
NEWS
NEWS
The University of Minnesota Crookston’s NXT GEN AG program’s first cohort of students recently completed their coursework and were presented with certificates at a September gathering on campus. Seven of the nine students, who represent various businesses and organizations around the region, attended the event in person or via Zoom.
The NXT GEN AG program was an initiative designated as a priority through the University of Minnesota System’s strategic planning process, MPACT 2025. This plan was developed through the insights of the Board of Regents, campus chancellors and deans, the University president, and other leaders in the UMN system. Chancellor Mary Holz-Clause volunteered to take the lead for NXT GEN AG on the Crookston campus.
“With a growing global population, the agriculture, food, and natural resources industry is transforming in ways never imagined,” explained Director of Strategic Initiatives Teresa Spaeth. “Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource (AFNR) positions are among the fastest growing in demand, but also among the fastest in transforming to modern practices. This takes leadership that can readily accept change and help others to see their place in the future.”
“Our charge was to develop a modern, relevant, educational program that encouraged the most promising students, especially adults, to explore their future in AFNR careers,” she added. “Wanting to incorporate coursework that could be immediately implemented in the workplace, we held statewide focus groups with employers from the smallest on rural main street to the largest AFNR companies in our state. The result was the NXT GEN AG certificate program.”
NXT GEN AG’s first cohort of students who were present at the September gathering shared information about themselves and offered comments about the program:
“We are grateful to Polk County and the Crookston Rotary Club, who provided tuition assistance to supplement this pilot program,” Spaeth shared. “Without this support, we would not have been able to conduct a pilot program giving our students a tuition discount, and, in return, allowing us to ask for ongoing impressions and insights from our first students.”
The University anticipates the next cohort for NXT GEN to move forward in Fall 2024 after they’ve had a chance to get feedback from the first cohort of students and employers, and make suggested updates.
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