Ambassadors at Work

As Ambassadors for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Mississippi State University, we have the privilege of being able to go on recruitment trips to high schools in the south.  For these recruitment events, the ambassadors load into a Mississippi State University Van and make our way to many different high school college fairs. Sometimes the high schools are local, such as Starkville High School or Columbus High School, and sometimes the high schools are in more distant cities, such as Jackson or on the coast. At the college fairs, the ambassadors have the opportunity to share their knowledge and love about the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The ambassadors share with prospective students general knowledge about Mississippi State University. Also, the ambassador’s talk to prospective students about certain questions they may have about a major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences or an area of interest. At the college fairs, the prospective students have the opportunity to pick up free pens, cozies, and rubber bracelets that will help them to remember their time speaking with a CALS ambassador. Most importantly students are able to fill out a form that includes contact information for them and information about what majors they are interested in. 

Ambassadors use the Mississippi State University vans to go on recruiting trips!

By doing filling out the prospective student forms, the ambassadors are able to follow up with the students by writing postcards and emailing them more about the major of interest, thus forming an important relationship with the prospective student.  The postcards are an easy way to help the future student feel already connected with the university. An ambassador hand writes each postcard, adding their own personal touch.  On the postcards, the prospective student is provided with an ambassadors contact information, and the link to set up an on-campus visit.

School spirited postcards that are sent to prospective students!

Campus visits are an integral part in determining a student's impression and opinion of Mississippi State University and, more specifically, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Upon arrival at the Cullis-Wade Depot, a representative of the Department of Admissions and Scholarships who will give them a guided, driving tour of campus, picks up the prospective student. After seeing the perimeter of campus, usually a walking tour of the Drill Field follows, ending at Montgomery Hall. It is here that a CALS Ambassador can meet the student to show them the CALS building where their major is housed, along with supplemental information requested by the student. In addition, this personable approach to recruiting gives recruits a more relaxed impression of campus, allowing them to see what an actual walk-through to class would be like, how a professor tends to interact with students during advisement, and, perhaps most importantly, why the CALS Ambassador chose Mississippi State to pursue his/her degree within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Prospective students touring the Mississippi State Campus!

Contributing Ambassadors: Blair Cain, Daniel Fisher, Tippy Adams, and Summer Walton

Did You Know?

·         The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences was formalized into a college in 1903.

·         CALS offers 15 majors and 47 concentrations.

·         Undergraduate  Enrollment  Fall 2010: 1,653

·         Total Headcount Enrollment Fall 2010 including Undergraduate, Masters, Doctoral, and Professional: 2023

o   Female: 1073

o   Male: 950

·         Total Instructional Faculty: 109

Agricultural Economics

Did you know… they do commodity marketing? The department has two majors: Environmental Economics and Agricultural Business.  We help with prepare our students for policy and risk management. The student enrollment average over past 5 year is 105, this is an awesome student: teacher ratio!

Human Development and Family Studies

Did you know…We have to work at least 100 volunteer hours a semester for some classes?  The Student Enrollment Average over past 5 years is 213.  We have three options for concentrations: child life, youth studies, and family studies.  Before graduation we prepare an internship binder that is over 200 pages in length. 

Apparel Textiles and Merchandising

Did you know… There are 15 Sewing Machines & 6 Sergers in our sewing lab? You can earn school credit by spending a summer in London.  Graduates in our program have worked for people such as: Vera Wang, Vogue, and Nordstrom.  There are two concentrations for ATM majors, Design or Merchandising.  Our student enrollment average over the past 5 years is 213.

Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion

Did you know…The Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion have an average of 156 students over the past five years? It is the only department in the nation to include Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion .There are eight student organizations such as Food Science Club, Muscle Foods Association, Student Dietetic Association, Beef Team, Culinology Team, Dairy Judging Team, Meat Judging Team, and Pre-Vet Club.



Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology

Did you know… The Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology has had average of 144 over the past 5 years? Many undergraduate concentrations in Biochemistry include Pre-medicine, Pre-dental, Pre-optometry, Pre-pharmacy, Pre-veterinary, Forensics and Bioinformatics. It is known as the Pre-Profession of Sciences. The Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology offer a wide range of concentrations and opportunities for undergraduates and graduates.

Poultry Science

Did you know…The Department of Poultry Science has had average of 40 students enrolled over the past five years? The Department of Poultry Science is 1 of 6 in the Nation. Mississippi’s largest commodity, which has provided 100% placement of our graduates since the first Poultry Science degree was awarded in 1948. The Department of Poultry Science has never turned away a student that meets scholarship criteria. There is also a 100% job placement.

Agriculture and Biological Engineering

Did you know…The Department of Agriculture and Biological Engineering has an average of 303 students per year? The department has two concentrations, a B.S. in Biological Engineering and B.S. in Agriculture Engineering Technology and Business. There are only 2 girls in the entire AETB major, one of which is a CALS Ambassador! Employment with this department can range from aquaculture to cotton ginning to banking!

Animal and Dairy Science

Did you know…Animal and Dairy Science has an average of 240 students per year over the past 5 years, the majority being female? Career opportunities include production, agribusiness, government employment, and professional degrees. Many ADS majors apply to MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, which ranks third in the nation currently as a veterinary school. There are 8 clubs and teams within the ADS concentration, including Dairy Science Club, Block and Bridle, Pre-Vet Club, Horseman’s Association, Collegiate Cattleman’s Club, Horse Judging Team, Rodeo Club, and Rodeo Team.

Plant and Soil Sciences

Did you know… There are six majors available to students wanting to pursue a career in Plant and Soil Sciences? This department is one of the few in the United States that offers Floral Management. Their mission is to provide leadership in teaching, research, and extension within Mississippi as well as regionally and nationally. The Student Enrollment Average over the past five years is 120.



Agricultural Information Science

Did you know… AIS offers students two concentrations? Students may choose between the Teaching concentration and the Leadership concentration. The Teaching concentration prepares students to become future Agriscience instructors, while the Leadership concentration is aimed at students who plan on serving in Extension. This department is home of MSU’s Collegiate FFA Chapter. AIS produces leaders who have a heart of service and are focused on positive youth development. Over the past five years, the Student Enrollment Average for this department is 70.

Landscape Architecture

Did you know… this department is home to the Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Student Chapter of Planet? Their mission is to foster the will and ability to plan, design, build, and manage regenerative communities. LA students strive to connect art, culture, and the environment in order to provide society with places that people love. Students majoring in Landscape Architecture study design process, storm water design, energy flow, native landscapes and plant materials, green infrastructure, sustainability, community planning, and regional planning. The Student Enrollment Average for the past five years is 173.

Did you know… you can join CALS today?

Created by:

Reagan Bugg

Mary Helen Jones

Laura Touchstone

Gillon Wells



How an Ambassador Recruits

As a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ambassador, our job is to share our love of Mississippi State and our college with prospective students. We want to inform students of the many majors, programs and clubs the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has to offer. Ambassadors reach out to prospective students in a variety of ways.

Postcards:

As CALS Ambassadors, we write postcards to potential students who have shown an interest in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.  These postcard recipients are both community college transfer students and high school students.  The postcards are sent to the prospective student in order to contact them in a more personal manner.  It gives the prospective students the opportunity to contact us as student ambassadors with any questions that they might have, that they might not feel comfortable asking a professor or other school official.  Writing these postcards also allows us to invite the prospective students to visit our campus, by scheduling an on-campus tour through the office of admissions.  Writing postcards is an effective recruiting tool when recruiting students for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Postcard sent out to prospective students

On-Campus Events:

One way we interact with prospective students is at on-campus events. CALS Ambassadors have an organization table at Preview Days and Orientation. This gives us an opportunity to meet students and show them what CALS has to offer. This is one of our greatest tools because we get to talk to students one-on-one. This way we can find exactly what they are interested in and find the best major or program for them. Also, we get to share our personal experiences with the students to help give them a better idea of what life is like at Mississippi State. In addition to working with prospective students, we have an excellent relationship with our alumni. Twice a year we host a Brunch for alumni. We have breakfast catered and have many prestigious guest speakers. This is a way for us to interact with alumni and show them how our college has changed over the years. Nothing wins students over better than having them come to our beautiful campus.

High School Visits:

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Ambassadors have many responsibilities to take on and accomplish each semester. One of our main responsibilities is to recruit new students to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, such as sophomores through seniors in high school as well as community college transfer students. We accomplish this through recruiting events at local high schools, also through transfer student visitation days. Sally Beth McCullough, Admissions Coordinator and Recruiter, frequently checks The Project Access Calendar every semester to find possible recruiting events we can participate in. We try to go state-wide for recruitment opportunities, but since we are all college students our schedule sometimes does not allow it. In situations like that, we focus on local schools around Starkville, such as Starkville High School, Starkville Academy, East Oktibbeha High School, and Mississippi School of Math and Science. We set up a booth with the College of Ag and Life Sciences table cloth and provide goodies such as, cups, t-shirts, etc. We also pass out a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences paper that allows the student to get on our mailing list to receive any news, and also tell us a little about them, such as: their name, e-mail, phone number, where they are from, ACT score, and which career path interests them. If any future or possible student has a question, they can approach us and we help them to the best of our ability. We try to explain the different departments within the College of Ag and Life Sciences and the different concentrations a student could study, as well as scholarship opportunities. When recruiting new students we especially harp on scholarship opportunities because it looks excellent on a resume as well as helps the student out financially.

Form for prospective students to fill out

Tours:

As a CALS ambassador it would be a crime to let our beautiful campus go unnoticed. Lush greenery and gorgeous architecture are a few our best selling points here at Mississippi State, and (in true agriculturist fashion) we are quick to point that out. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences encompasses several buildings here on campus and we make it a priority to show prospective students where they may be spending their days as a Bulldog, based on their specific academic goals. On any given day you can find Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising majors working hard on a group project in Moore Hall or Horticulture majors checking soil samples in the greenhouses at Dorman Hall. Spanning a wide variety of interests, majors in our college are headquartered in various locations across campus. The Lloyd-Ricks, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Landscape Architecture, Hill Poultry Science and Herzer buildings all house department heads. The Wise Center is home to the Animal and Dairy Sciences department and houses the College of Veterinary Medicine, which is a common pre-professional interest for students of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Most importantly, our tours are geared to the individual student’s needs. We strive to keep them interested, informed, and in maroon and white!

Hail State!

Contributing Ambassadors: Alanna Blaine, Rachael Frost, Courtney Griffin, Chelsea Meyer

A Day in the Life of a. . .

Animal and Dairy Science Major. . . 

Contributing Ambassador: Tyler Willingham

A lot of undergraduate classes at Mississippi State University are very unique because they are hands on and really get the students involved. This semester I am taking Intro to Meat Science. This course introduces students to the processing and utilization of fresh and value-added red meat products. Class discussions include topics on identity standards, factors affecting sensory, nutritional, and shelf-life qualities, food safety and inspection, and grading of red meats.

This class may sound like no fun, but it is actually one of my favorite classes this semester. It’s very informative, fun, and interesting. This class will let students know if the meat processing industry is truly for them.

Landscape Architecture Major. . .

Contributing Ambassador: Tyarn Preston 

I am a Landscape Architecture student, and the classes I am currently taking are Design IV, Construction IV, and Sustainability among other classes. In our design classes, we often build models, and as you can see, we also travel a lot which makes it a lot of fun to be in these classes.

The canoeing trip in Memphis, TN

 The picture was taken when we were paired up in Memphis and had to pick up trash while we were canoeing. We are a tight-knit family of students and teachers. Where ever we are, we will always have fun.

A picture of my desk looking towards the studio

This is me building a model for Design Class.

Poultry Science Major. . .

Contributing Ambassdor: Carley Tucker

I work and have classes in the Poultry Science Department within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. This major has a lot to offer, and has opened me up to so many opportunities with companies in the industry, hands on lab work, and access to some of the top poultry researchers in the country. With my job, we frequently work in conjunction with the USDA to run experiments and various tests checking the effects of different litter amendments on the microbiological flora of chicken litter. We just recently had a USDA sampling day, and this picture is of some of the tests that we run for that project. 

Derek Everett working on our latest USDA project in the Poultry Science Department

Derek Everett is a PhD student that I work very closely with. He loves the Poultry Science department, and when asked about it, he commented on the small class sizes, the one on one feel you have with each of your professors and the great resources that we have access to through our department. The opportunities available for research, internships, and jobs at actual poultry houses are unparalleled to other poultry departments throughout the country as well as other majors on campus. Most other majors are too large to have close relationships with your professors, and having access to people in the industry is definitely out of the question.

Poultry Science is a great option for people interested in veterinary medicine, as well as those interested in an agriculture job and staying local in Mississippi. Its a great program, filled with great people and experiences!



C.A.L.S. Is Not Just Cows

When you hear the words “College of Agricultural and Life Sciences” what is the first thing that comes to mind? Cows perhaps? Maybe farms, crops, and tractors? Well, we are here to get the word out about some other majors that the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences has to offer. These majors do not fit the stereotypical definition of what people think agriculture degrees should encompass. A few include Environmental Economics and Management, Apparels Textiles and Merchandising, and Human Development and Family Studies.

Environmental Economics and Management

Environmental Economics and Management degree

Originally Environmental Economics was one of the four concentrations within the Agribusiness major in the Department of Agricultural Economics. In order to attract more students, the department decided to separate the environmental concentration from the agribusiness major.  Now the Environmental Economics and Management major stands alone as its own major under the Agricultural Economics Department.

The bachelor degree prepares students to answer a question of this era: how to support our dependency on natural resources, while still conserving the environment for future generations.

The curriculum is comprised of courses in the fields of both applied economics and sciences.

Students with an Environmental Economic and Management degree will be in high demand for "green jobs." These include positions with environmental and economic consulting firms, different management and analysis positions within the private sector, and employment with federal and state agencies such as the EPA. This program also prepares students for graduate school.

Apparel, Textiles, & Merchandising



ATM often pairs with Fashion Board to hosts fashion shows that display this season’s latest trends.

A major many people do not think of when they hear the words “College of Agriculture and Life Sciences” is Apparel, Textiles & Merchandising. The Apparel, Textiles & Merchandising (ATM) program helps students with a love for fashion and design learn more about the art of the ATM industry. The faculty and staff equip students with the skills to succeed in their desired business ventures.

 The ATM program includes Fashion Focus, an organization that explores opportunities within the fashion industry.

When it comes to careers, Apparel, Textiles & Merchandising has a variety of options including: fashion, costume, accessory, or technical designer; retail buyer; fashion journalist; or textile scientist.

Many of our ATM graduates own their own boutiques.

Human Development and Family Studies

The Department of Human Development and Family Studies in the School of Human Sciences provides the opportunity to study the lifespan through child studies (infants through age 10), youth studies (ages 10 to 18), family studies and FCS teacher education (individuals who work with diverse populations).  Students are exposed to trends and issues within public policy that impact families. Students will also analyze factors impacting the multiple facets of development within culture and family settings. 

While in college, students can join several clubs related to Human Sciences like Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) Option Club, Kappa Omicron Nu, an honor society for this major, and the Human Sciences Association.

After graduation, careers available are child care center owners/directors, 4-H professionals, youth program administrators, human service workers, case work/case managers, and family life counselors. 

A child care center where children gather around for story time.

We hope that now you are aware of some non-traditional options that are available within the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. All of these majors are housed in the building in the picture below. Please visit http://www.cals.msstate.edu/depts/ for more information on these majors.

The newly renovated Llyod Ricks Watson Building  where the above majors are housed.

Contributing Ambassadors: Morgan Fuller, Leslie Gregg, Matt Long, and Haiden Rodgers