s the demand for agribusiness professionals increases in Washington and around the country, the CWU College of Business has taken steps to help the agricultural industry address its growing need for more qualified professionals.
“There is a huge need, and our industry partners and congressional representatives were absolutely critical to helping us get this grant,” Stinson said. The first-in-the-state concept would allow nontraditional learners to combine their CWU training with their industry experience to earn a bachelor of science degree. Instead of earning their general education credits first, like traditional learners, program participants can develop their specialization and then pursue gen ed credits. “Once someone earns two of the certificates, we hope they will start to see a pathway to a four-year degree,” Stinson said. “After they complete their industry-specific requirements, they can finish up their general ed classes and then package them together for a BS.” Less than two years into its development, the agribusiness program’s future appears bright. The first course of the food and agribusiness management and marketing program reached its maximum enrollment capacity of 40 last fall, while 17 students enrolled in the inaugural applied agribusiness technology course in fall 2022. As of spring 2023, 29 students were pursuing a minor in agribusiness. And while it’s hard to predict where enrollment will be in a few years, Dumitrescu says seeing so much immediate interest is promising. “We appreciate all of the support we have received so far, and we are hoping this new funding will contribute to the sustainable growth of our program,” she said. Dumitrescu and Stinson expressed appreciation for the contributions of industry supporters such as Loftus Labs, Domex Superfresh Growers, Tree Top Inc., John I. Haas Inc., Allan Bros. Inc., and others who have contributed their time and expertise to help get the program off the ground. The Kobata Foundation donated $55,000, the Vatheuer Family Foundation contributed $30,000, and organizations like the Washington State Tree Fruit Association and the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission have provided support throughout the process. Paired with the recent $75,000 federal grant, the program now has $160,000 in resources as it continues to evolve. Stinson explained that the agricultural industry desperately needs the support of higher education as it looks to fill the gap between available jobs and qualified candidates. CWU has identified that overwhelming need and is taking significant steps to deliver a remedy. “This is workforce development, and that’s what’s really driving this,” Stinson said. “Like many other industries right now, the ag industry has more jobs than qualified people. The reality is that the sustainability of our agricultural systems and food security rest on having employees who possess these specific skills.”
Associate Professor Claudia Dumitrescu and Dean Jeffrey Stinson have been working closely with dozens of industry partners over the past three years to develop a plan they hope will help CWU bridge the industry’s widening training gap. In the fall of 2021, CB successfully launched its first minor/ certificate program in food and agribusiness management and marketing. A second minor/certificate in applied agribusiness technology followed in 2022, and a third stackable certificate has been proposed for this fall, centered around food and agribusiness innovation. “These programs will give business and other majors a competitive advantage in the job market because they will acquire a good understanding of, and be able to solve, the marketing and management issues as they relate to the food and agricultural systems,” Dumitrescu said. Additionally, the CWU agribusiness program is designed to give students an opportunity to learn skills that are immediately applicable to their jobs, while allowing them to develop business and technology/data skills in production, processing, packaging, distribution, and sales, along with marketing proficiencies. According to her research, Dumitrescu said Central is the only institution in the state that is offering certificates aimed at the business side of food and agriculture through an AACSB-accredited business school. “We expect there will be great career opportunities in these industries, both in Washington and nationwide,” she said, adding that Central’s program is unique because it confers the business knowledge—with an emphasis on the marketing, HR management, transformative innovations, technology and data skills—needed to succeed in the food and ag sectors. “We will continue our efforts to address employers’ needs, student career preferences, and have a positive impact on our communities,” she continued. “The long-term goal is to develop a degree path, which will prepare our students to fill the void in the job market.” CWU agribusiness is now poised to take the next step in its development with $75,000 in federal funding from the recently passed congressional spending bill. With help from U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell and nearly two dozen industry leaders across the region, the ag biz program is now in the process of developing a third stackable minor/ certificate that will eventually be combined with two other certificates as a four-year degree program.
21
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator