The School of Agribusiness and Agriscience serves over 500 students working towards careers in Animal Science, Agribusiness, Plant and Soil Science, and Agricultural Education. Our enrollment has doubled since 2008 and many of our key instructional technology tools have become outdated and/or non-functioning. Virtually all 500+ students in our program will benefit from our proposed updates. The meats laboratory has not been updated in over 20 years and most of the equipment no longer works. The software used to maintain environmental controls in the Horticulture Center greenhouses is from the 1990's and is no longer serviced by the manufacturer. The temperature sensors in the greenhouses, regulated by the software, are no longer functional and need replacing. Finally, we are still using triple beam mechanical balances, which most public high schools have long since replaced with digital scales. A diurnal growth chamber is needed technology to update and improve ABAS courses. This computerized system allows for many different germination and growth lab exercises. With this technology, concepts related to plant responses to environment will be taught. In order to improve our recruitment and retention abilities we need to update these essential laboratory devices to modern standards. Courses utilizing these technologies and equipment include ABAS 1610, 2500, 3810, 3850, 4820, 3490, 3540, 4860, 3340, 3350, 3370, 3660, 4300, 4620, 4630, and 4670. Annual enrollment for courses using this equipment is at least 400.
