Dean
Dr. Jewel H. Bronaugh

Location
L. Douglas Wilder Building, Room 202A

Contact Information
(804) 524-6961 | jbronaugh@vsu.edu
 

Overview of the College of Agriculture

Virginia State University’s College of Agriculture is one of the country’s leading 1890 colleges of agriculture, natural resources, food, and life sciences. Our academic programs offer a comprehensive array of majors and concentrations that prepare our students to become leaders in the fields of nutrition, food science, apparel design and retail, child care, restaurant and hotel management, agriculture and more.

As part of VSU’s land-grant mission, the College of Agriculture also houses the Virginia Cooperative Extension program and an Agricultural Research Station, each which provide valuable resources to Virginia residents, while also providing practical, hands-on internship and work study opportunities for our students.

Our Transformational Commitments

• Agricultural Innovation, Integration, & Sustainability
• Student Success, Experiential Learning & Workforce Development
• Integrated Well-Being of Youth, Family and Community

The College of Agriculture is comprised of the following units:

• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Family and Consumer Science
• Department of Hospitality Management
• Agricultural Research Station
• Cooperative Extension
• Randolph Farm

Our Mission

In keeping with Virginia State University's mission, the College of Agriculture's mission is to improve the educational and socio-economic well-being of students, families, and communities - focusing on excellence through integrated instruction, research and extension programs.

In accordance with the University’s mission, The Departments of Agriculture, Family and Consumer Science and Hospitality Management are committed to assuring that each student reaches her/his full potential and excels in society.

Objectives of the College

It is the primary objective of the College to prepare students to enter professional careers in both public and private sectors or to continue their education beyond the baccalaureate level in professional or graduate school. The specific objectives of various units of the College are:

• To prepare students for employment in a multitude of agriculture, family, hospitality and business-related occupations, and for advanced studies in graduate schools.
• To prepare students for employment in public and private agencies.
• To facilitate application of innovative technologies through agricultural research for solutions to diverse problems relative to sustainable production of economically competitive agricultural commodities.
• To provide individuals, groups and organizations access to information and programs about innovative human and technological systems through Cooperative Extension.
• To support activities of Agricultural Research, Cooperative Extension, and the College’s degree programs through facilities at the Randolph Farm.

Objectives of Degree Programs

• Facilitate growth and development of each student throughout his/her life span;
• Provide students with experiential leaning opportunities related to their field of study;
• Prepare students to be highly qualified for employment;
• Prepare teachers in the field of Agriculture and Family and Consumer Science;
• Prepare students to enter advanced study in Agriculture, Family and Consumer Science and Hospitality Management in graduate schools of their choice; and
• Prepare dietetic practitioners to become Registered Dieticians (RD).

Other Pertinent College Information

Together, the Departments of Agriculture, Family and Consumer Science and Hospitality Management, Agricultural Research, Cooperative Extension, and Randolph Farm fulfill the land-grant mission of the University. Degree programs offered within the three academic departments are described in the section that follows.