CAFNR alumni, donors and friends,
Last summer we began preparing CAFNR for a post-COVID world. Our efforts were collectively named “CAFNR ReGenesis,” and each of our three associate deans were charged with a specific area of focus.
We continually strive to be good stewards of our resources, and as we advance our core missions in CAFNR, we constantly seek to identify improvements and new efficiencies. This careful examination of our college has resulted in consolidations, emerging initiatives and reorganizations.
I share with you the following details of CAFNR’s academic realignment:
| • | The former Division of Food Systems and Bioengineering is now the Division of Food, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, with the Nutrition and Exercise Physiology program (from the former College of Human and Environmental Sciences, HES) joining the Food Science program to populate the restructured division. |
| • | The department of Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering (BBCE), formerly a joint program with the College of Engineering (COE), is now administered solely out of the COE. CAFNR will retain joint faculty from this department, as it does with many units across campus. |
| • | The Agricultural Systems Technology degree program, faculty and agricultural engineering Extension faculty joined the Division of Plant Sciences, creating the restructured Division of Plant Science and Technology. |
| • | The Personal Financial Planning program (from HES) is now a part of the Division of Applied Social Sciences (DASS). |
These changes took effect July 1, 2021, and no existing degree programs, other than the location of their administrative home, were impacted. We extend a warm welcome to our new faculty, students and alumni joining us from NEP and PFP – we are glad you’re here!
With these changes, we aim to bring a new, energized focus to our programs so that we remain a valuable and innovative institution for our students, stakeholders and industry partners.
We also examined the Missouri Agriculture Experiment Station (MOAES). The MOAES will undergo a restructuring over the next nine months, so that it, too, can remain relevant and efficient. The Moving AES Forward taskforce, led by Marshall Stewart, MU Extension, and Leslie Holloway, Missouri Farm Bureau, presented recommendations to UM President and MU Chancellor Mun Choi. CAFNR administrators have reviewed the recommendations and are fully supportive.
The MOAES restructuring will begin with the following recommendations:
| • | Restructure and realign the centers and farms into four research hubs operated by CAFNR and four Extension and Education centers operated by MU Extension. |
| • | Create a statewide AES Strategic Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from each center’s advisory committee, CAFNR faculty and external partners from other land-grant universities, agencies, commodity and/or partner organizations. |
| • | Consolidate fiscal, human resources, field operations and other administrative functions. |
| • | Develop a comprehensive communications plan to reach younger farmers and ranchers who are beginning careers in agriculture. |
The new MOAES network of Research, Extension and Education Centers will be more efficient, forward-looking, nimble and stakeholder-relevant. We are one statewide experiment station, and the new structure will allow us to function more cohesively with MU Extension in improved service for Missouri agriculture in the 21st century.
As always, I sincerely appreciate your support of CAFNR, and we look forward to your collaboration as we welcome new academic programs and implement new plans to shape the future of our college. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns.
Christopher R. Daubert, PhD
Vice Chancellor and Dean
College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
