For the next five years we are probably well positioned relative to classroom and laboratory space for undergraduate needs. We are, however, tight on office space and any expansion in personnel could cause serious problems. There is no formal mechanism to ensure that the faculty coordinate performance objectives for students among their courses, and that students have ample opportunity to develop all desired skills. Faculty who are not part of the undergraduate teaching group often do not have opportunities to participate in and contribute to undergraduate education. While students leave the university very familiar with most of the undergraduate teachers, few have interacted with faculty whose primary responsibilities are in research and extension.
Money is tight.
The present program requiring graduate students to gain teaching experience is perceived by graduate students to be unfair and arbitrary. Some feel they are expected to put in long hours while others are perceived to receive the same credit for doing almost nothing. The undergraduate program is perceived by some to be to provincial, ie it deals too much with corn and soybean production on Mollisols in Iowa and gives insufficient attention to production of other crops on other soils in other climates. When the Horticulture Department implemented their strategic plan they were very successful at increasing undergraduate student numbers. If Agronomy experiences the same increases in student numbers we may soon over-stretch our resources and our ability to provide any additional students with the quality education provided to our present students.