The College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University is Oregon's principal source of knowledge relating to agricultural and food systems, and a major source of knowledge regarding environmental quality, natural resources, life sciences, and rural economies and communities worldwide. The College provides undergraduate and graduate education leading to baccalaureate and graduate degrees, and extended education programs throughout Oregon and beyond. Its research programs create knowledge to solve problems and to build a knowledge base for the future. It is a source of information and expertise in integrating and applying knowledge with benefits that are felt in domestic and international settings.
Fall 2023
Volume XIV, Issue 4
As Fall term draws to a close and the holiday season approaches, I look back on this year with a sense of appreciation. 2023 brought significant growth for the College, with yet another record-setting year in research ($114M) and an increase in legislative funding of $12.1M for the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station for the 2023 - 2025 biennium. This funding will be used to fill 31 research positions—13 of which will be outside of Corvallis at our agricultural experiment stations—to advance our work in key Strategic Advantage areas.
With the launch of our Capital Campaign Cabinet Committee and our Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence, our AgSci community is stronger than ever. After engaging with stakeholders across the state throughout the year, I continue to be amazed by the impact and reach of our College. Our statewide footprint of Agricultural Experiment Stations is truly remarkable, and unique among land-grant university systems in how we are embedded in communities. For me, it further highlights the critical role we play in agriculture and natural resource management, and I am grateful to be part of it.
During Fall term, we hosted our first annual State of the College address, which gave students, faculty, and staff an opportunity to hear directly from the Associate Deans and myself about updates and our vision for the future. We celebrated Oregon agriculture and Beaver football at our first annual AgSci tailgate event, and watched our new Grow With Us video play on the jumbotron during a Beavs win over Utah. It was exciting to see our college showcased on such a big stage!
Students are the heart of the university, and one of my greatest joys is finding ways to connect with them—like popping into classrooms with donuts and hosting our Coffee with the Dean events.
We recently saw the launch of Prosperity Widely Shared: The Oregon State Plan, and its emphasis on research growth and student success. We are positioned to be a leader in the effort to reach the university targets in both areas. The launch of Prosperity Widely Shared coincided with the launch of our CAS Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence (SPIE), which aims to create a more inclusive and equitable environment to drive us toward success. And we will soon hire an Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence to provide oversight and help ensure our plan moves forward.
As we look to relax from the busy Fall term and reflect, know that the Associate Deans and I appreciate all of you so much—students, colleagues, partners, and stakeholders on campus and across the state. Your tireless efforts truly make an impact. I look forward to carrying this momentum into 2024!
Wishing you all a joyous holiday season filled with warmth and happiness.
Staci L. Simonich, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Dean and Reub Long Professor
College of Agricultural Sciences
Director of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station
Dean’s Trip to the Netherlands
April 13-19, 2024
An Exclusive Look at Agricultural Innovations
with Dr. Staci L. Simonich, Dean for the College of Agricultural Sciences, and Dr. Dave Stone, Associate Dean of International Programs
Registration deadline: December 19, 2023
Beaver Classic Gift Boxes
We are excited to extend a special offer for Beaver Classic products to our alumni and friends — a limited-time 15% discount on our entire product line of student-made artisan cheeses, jerky, and honey. This also applies to our new holiday boxes, which make great gifts!
Simply use the code “HOLIDAY15” at checkout to enjoy this exclusive discount.