Since the early 1990s the College of Agriculture has staffed a student outreach and retention office with a student services professional and a staff support person. The office has been responsible for coordinating our outreach efforts and providing services to our students that enhances retention and placement. Through events such as our annual Opportunity Day, where we provide prospective students with on-the-spot admission, we have increased the number of majors as well as increased the overall quality of our students. In the past 15 years, our number of majors has increased from about 160 to over 400.Conducting high school and community college visits along with active involvement in the California Agricultural Teachers Association allow us to continue to enhance the visibility of our programs.
The Outreach and Retention Office plays a critical role in building a sense of community among our students, staff, faculty and alumni.Helping our students with admissions, enrollment, scheduling, academic planning, and financial aid serve to enhance our retention.The Outreach and Retention Office also coordinates key events such as our welcome back BBQ to improve the students’ sense of connection to the College of Agriculture.Each year the staff coordinates an Agricultural Internship and Career Faire to connect our students with nearly 30 potential employers.