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.