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| Former SU Ag Center Chancellor Dr. Leodrey Williams speaks to the members of the Southern University Board of Supervisors during the April 22 board meeting. |
Baton Rouge, LA – The Southern University Board of Supervisors voted to merge the Southern University
College of Agriculture with the Southern University Agricultural Research and
Extension Center during the board’s April 22 meeting.
The move will
transfer the academic unit located on the SU Baton Rouge campus to the Ag
Center; allowing the operating functions of the three land-grant units (Teaching,
Research and Cooperative Extension) to be located under one umbrella.
The Ag Center
currently employs 115 employees (includes vacancies), with field staff in 36
parishes across the state. The Center, which is overseen by a Chancellor, consists
of research and extension units and has an operating budget of $7,809,249 (for
2016).
The college
encompasses the academic arm of the land-grant mission. It currently employs seven
part-time and 15 full time employees.
“We’re
excited,” said Dr. Doze Butler, Associate Dean of the College of Sciences and
Agriculture, about the merger. “It’s good
for the academic program,” she added.
“It is a great
day for the citizens of Louisiana as the SU College of Agriculture is officially
aligned with the SU Ag Center,” said Dr. Adell Brown, interim Chancellor of the
SU Ag Center. “Resources can more effectively be directed to ensure that
teaching, research and extension programs are being implemented to provide
opportunities to our most underserved youth, families, and farmers. This
alignment allows us to work as an agricultural family to shape new academic
offerings, as we prepare our students for the 21st century work force needs in
agriculture.”
The Southern University System established the Agricultural,
Research and Extension Center as its fifth campus in 2001.
The merger will be effective on July 1, 2016.
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