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Mission Statement

The overall mission of the College of Agricultural, Environmental and Natural Sciences is to develop students with skills in critical and systematic thinking, intellectual curiosity, and a desire for life-long learning, and to prepare them for leadership and service in the basic and applied agricultural, biological and chemical sciences.

The College aims to provide students of diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic heritage with the scientific background necessary for the development of professional expertise; the leadership skills needed to participate fully in a rapidly advancing, technological, informational society; the dedication to recognize and contribute to the resolution of real-world problems; and an appreciation and understanding of the humanities and social sciences that will provide a foundation for esthetic and moral growth as well as a broad perspective from which to view their professional and personal lives.

The Curricula within the College are designed to prepare students who ultimately will become professionals in areas that include agricultural sciences, food and nutritional sciences, biological and biomedical sciences, chemical and biochemical sciences, human and veterinary medicine and other health-related fields, environmental sciences, environmental policy and natural resource management, and rural development at local, regional, and international levels. Undergraduate and graduate students from the College will be positioned to enter the job market, enroll in professional or graduate programs, or engage in research, education or outreach at major research universities or centers. The College carries out its activities through the related themes of teaching, research, and services. The programs of the College are designed to achieve the following objectives.

To provide courses to students in other colleges whose professions will require technical knowledge of basic or applied biological or chemical sciences;

To provide science courses for non science majors, an overriding goal of which is to contribute to an increase among the nation’s citizenry in scientific literacy, interest in science, and commitment to dealing with scientific issues as they interface with political, moral, social, and economic arenas; to support the use of instructional strategies that are student-centered, inquiry-based, and technologically appropriate; to participate in interdisciplinary and discipline-based research in the basic and applied sciences and in instructional research, particularly as an integral part of student development; to complement internal research and education opportunities by substantial involvement with private industry, federal agencies, and other universities; to involve faculty and students in demonstration and outreach projects that help to improve communities, human health, and the quality of life for individuals and families; to provide training to students from other countries and to maintain beneficial and educational partnerships with institutions abroad. 

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