Investing in Students

In recent years, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has experienced double-digit increases in new-student numbers. Employers clamor for the college’s graduates: more than 98 percent are on the job or working on advanced degrees shortly after earning their diplomas.

More than 60 percent of undergraduate students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences have financial need. Through Campaign Iowa State, we seek to secure nearly $31 million for both need- and merit-based undergraduate scholarships. We will focus on enhancing opportunities in three key scholarship programs:

• Scholarships for Excellence in Agriculture. A merit-based program designed to attract and retain academically gifted students who demonstrate early aptitude for leadership positions in agriculture.
  
• Future of Agriculture Scholarships. A scholarship program aimed at recruiting students from Iowa to pursue degrees in agriculture and life sciences.
  
• Global agricultural scholarships. The college is second in the nation in agricultural students’ participation in study abroad programs. Additional global agricultural scholarships will make international opportunities more affordable for all students.

Resources for graduate fellowships also are needed to recruit promising graduate students. Investments in graduate students are important to train the next generation of researchers in cutting-edge fields and develop tomorrow’s agricultural research and technologies.