Northwest, UW to offer four-year ag degree in Powell

Posted 10/18/18

Several years of hard work to bring a four-year agriculture degree program to Powell is about to produce a bountiful harvest.

Northwest College President Stefani Hicswa announced last week that …

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Northwest, UW to offer four-year ag degree in Powell

Posted

Several years of hard work to bring a four-year agriculture degree program to Powell is about to produce a bountiful harvest.

Northwest College President Stefani Hicswa announced last week that NWC will be teaming up with the University of Wyoming to offer a four-year degree in Powell. It will enable local students to obtain a bachelor of applied science degree, with a concentration in plant science, without having to head all the way to Laramie.

Hicswa said the new degree program is a big win for Powell and “also a win for the [Big Horn] Basin, because students do not have to leave to complete their degree. This means students will be able to stay close to home or continue working on local farms with their newly acquired knowledge.”

The courses will be offered through distance education, featuring a mix of online courses and courses taught by faculty at the Powell Research & Extension Center.

“The Big Horn Basin is unique in terms of agriculture production in the state,” Hicswa said. “The irrigation system and surrounding mountains makes this area ideal to experiment with different crops.”

As just one example, she noted the gluten free oats grown in the area through GF Harvest, a company started by Powell’s Smith family.

“UW’s Research and Extension Center in Powell coupled with NWC’s excellent ag program means that there are qualified faculty in Powell to work with students,” Hicswa said.

Brett Hess, the interim dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Wyoming, shares Hicswa’s excitement about having a four-year degree program in Powell.

However, “the bachelor of applied science degree is only part of the equation,” Hess said.

In addition, UW’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources will be offering badges and certificates in seed certification and seed analysis, he said.

“Badges would be for individuals seeking credentials in either or both of those areas who do not have an associate’s degree. Certificates would be for persons who hold a minimum of an associate’s degree,” Hess explained. “Overall, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources views these offerings for educational attainment as workforce development opportunities for residents in the Big Horn Basin.”

Hess said the program might be ready to go as soon as the first of the year.

“We hope to have all the pieces in place by the coming spring semester if everything falls into place as we have planned,” he said.

Hess said the project represents six years of planning.

“If I recall correctly, Dr. Hicswa has been interested in the ability for place-bound students to receive a four-year degree ever since she became president of NWC,” Hess said. Meanwhile, he said UW became “exceptionally interested” in developing opportunities for people in the Big Horn Basin based off comments and recommendations that were made during a UW listening session held in Park County a few years ago.

Hess added that the proposed ag program is nearing fruition as the UW explores options “to achieve educational attainment goals for Wyoming residents outlined by the ENDOW Council.”

Hicswa praised Hess and his leadership on the program.

“He is thinking out of the box for ways to provide better access to post-secondary opportunities for Wyoming students,” Hicswa said. “This is especially important in agriculture since many students are place-bound working on their family farms and ranches.”

The NWC president is hopeful that the new degree and certification program will keep agriculture in the Big Horn Basin strong in the years to come.

“I hope this means more land will remain in production and this area will continue our rich history to be a leader and innovator in agriculture,” Hicswa said.

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