Agriculture Courses integrate a broad spectrum of disciplines and are of the greatest benefit to students when a balanced perspective of available knowledge is presented. Recently, many factors have combined to endanger this traditional instructional approach. Enrollments in colleges of agriculture have declined. For example, enrollment in the College of Agriculture at New Mexico State University has declined 45% since 1977. Horticulture and agronomy student numbers mirror this decline. Declining enrollment reduces resources allocated to agricultural teaching programs. In fact, college FTE has declined 26% since 1977. This reduction has been accomplished by not replacing retiring faculty. Reduction in the teaching pool diminishes flexibility in course offerings. Furthermore, credibility may be threatened when a broad course array is taught by few professors.

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modular courses, increasing enrollment, recruitment

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