Montana University System INTENT TO PLAN FORM

Program/Center/Institute Title: Ranch Management Program

Campus, School/Department: MSU, Bozeman/Animal and Range Sciences

April 17, 2018 Page 1 of 3

Expected Submission Date: April 24, 2018

contact Name/Info: Patrick Hatfield, Head, Department of Animal and Range Sciences

To increase communication, collaboration, and problem-solving opportunities throughout the MUS in the program/center/institute development process, please complete this form not more than 18 months in advance of the anticipated date of submission of the proposed program/center/institute to the Board of Regents for approval. The completed form should not be more than 2-3 pages. For more information regarding the Intent to Plan process, please visit http://mus.edu/che/arsa/preparingacademicproposals.asp.

1) Provide a description of the program/center/institute. Our mission is to produce outstanding graduates with the diverse set of skills needed to meet the challenges of today's grazing livestock and natural resource industry. We will accomplish this mission by developing a BS Ranch Management degree program at MSU based on an academic/industry partnership to build the foundational skills needed for the nation's future leaders in ranch management. Our degree program will be based on a systems-level approach that includes course work and experiential/hands-on learning in animal production, natural resource management, economics, and business, as well as applied skills such as communication and critical thinking that are important to the grazing livestock industry. When fully supported and staffed our Ranch Management Program will be a preeminent program producing outstanding systems-level thinkers that will be the leaders in the livestock industry in the northern Great Plains, and lntermountain West regions.

2) Describe the need for the program/center/institute. Specifically, how the program/center/institute meets current student and workforce demands. (Please cite sources).

Based on a survey of Montana Stock Growers Association members, and other individuals involved in the land and

livestock management business, conducted in 2016 by the MSU College of Business (COB), there is high demand for a

Ranch Management degree program in Montana and the Northern Rockies/Great Plains. In addition to the increasing

demand for talented managers of large investment-type land holding, the need for expertise on existing ranches ranks as

the most important need to Montana Stock Growers Association members and industry stakeholders. According to the

MSU COB survey, the need for ranch management education is increasing rapidly and the need can be met with a BS level

program that integrates education and experiential learning here at MSU.

3) Describe how the program/center/institute fits with the institutional mission, strategic plan, and existing institutional program array.

Learning: The MSU Ranch Management Program will prepare outstanding graduates with the diverse set of skills needed to meet the challenges of today's complex grazing livestock and natural resource industry. Ours will be a rigorous program that produces the type of graduates needed by the livestock industry. Our degree program will be based on a systems-level approach that includes course work and experiential/hands-on learning in animal production, natural resource management, economics, and business, as well as applied skills such as communication and critical thinking in a student­centered curriculum that integrates learning, discovery, and engagement in a~d out of the classroom. We will measure program and student success by following the MSU strategic plan. We wilt develop a MSU Ranch Management Program

Montana University System INTENT TO PLAN FORM

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learning assessment tool that targets mastery of: 1) discipline-specific knowledge and 2) critical thinking, oral communication, written communication, quantitative reasoning, understanding of diversity, and understanding of contemporary issues. Graduate rates and job placement also will be tracked to continually improve the program. Because the program will be "gated" prior to the junior level we are confident the graduation rate will consistently exceed the MSU graduation rate average. Because the MSU Ranch Management Program has Its foundational support from the grazing livestock industry, based on a critical need for the type of individuals our program will graduate, we also are confident that our job placement rate will exceed the university average. Based on our survey results related to salary/compensation, we are confident that the average starting salary with additional compensation (i.e. housing, vehicle, food from operation, ability to raise own livestock, etc.) will easily exceed the national average starting salary of $50,000 for college graduates (http:ljwww.cnbc.com/2016/ 0S/16/college-grads-enioy-the-best-lob-market-in-years.html).

Discovery: The program does not have a classic research or creative activity component. However, because of the program's direct link with livestock enterprises through our internship programs and the Ranch Management advisory committee, our students and faculty will be more aware and better prepared to address researchable questions of value to the grazing livestock and natural resources industry.

Engagement: Graduates from the MSU Ranch Management program will be leaders, lifetime learners, scholars, and engaged citizens of their local, regional, national and global communities, working together with both rural and urban community partners to exchange and apply knowledge and resources to improve the sustainability of the grazing livestock Industry. Within our Ranch Management assessment plan we will track our programs success in 1) increased service, outreach and engagement, 2) MSU Ranch Management graduates will have global and multicultural understanding and experiences, and 3) MSU Ranch Management students will have increased lifelong learning opportunities for leadership development through the program's Seminar Series and MSU Extension's Continuing Education Program. Other opportunities will be pursued and developed as additional funding becomes available.

Integration: The Department of Animal and Range Sciences has a long and rich history as a multi-faceted program that includes research, teaching, and extension in a multi-discipline program that is in a constant loop of communication and partnership serving the goals of the land-grant mission. The Ranch Management Program is, at its core, a systems-level program that values all the discipline-specific knowledge needed to develop students who will be successful leaders in the Ranch Management Industry. Within our Ranch Management assessment plan, we will track our program's success in 1) Increased integration of learning, discovery, and engagement, and 2) Increased work across disciplines.

Access: The MSU Ranch Management Program will be open to all. However, entry into the program will be restricted to the junior year to match our student numbers with the program's highly structured internship program and to create a strong cohort producing graduates needed to serve the industry. Within our Ranch Management assessment plan, we will track our program's success in 1) Educating the maximum program capacity of students while maintaining quality of the program, and 2) Diversifying the program student body.

Stewardship: The MSU Ranch Management Program will responsibly manage its human, physical, economic and environmental resources in an open and sustainable manner. For stewardship, the Department of Animal and Range Sciences' assessment plan overlaps and tracks the objectives and metrics for stewardship.

4) Describe how the program/center/institute overlaps, complements, or duplicates existing efforts in the MUS. Describe efforts that will be made to collaborate with similar programs at other institutions. If no efforts will be made, please explain why.

NO. Although there are over 50 Farm and Ranch Management Colleges and degree programs in the U.S. http:ljwww.educationcorner.com/farm-farm-and-ranch-management-colleges-universities.html , these are predominately associate degrees, or if BS programs, they are typically discipline-specific (i.e. Ag Business, Agronomy,

Montana University System INTENTTO PLAN FORM

April 17, 2018 Page 3 of 3

Animal Science) rather than a systems/experiential learning program as proposed at MSU. There is only one other true Ranch Management Program in the U.S. with a program and reputation similar to what we propose at MSU. Although the Texas A & M University at Kingsville, King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management is an outstanding program it only produces 3 MS level Ranch Managers each year (no BS program) and has a primary focus on the southern Great Plains. Our proposed program would be the only systems level BS program of its type in the nation.

Signature/Date

College/School Dean: <:Il.aJL~ Thi~ Chief Academic Officer: (j

Chief Executive Officer:

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FlagshipPresiden~/ MiL N-r- '?resldt"1{ W. Cvv,..1-,,..cQo *Not applicable to the Community Colleges.

Date of Final Review:

When submitting the proposal to the BOR, include this signed form with the Level II request.