AEE Strategic Plan

The following goals are the 2007-2012, five year goals or the department.

1. Focus programmatic research
2. Strengthening Agricultural and Extension Education Programs
3. Youth and Adult Development
4. Focused Scholarly Engagement
5. Enhancing Academic Excellence

Goal 1 - Focus programmatic research

The department will implement a strategic programmatic research agenda

Objective of Goal 1
(Baseline for each objective is currently zero)

1. Within five years, the department will evaluate coaching and training practices that result in effective program and curriculum development and evaluation.
2. Within five years, determine best practices for preparing college faculty and graduate students for teaching roles.
3. Within five years, identify and evaluate methods for teaching students to think critically and creatively in their discipline.
4. Within five years measure the effectiveness of innovation in improving teaching and learning in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech.
5. Within three years, determine the best practices for preparing beginning extension agents and agriculture teachers.
6. Within one year, explore the need, interest, and demand for a broad based Ph.D. in agricultural education.
7. Within five years, measure the effectiveness of the distance delivered masters program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech.
8. Within five years, measure the effectiveness of the Agricultural Sciences degree in preparing undergraduates for success.
9. Within one year, determine skills desired by Virginia Agriculture and Life Sciences employers for new employees.
10. Within two years, determine best practices for college student recruitment in agricultural and related sciences majors.
11. Within three years, determine best practices in implementing experiential learning programs in secondary agricultural education programs.
12. Within three years, evaluate the current curriculum utilized in the secondary agricultural education programs in Virginia.
13. Within three years, determine the impact of leadership education programs in secondary agricultural education.
14. Within three years, determine the impact of community service conducted at the local FFA chapter level.
15. Within three years, determine the level of science content taught at the secondary level in agricultural education.
16. Within three years, measure and compare science knowledge and application skills between agricultural education and non-agricultural education students.
17. Within two years, evaluate the National FFA career development events from a student perspective. Within five years, evaluate from a teacher and employer perspective.
18. Within two years, determine the fit of career development events in secondary agricultural education curriculum.
19. Within three years, determine the prevailing models for extension program development and evaluation. Within five years, identify program development and evaluation best practices.

Goal 2 - Strengthening Agricultural and Extension Education Programs

The department will enable agricultural and extension educators to practice effective program and curriculum development and evaluation.

Objectives for Goal 2

1. Within five years, 100% of the department instruction/training in program curriculum development and evaluation will be based on research and high priority needs as determined by constituents (Current Benchmark – 50%).
2. Annually, the department will offer 25 coaching and training opportunities in program and curriculum development and evaluation (Current Benchmark – 10).
3. Annually, the department will facilitate the development or revision of 10 educational materials (Current Benchmark – 2).
4. Within five years, 90% of VCE faculty and 50 pre-service Extension faculty will participate in outcomes based Extension program development and evaluation through training and technical assistance provided by the department (Current Benchmark - ).

Goal 3 - Youth and Adult Development

The department will provide leadership for positive youth and adult development through educational programs.

Objective of Goal 3

1. Within 3 years 25 % of all agriculture education programs will use a holistic approach, including Supervised Agricultural Experience, FFA, and instruction (Current Benchmark – 10%, Goal - 25%).
2. Within three years, Provide 25 coaching and training opportunities in the creation of an environment for positive learning and development (Current Benchmark – 5).
3. Within three years, provide 15 coaching and training opportunities for local civic engagement (Current Benchmark – 3).
4. Within three years, provide coaching and training opportunities in development of leadership in local communities (Current Benchmark – 0).

Goal 4 - Focused Scholarly Engagement

The department will use intellectual resources to engage stakeholders in programs based on mutually determined issues.

Objective of Goal 4

1. Within one year, determine a baseline of best practices for authentic engagement (Baseline – 0).
2. Within one year, review current engagement activities for departmental relevance (Baseline – 0).
3. Within 18 months, document essential stakeholders for targeted engagement (Baseline – 0).
4. Within three years, determine mutually beneficial engagement issues with essential stakeholder groups (Baseline – 0).
5. Within three years, adopt departmental standards for authentic engagement (Baseline– 0).

Goal 5 - Enhancing Academic Excellence

The department will create and uphold a high standard of excellence in teaching and learning.

Objectives of Goal 5

1. 1. Within five years, the department will increase enrollment in the seven degree options from 100 to 235 (3 year goal 165).
   

   Area	Current	3 year	5 year
   Undergraduate	35	100	150
   CTE MS/Dist	38	20	5
   CTE Pre-service MS	8	12	15
   CALS Dist MS	0	10	20
   On-Campus MS	1	5	10
   Part Time Ph.D.	14	17	20
   Full Time Ph.D.	4	7	15

2. Within one year, develop advising protocols for the seven degree options by fall 2007 (Baseline – 0).
3. Within three years, review and revise all graduate and undergraduate curriculum. (Baseline - Current curriculum was ranged no less than five years ago).
4. Within five years, design and implement programs to advance teaching and learning expertise in CALS faculty and graduate students. Two programs will be offered annually (Baseline – 0).