The Need for a Plan
OSU aspires to be a preeminent land-grant university that serves Oklahomans better than counterpart institutions serve their states.9 For OSU Agriculture, that means taking action considering ongoing challenges and future prospects to be a leader in U.S. agriculture and successfully serve the citizens of Oklahoma and the world.
It has been at least a decade since OSU Agriculture updated its strategic plan. However, OSU crafted a new strategic plan in 2022 highlighting four priority areas: 1) innovating to nourish the world, 2) leading in aerospace innovation and application, 3) enhancing human, animal and environmental health (One Health) and 4) powering a growing world population sustainably and responsibly. It is time for OSU Agriculture to align itself with the university’s priorities and position resources for the future.
Much has changed in the food and agricultural sectors since OSU Agriculture developed its last strategic plan. Several important transformations have occurred in recent decades. With the digital revolution, it is now possible to measure and monitor supply chains using artificial intelligence, sensors, smartphones and cloud computing. Concurrent changes in plant and animal sciences related to modern molecular breeding techniques, such as gene editing and marker-assisted breeding, enable more rapid propagation of genetic traits and new plant varieties. Discoveries related to the microbiome, vaccine development, soil carbon and robotics, among others, are paving the way for a new era in food and agriculture. Changes in climate, water and labor availability, agricultural policy and geopolitics have changed producers’ decision-making environments. Preparing students and stakeholders for the competitive world requires an emphasis on data analytics and interpretation and working alongside AI resources while enhancing soft skills. The modern media landscape also requires OSU Agriculture to adapt by providing information in ways the public has come to expect. The variety of information sources requires OSU Agriculture to foster trust and confidence with students, farmers, ranchers, policymakers and the public.
Over the past decade, the Ferguson College of Agriculture has grown and increased the number of students it serves. The New Frontiers campaign led to state-of-the-art research, teaching and Extension spaces in the new Agricultural Hall, a facility poised to facilitate and promote engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration. OSU Ag Research and OSU Extension have continued to make positive impacts even though federal and state funding have significantly decreased during the past two decades. These changes necessitate adopting entrepreneurial and growth mindsets and a willingness to try new things. It is against this backdrop that a strategic plan is needed.
As part of developing this strategic plan, individual interviews were conducted with about 24 key stakeholders in spring 2024. Numerous listening sessions were held with various groups of faculty, staff and students. In addition, two statewide surveys were conducted in fall 2024 to help inform an OSU Extension needs assessment. Information from these activities and other institutional data helped inform the strategic plan.
9 - https://go.okstate.edu/about-osu/leadership/president/strategic-plan/