Five counties in Southern are in Southern Arizona- Pima, Maricopa, Cochise, Graham, and Yuma- are working together, with help from 34 agencies, including Cooperative Extension, to offer support to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.

Wednesday, 11 December 2002
Susan McGinley

Contact Information: Susan McGinley 520.621.7182 mcginley@ag.arizona.edu Web Site: http://cals.arizona.edu/

Cooperative Extension:

• A Bridge Across Arizona is a recent Cooperative Extension magazine that highlights new and continuing programs in Arizona.



• With $1 million in grants related to natural resources, water education and forest health, Extension formed a partnership with NAU College of Forestry, the USDA Forest Service, the Arizona State Land Department, and others.



• The 4-H Youth Development Program celebrated 100 Years of commitment to Arizona. Over 100,000 young people participated in programs in 2001; approximately half identified themselves as minority.



• To better serve northern Arizona, Cooperative Extension began agriculture and 4-H Youth Development programs with the Hualapai and Havasupai tribes, locating new faculty at Peach Springs on Old Route 66.



• In response to demographic and societal changes that are causing economic strains for Arizona families, Extension programs are teaching residents statewide how to set financial goals, reduce debt, and increase net worth.

Research:

• Three new research facilities were dedicated in February: 1) The Agricultural Research Complex, a 46,560 gross sq. ft. highly specialized and unique structure designed to study environmental factors affecting livestock performance, 2) a laboratory, office and classroom building designed to support our growing and highly visible controlled environment agriculture program for plants, and 3) at the West Campus Agricultural Center, a new rearing building and associated office building to support our highly acclaimed aquaculture pathology program.




The school's entire landscape of beautiful trees and shrubs was designated an arboretum by the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta in September. In fact, the UA campus is the oldest continually maintained green space in Arizona. Robert Walker photo.

• The College attracted Dr. Rod Wing, an internationally recognized plant molecular biologist to join our already highly distinguished group of plant biologists including Dr. Vicki Chandler who was recently named to the National Academy of Sciences.



• Substantial funding was acquired from USDA to support our Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, selected as one of several strategically placed facilities across the United States that now form a unified network to identify and respond to high risk biological pathogens in the food and agricultural system.

Academic Programs:

• Fall student enrollment in CALS increased approximately 3 percent over fall semester 2001.



• New student interest continues to grow in many of our academic programs as students transfer to the college from other programs in the university and from community colleges. After graduating a large class last year, the enrollment looks promising.



• Agriculture and life sciences modular courses were offered at the Maricopa Agriculture Center and, for the first time, in Yuma. Modular courses serve as an introduction of new technical material for some students, as refresher courses for those who work in the industry in those localities, and help some gain personal enrichment and advanced education.



• The degree program operated in Yuma in collaboration with Arizona Western College and Northern Arizona University continues to serve its clientele with an enrollment of some 45 students who live and work in Yuma County.