The proven partnership of the Arizona Western College (AWC) and
Northern Arizona University (NAU) has given rise to a new
partner. The University of Arizona (UA) is now a partner, becoming one
of the first 3-way academic partnerships.
The Agricultural Systems Management (ASM) Degree is a unique
academic program designed to meet the educational needs of students and
businesses in a highly specialized agricultural economy.
Many other educational institutions have community-based programs, but the
commitment and flexibility of AWC/NAU/UA in Yuma to provide a high quality
student-based educational experience is unmatched.
The curriculum consists of completion of an Associate of Arts degree at AWC
with an emphasis in Agriculture. AWC provides an excellent opportunity to
meet the general education requirements in smaller classes with more
individualized attention than is often available at a larger school. The
remainder of the course schedule is composed of business and management
related classes taught by NAU agricultural systems courses taught by the UA.
The Agricultural Systems Management (ASM) Degree is a unique academic
program designed to meet the educational needs of a specialized agricultural
economy in Yuma County. About 200,000 acres (5.5%) of Yuma County is
actively engaged in agricultural production. This represents a significant
portion of the county since 91.5% is under federal, state or tribal control.
The Census Bureau reports that there are over 600 farms and 211
agriculturally related businesses in this area. Agriculture, as a whole,
employs over 46,000 workers in Yuma County.
In 1995 agriculture contributed over 800 million dollars (53%) to
the economic engine of the county. Agricultural products include
vegetables, produce, citrus, cattle, cotton, alfalfa, grains and dates,
just to mention a few.
The ASM Degree offered by the College of Agriculture at the University of
Arizona is designed to meet the needs of those residents of Yuma County
and the surrounding areas, as well as the agricultural industries and
businesses operating in Yuma County. In addition there is an unlimited
potential of international agricultural operations.
Some people understand the basics of business and management, but few
understand the complexities of the agricultural systems involved in modern
agricultural businesses. It is these complexities and the opportunities
that have actually brought about the need for and design of the ASM curriculum.
The objective of the program at The University of Arizona is to prepare students
for careers requiring integration and application of agricultural, biosystems engineering
technology, biological sciences and business. While attracting many traditional undergraduate
students, the pgoram attracts and especially high number of older non-traditional students
that are working full time.
The University of Arizona now has approximately 15 faculty members involved in teaching, research
and extension in Yuma County, and access to dozens more via the comprehensive interactive networks
available from NAU. With access to the best that AWC, NAU and the UA have to offer, this program
promises to become a model for other institutions and an important resource for the agricultural
community. Graduates of the program are prepared to manage human and natural resources for producing,
processing and marketing food and other biological products worldwide.