Two red cows looking into the camera in a green pasture.

Animal Science Strategic Plan

student walks leading two horses

Vision

The global leader in animal agriculture.

Mission

Enrich lives through discovery, communication and application of science-based knowledge in sustainable animal agriculture.

Department Strategic Intent

We will lead the charge in advancing global animal agriculture through innovative research, transformative teaching and impactful outreach. We will proudly stand at the top choice for students and employers as well as the leading authority for stakeholders and policymakers. We will achieve this by:

  • Attracting the empowering a world-class faculty dedicated to leading and inspiring innovation.
  • Delivering transformative academic and experiential leading opportunities to develop future leaders and foster career success.
  • Conducting groundbreaking research and facilitating the broad adoption of innovations to enrich lives.

Teaching Objectives

  1. Achieve a 10% increase in student demonstration of animal science knowledge (as assessed by score) between the start of ANSC 107 and the end of ANSC 113.
  2. All undergraduate and graduate students will complete a High-Impact Learning Experience.
  3. At least 90% of faculty members annually demonstrate involvement in at least one undergraduate or graduate student activity.

Research Objectives

  1. Increase direct research expenditures by 10% annually
  2. Increase the 3 – year rolling average of dollars generated through extramural grants by 5% annually.
  3. Maintain 240 peer-reviewed authorships annually.
  4. Maintain +/- 5% of our three-year rolling average number of citations.

Extension Objectives

  1. Increase educational contact hours annually.
  2. Achieve a 10% increase in 3- year rolling average of external funds awarded and program revenue generated.
  3. Increase departmental social media engagements by 10% annually.
  4. Increase YouTube views of departmental outreach content by 30% annually.

Core Strategies and Key Initiatives

Strategy I: Amplify Faculty and Staff Development

Goals

  1. Increase faculty and staff engagement scores by five percentage units annually from 2025 to 2028.
  2. Ensure that 100% of administrative staff and center managers complete at least one skills development training annually.

Initiatives

  • Complete annual faculty and staff engagement survey to gauge culture.
  • Identify appropriate skills training opportunities for administrative staff and center managers.
  • Hold monthly research pipeline meetings focused on assistant professor success.
  • Hold quarterly research strategy meetings focused on associate professor success.

Strategy II: Increase Resources to support Animals, Facilities and Communications

Goals

  • Raise at least $20 million in endowment and operating fund commitments by December 31, 2028.

Initiatives

  • Maintain a prioritized list of high leverage research infrastructure investment needs.
  • Target large endowment naming opportunities for the department and specific facilities.
  • Identify infrastructure grant opportunities and submit proposals to secure support.

Strategy III: Strengthen Industry Alignment and Engagement

Goals

  • Hold stakeholder-engaged industry advancement roundtable sessions for at least one species/discipline annually.
  • Secure funding for at least one roundtable-generated grant proposal annually.
  • Serve as a catalyst for industry-level innovation by hosting two Industry Leadership Forums (Think-Tanks) by 2028.
  • Achieve a 10% increase in faculty involvement in industry meetings and organization by 2028.

Initiatives

  • Plan and execute at least one industry advancement roundtable sessions annually.
  • Develop and submit at least three roundtable-generated integrated grant proposals annually.
  • Develop and submit at least one industry leadership forum proposal by Dec. 31, 2026.
  • Measure faculty involvement in industry meetings and organizations.
  • Incorporate more industry experts in teaching.
  • Establish an Industry Leadership Forum Discovery committee.

Strategy IV: Enhance Student Engagement and High-Impact Learning Experiences

Goals

  • Increase the number of ANSC students annually involved in High-Impact Learning Experiences to 750.
  • Increase the number of student enrolled in undergraduate research to 130.
  • Offer at least eight industry tour courses annually.

Initiatives

  • Develop and promote a Canvas landing page with all departmental High-Impact Learning Experience resources to promote student and faculty awareness.
  • Begin hosting an annual student showcase for High-Impact Learning Experience projects in 2027.
  • Secure endowment support for undergraduate and graduate student High-Impact Learning Experiences.

Strategy V: Expand the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Animal Science

Goals

  • 60% of faculty generate scholarly output incorporating artificial intelligence to solve animal science and management problems into their teaching, research or extension programs by 2028.
  • 40% of graduate students include at least one course in artificial intelligence in their degree plan by 2028.

Initiatives

  • Hold an internal Department of Animal Science faculty session focused on current, future, and ethical application of artificial intelligence in core animal science fields.
  • Complete an internal assessment of artificial intelligence applications in the department to define the current state and identify critical gaps. Re-assess on an annual basis.
  • Cultivate partnerships with on-campus artificial intelligence expertise.
  • Identify appropriate training for faculty on the fundamentals of artificial intelligence.
  • Encourage faculty and graduate students to incorporate at least one course on artificial intelligence in graduate student degree plans.