By Dominic Arthur, Staff Reporter.
This fall, Delta College — in conjunction with Michigan State University — will offer a brand new program that will set students up to be successful in agriculture.
Agriculture is one of the strongest industries here in Michigan. According to Michigan.gov, the food and agriculture industry contributes $101.2 billion annually to the state’s economy, and is the “largest system in the state’s workforce.”
This is the first time that Delta has teamed up with MSU. Nathan Westfall, Recruitment Coordinator of MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology and Leslie Siefka Donovan, a graduate of the program and Agriculture Program Coordinator, are on the frontlines of this joint effort.
According to Westfall, the reason Delta and MSU partnered for this program is because Michigan has a “very strong production agriculture industry and the programs there at Delta College are meant to meet the employment needs in the area.”
Students will study areas of farm management, crop science, water resource management, pest management and plant disease, and agriculture compliance, regulation, and safety.
“Students will have the opportunity to work and make connection with [agriculture] industry leaders,” says Donovan.
The agriculture program is unique because students are dualed enrolled at both Delta and MSU in order to utilize each school’s “resources and expertise” such as career services, academics and financial aid.
Students who complete the program will receive an Associates in Science and a certificate from Michigan State. The credits behind the certificate will transfer to Michigan State where students have the options to continue their learning and earn a Bachelor’s degree.
For more information about the new program, visit www.www.delta.edu/tech/agriculture.aspx or you can contact Leslie Siefka Donovan, Agriculture Program Coordinator, by calling 989-686-9350 or by email at ldonovan@msu.edu. She can also be reached in the Counseling and Advising Center on a walk-in basis.
