Home | Department of Kinesiology". kins.uconn.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  24. ↑ cahnrnusc (2020-09-28). "Home | Department of Nutritional Sciences". nusc.uconn.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
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