Agriculture programs in colleges and universities in Western Canada are showing healthy enrolments despite a challenging year for the industry.
“The farming community still hurts, you know, no matter how we look at it,” said Cheryl Lumley, the associate registrar at Olds College in Olds, Alta. “But we’ve been very fortunate to be able to hold even.”
This year, total student enrolment in agriculture programs at Olds is 1,199, down one student from last year. Enrolment in the agricultural production program is down eight students from 2004.
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Others saw identical registration or a slight increase.
Jack Moes, the dean of agriculture and environment at Assiniboine Community College in Brandon, said the number of students registered in May usually gives a good indication of fall enrolment. But this year was different.
“Thankfully so, because that would have suggested we might have had 25 students (in the agribusiness program) in September.”
Instead, 40 students registered in agribusiness, a decline of three students from 2004. Moes attributed the late registration to industry climate.
“Certainly, the opening of the border would have likely had some impact on some people’s decision to pursue education, particularly in a program like the agribusiness program,” said Moes.
Registrations in GIS environmental technologies and land and water management are up four and one respectively, from 15 and 11.
Enrolment in agricultural degree programs also increased at the universities of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. The total number of registered students in the U of A’s agriculture, forestry and home economics faculty is up by 65, which is 81 more than the university’s target.
Michael Trevan, dean of the faculty of agriculture and food sciences at the U of M, said enrolment was encouraging considering the “disastrous” farming year.
Registration in the faculty’s degree program increased by 7.8 percent to 278, while the diploma program remained unchanged at 107.
Nine students enrolled in a new finance diploma program, one short of the target, Trevan said. Most graduates will find employment in rural banks.
Trevan said more students from outside the faculty are taking agriculture classes. More than 50 percent more credit hours are being taught compared to 2003.
Exact enrolment at the U of S’s college of agriculture will be tabulated in October. Bob Tyler, the dean, estimated there are about 575 students in the degree program compared to 550 in 2003. The diploma program remained the same with 80 students.
A new degree at the U of S will soon attract more students, Tyler said. A bachelor of science in agribusiness is in the final stages of approval. Tyler said the program is in high demand by students and employers.
“We’re optimistic that could draw easily 50 students a year, in a year or two.”
Tyler said difficult industry circumstances had not affected enrolment as expected.
He said the industry is “big and varied,” and does not depend solely on primary agriculture.
The college is concerned about a declining rural population, Tyler said, because most of its students come from rural areas.
