Retaining urban students in animal science: The role of equine programs

Abstract Text:

The influx of non-traditional, urban students into Animal Science programs in recent years is well documented.  While there are slight differences in percentages of urban students between programs, the trend has been steadily increasing, and is often the cause of increased enrollment in Animal Science programs across the country.  Many of these students also indicate a primary interest in veterinary medicine.  Sometimes, once exposed to the realm of Animal Science, these students are lost to other majors.  Many leave because they do not find a “home” in Animal Science, for others, it may be too much emphasis on the traditional livestock species for their liking.  However, for those that remain, opportunities abound.  Current placement rates of Animal Science graduates as ISU are 98% within six months of graduation.  So, the question is: How can we convince urban students, many of whom are high achieving, driven, and intelligent, to remain in Animal Science and one day contribute to the Animal Science industry (even in other species)?   The most obvious answer is to make Animal Science more relatable to their interests early in their academic career and one bridge for that may be equine courses and activities.   Freshmen entering Iowa State University’s Animal Science program in the fall of 2015 ranked horses second out of all species, with 30% (of 315 responding) citing equine as the primary or secondary interest.  The specie with the most initial interest from this group was companion animals/household pets (54% ranked companion animals first or second).  Anecdotally, it is the urban students who list companion animals first and often list equine second and vice-versa.  The current Animal Science curriculum at ISU requires sophomore students to choose three courses from a directed list representing each species (Beef Cattle Science, Swine Science, Equine Science, Sheep Science, Poultry Science, Dairy Cattle Science, Companion Animal Science, or Foods of Animal Origin; with Lab Animal Science to be added in Fall 2016).  Requiring the third three-credit course of another specie often sparks  interest in the additional area.  Offering these type of courses early in the curriculum allows students to further define their interests while exposing them to a potential new area early enough to explore it further.  Allowing students to take in-depth courses in their specie of interest early in their academic career keeps them interested in their major, and increases retention.

Keywords: Equine, Undergraduates, Urban