dean’s message

College of Agriculture

Fred Cholick, dean, College of Agriculture

“We have great people and part of our job is to help put resources in people's hands to help them be productive,” said Fred A. Cholick, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension (KSRE). “I truly believe our future is determined by our students, faculty, friends and alumni.”

Teaching, research and extension

Cholick has underscored the three-part mission of teaching, research and extension in the College of Agriculture.

“Our motto is knowledge for life,” he said. “We must provide a knowledge-for-life basis so our students can have productive and successful careers. Our faculty does a great job of advising our students on curriculum choices and acting as mentors to guide students toward successful career paths. This is because we listen to our students and businesses when developing our curriculum, and teach our students to be lifelong learners and great team members.”

Research and development

Faculty members work on and off campus to advance scientific research and develop new knowledge and products.

“We develop knowledge that’s used in the college and applied by fellow scientists worldwide,” Cholick said. “We work in partnerships with other universities and agribusinesses. The knowledge we develop provides the basis to solve problems; address issues facing Kansas producers, farmers, ranchers, families and communities; and serves as a broad economic driver. We empower a person with the knowledge to make wise and informed decisions, which is the primary role of extension.”

Challenges for the college

The College of Agriculture has faced many changes in its history: some technological, while other changes have related to student enrollment and the types of people who strive to be in the industry. Learning styles are among other changes that are anticipated in the next 10 years.

“Everyone realizes the effect that computers have had on education and their lives,” Cholick said. “What may not be realized is that we must be able to maintain traditional methods, because students react differently to each learning style. Some need the personal touch and some learn through the Web-based methods. Web-based formal and informal education allows us to reach the place-bound learner.”

“What has not changed is the importance of experiential learning. One of the defining components of the land-grant university system is the experiment station, which started because a chemistry professor needed more real examples to teach in the chemistry lab, based on agricultural and natural resources. This is probably the best learning style.”

International practices and diversity present additional opportunities in agricultural education and agribusiness. These issues are considered priorities in the College of Agriculture.

“We truly live in a global society that’s continuing to grow and diversify,” Cholick said. “Understanding and sharing global, cultural and operational differences, whether you’re dealing with an international or multinational company or a local operation in Kansas, is absolutely critical for our students. People have to get physically immersed in a global situation to really understand cultural differences.”

One aspect of globalization requires the college to be well-versed in the workings of industry. K-State has taken this challenge and turned it into strength.

“One of our areas of uniqueness is partnering with industry,” Cholick said. “That’s not only in the college, but it’s a trait of Kansas State University. We’ve done unique things to partner with industry and our Bio-Processing and Value Added Program (BIVAP), in conjunction with the Advanced Manufacturing Institute, Mid-America Commercialization Corporation and the Kansas State University Research Foundation toward a position of taking innovation from the lab and classroom to the consumer. K-State and the college are positioning themselves to be major contributors in the commercialization of intellectual property, which will have economic impact on Kansas and the region.”

Maintaining core specialties

Beef and wheat have been regarded as core specialties in the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University. “We have two big engines in beef and wheat, and we don’t take that for granted,” Cholick said. “We’re still looking for innovation, and we understand the economic development role that we play.”

K-State’s role in beef production is that of analyzing ways to advance the science and benefits to industry. “We’re involved in every aspect from cow-calf to the feedlot to the meat products to the consumer,” Cholick said. “We can provide assurance to consumers and also provide producers with background data on how to be better cow-calf operators, whether through genetics or production systems.”

“One of the capacities we’re building is to address high-intensity research on a given animal unit, and then be able to translate that to the impact on a large number of animals being fed in a pen. We need the capacity to do both. It’s what we call an ‘upscale.’ Because something works on individual test animals doesn’t mean it’s going to work universally in a pen with 200 animals.”

How you can help

Alumni and friends of the university have traditionally played a key role in shaping the mission of the College of Agriculture.

“Kansas State leads the nation in percentage of alumni who give back to their university,” Cholick said. “That really says something about our alumni, but our college also enjoys having strong and caring friends. Although they haven’t necessarily gone to K-State, they consider us a source of knowledge and expertise.”

“The dollar from private giving is critical in helping us to attain excellence. People can help at every level to support our activities, goals, and teaching, research and extension missions. Our job is to assure that there’s value for each gift and that there’s value back to society and to Kansas. We welcome everyone’s help by talking to us and communicating ideas and concerns. And of course, they can help by recruiting students or joining our advisory committees and industry partnerships. Our friends and alumni can spread the word to others about the work we do and be ambassadors for us.”