INAG News COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES • INSTITUTE OF APPLIED AGRICULTURE • WINTER/SPRING 2016
Alumni Survey Reveals Contribution of IAA Experience to Career Success By Larisa Cioaca According to a recent survey, 99% of IAA alumni rate their overall experience at the IAA as “excellent” or “above average.” Over the past half-a-century, the IAA has been preparing students for successful careers managing various agricultural enterprises and ecosystems. To mark its 50th anniversary, the Institute surveyed alumni during the Fall 2015 semester to better understand their perceptions of the IAA and career trajectories post-graduation. The online survey collected 71 complete responses. All 35 alumni who provided their contact information were entered into a raffle for a chance to win tickets to the 50th Anniversary Gala on May 14, 2016. The lucky winner was Matthew Cooper, a Golf Course Management graduate from 2005.
IAA alumni are hard workers. In fact, 80% of them worked while studying at the IAA. Immediately upon graduation, most respondents pursued careers (86%) or additional education (12%). An overwhelming majority spent their careers in fields related to their IAA areas of study (92%). What do IAA alumni do today? Most are employed or own businesses (82%), while some are retired (15%). You don’t have to look long to find an IAA alumnus. As the vice president of sales at Genesis Turfgrass, owner of Independence Farm, curator at the U.S. National Arboretum, and superintendent at Potomac Valley Country Club, IAA alumni have risen to the highest positions in their fields. That’s why 60% reported earning more than $60,000 per year, with 28% earning in the six figures.
One thing is clear: The IAA experience The IAA opened my eyes significantly boosted The respondents to the world and gave me alumni’s career began their IAA success. Respondents lifelong friendships. coursework as early indicated that the as 1968. Prior to – IAA alumnus IAA experience enrolling, most contributed students worked (48%), went to high school “extremely” or “very much” to their (35%), or were enrolled in college (25%). technical knowledge (91%), self-confidence On average, it took students 2.25 years (88%), ability to solve problems (88%), and to complete their certificates, and most leadership skills (82%), to name just a few graduated in the 1970s (21%), 1980s (16%), areas. 1990s (31%), and 2000s (19%). The most “popular” area of study among survey takers was Turfgrass and Golf Course Management (46%), followed by Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Management (30%), and Agricultural Business Management (17%).
When asked about their favorite courses, alumni had differing views. “No course has done more for me than oral and written communication,” commented one. “I never knew there is so much to learn about grass!” said another. And, “ag mechanics
[…] taught me how to do things I never envisioned myself doing.” One respondent summed up her IAA experience this way: “The two years I spent [at the IAA] did more for my career than four years at any college.” Well said.
Contents From the Director James Thomas Turf Terps at STMA CANstruction Celebrating 50 Years Student Files Alumni News Around the ‘Tute
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND / FEARLESS IDEAS
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