A Decade of Retention and Graduation of Undergraduate Crop Management and Environmental, Soil, and Water Science Students.

Education of students majoring in crop management and environmental, soil, and water science is arguably more important today than ever to address sustainable food and biofuel production for an increasing human population and in the face of climate change. The availability of freshwater, biodiverse ecosystems, and proper nutrient and waste recycling are also critical issues. Furthermore, of current concern is conveyance of relevance of U.S. agricultural colleges in educating students and conducting research to solve these problems. In this study, enrollment data and graduation rates of approximately 200 undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas majoring in crop management or environmental, soil, and water science from 2000 to 2011 were evaluated. Students in the two applied science degrees were evaluated for whether they entered the programs as freshmen or transfer students, whether they remained in the degree programs, and whether they graduated. Enrollment, retention, and completion numbers were considered in relationship to grade point average, gender, and scholarships.