Mission

Program Mission Statement:

Our mission is to teach students of diverse backgrounds how to learn and communicate through hands on experiences involving knowledge and skills essential for careers in the multifaceted agribusiness industry.

Program Goals:

1. Provide training in the use of effective oral and written communication skills necessary for the profession/

2. Provide training in applied concepts of Agricultural Technology that gives students confidence in implementing new and emerging technologies.

3. Provide technical training in basic concepts and techniques of agriculture financial management and record-keeping procedures.

4. Provide training in basic managerial functions such as cost control, purchasing, inventory and time management, employee evaluations and employee supervision.

5. Provide training in the fundamentals of crops, land use, livestock, and planning to optimally manage agricultural resources.

6. Provide training in the basic knowledge areas of nutrition, disease/pest management and various life cycle stages of plants and animals.

7. Provide training in basic teamwork or cooperative group work as it applies to productivity on the job.

8. Provide training in basic analysis of agribusiness and production agriculture including assessment of the situation, identifying alternatives, selecting optimum choices, training and supervision of implementation, evaluating results, recommending process changes for improvement, and accepting responsibility for the decision.

9. Provide training in basic concepts and techniques of career selection, steps to meaningful employment and promotion in the agricultural industry.

10. Provide basic training in applying ethics to agricultural technology and business scenarios.

Program goals will be reviewed annually by our faculty and advisory board.

Student Learning Goals:

• Students will be able to demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills
• Students will be able to demonstrate skills and confidence in implementing new and emerging technologies.
• Students will be able to demonstrate competency in basic agricultural financial management and record-keeping procedures.
• Students will be able to demonstrate basic business managerial skills including time management and employee supervision and evaluation.
• Students will be able to demonstrate fundamental knowledge in the areas of crops/horticulture, land use, and livestock in relation to optimally managing agriculture resources.
• Students will be able to demonstrate an attitude of punctuality, attendance, basic teamwork, cooperation and safety as it relates to increasing productivity on the job.
• Students will be able to demonstrate basic problem solving skills:

a) assessment of the situation

b) identification of alternatives

c) selecting optimum choices

d) training and supervision of implementation

e) evaluating results

f) recommending process changes for continuous improvement

g) an attitude of accepting responsibility for ethical outcomes

8) Students will show competency in career selection and the steps to meaningful employment

Student learning goals will be reviewed annually by the faculty and advisory board.

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Requirements

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Student Responsibilities

• Attain a minimum grade of 2.0 in program course to continue
• Maintain attendance standards according to college policy
• Conduct themselves as good citizens of an educational community
• Follow safety procedures and guidelines and wear safety equipment as required while on campus and during cooperative work experience
• Participate in all learning activities at the scheduled times
• Provide Coop Ed employer with responsible and productive employment
• Be responsible for program costs: tuition, fees, books, tools, etc.

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Internship Experience

Internships are a capstone experience for students in the Ag Program.  In the last several years, students have interned in their interest areas in 22 states and Australia.  These internships give a wide range of work experiences -- among them elevator management trainees, livestock artificial insemination, equipment sales, research technicians, commercial pesticide applicators, crop consulting, production agriculture, nursery production, landscaping and turf grass management at some of the country's finest golf course and recreation venues.

Cooperative Education:

Students at Southeast Community College are employed by businesses and industries and have the opportunity to "learn while doing" through the College's Cooperative Education Experience.

Students will work in positions related to their career goals.  Student objectives are established through mutual agreement by the student, the employer, and the cooperative education experience coordinator.

Progress is evaluated at designated time(s) during the period of employment.

How Cooperative Education Works

Southeast Community College's Cooperative Education Experience is designed for students who have completed specific courses in their program of study and have achieved a grade point average of at least 2.0 on a scale of 4.0.

Coordinators work closely with employers and students to determine the optimum Cooperative Education arrangement.

The student registers for the Cooperative Education Experience and earns college credit while being paid a salary for the cooperative experience; the salary is set by the employer and agreed upon by the student.