PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences are to improve agriculture and family living in the State, to stimulate students in their own development, to foster an attitude of inquiry, and to develop leadership. The resident instruction of the College helps fulfill these objectives by educating young men and women in scientific and technical agriculture and human environmental sciences.

The curricula include basic courses in physical, biological and social sciences, mathematics, the humanities, and communications, as well as in technical agriculture and human environmental sciences. Such education is important, not only to agricultural production and family living, but also to related industries and to educational work in these fields.

Most students enrolled in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences work for a degree either in agriculture or human environmental sciences. Students who desire additional education of a specific nature but who do not wish to fulfill all requirements for a degree enroll as special or unclassified students.

HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION

As the land-grant university of the State, the University of Arkansas has the responsibility for leadership in agricultural and human environmental sciences. This responsibility is shared with the Division of Agriculture, and it includes teaching, research and service functions.

The Bumpers College is an integral component of the University of Arkansas and addresses the teaching responsibility of the land grant university. Its roots lie in the Morrill Act of 1862, which created the land-grant system by providing a grant of land to each state for the establishment of a college "where the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanical arts in such manner as the legislatures of the state may prescribe in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions of life." Agricultural sciences have been taught at the University of Arkansas almost from the beginning of the institution in 1872, and the first degrees in agriculture were conferred by the University almost 90 years ago.

The passage of the Hatch Act in 1887 and subsequent legislation made possible the Agricultural Experiment Station, the research component of the Division of Agriculture. Most faculty who teach in the Bumpers College also hold appointments in the Experiment Station and are thus able to incorporate active research into their teaching.

The dissemination of University research to the State was made possible by the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, plus subsequent legislation, which created the Cooperative Extension Service in agricultural and human environmental sciences. Many Extension specialists also hold adjunct faculty status and bring their expertise to the teaching program.

It is this blending of teaching, research and service functions that create a unique learning environment in the College. As students learn to relate basic areas of science to human needs, they study in laboratory-based classes and are taught in research facilities supported by the Division of Agriculture. Similarly, students are encouraged to intern with professionals in industry and governmental agencies, including the Cooperative Extension Service.

The School of Human Environmental Sciences was originally established as the Department of Home Economics in 1913. It was elevated to school status in 1994, and the name was changed to Human Environmental Sciences.

In recognition of the land-grant mission of the University and its commitment to serve the entire state, the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences has worked cooperatively with numerous community colleges to organize the Arkansas Consortium for Teaching Agriculture (ACTA). ACTA is designed to facilitate the "seamless" transfer of students from community colleges to the Bumpers College. Coordinated advising, recruiting and curricula development are working goals of the Consortium. Interested students should contact the Dean's office.