| College of Agriculture |
 |
| As a land grant institution, Montana State University provides on-campus education, off-campus Extension education, research, and outreach programs focused to meet the changing needs of Montana, the region and nation. |
| The College of Agriculture and the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station generates and disseminates superior knowledge and technological solutions to increase the competitiveness of Montana's agricultural and natural resources, |
|
|
| preserve environmental quality, and improve the quality of life for all our citizens. |
|
| The College’s changing needs are reflected in the following priorities established for fundraising. |
| Animal Bioscience Building |
| The College of Agriculture’s primary priority for fundraising is the Animal Bioscience Building. This new facility, funded primarily by the range and livestock industry, will provide state-of-the-art classrooms, resource centers, laboratories and quality interaction areas for future generations of animal and range science students, professors and staff. |
|
At $15.7 million, this is the largest project ever undertaken by the College of Agriculture. Groundbreaking for the approximately 40,000 square foot building is expected to take place in June 2008 with occupation occurring in 2010. |
| Pledges of any amount are welcome and may be made as a lump sum or spread out over a four year period. There are many ways to donate to this outstanding project. |
| Individuals, families, ranches or businesses that contribute $10,000 or more become members of the “Ranchers Circle” and will be publicly recognized within the new facility. Many naming opportunities are available for those who want to leave a legacy for animal and range science students and the industry for years to come. Many companies will also match gifts donated by their employees and some organizations have established their own matching programs. |
| For those people who believe in the project, but are unable to give thousands of dollars to be listed in the “Ranchers Circle”, several innovative ideas have given individuals a way to be part of this inspiring project. Forty Cool CATS, listed on the “Ranchers Circle” list, is a group of 40 supporters who have given $250 each for a total of $10,000. This idea has expanded to 40 Sheep Industry Friends and 40 Cool CATS II. |
| A website with a webcam will be set up, so the construction progress can be tracked. To access the images, visit the College of Agriculture’s website at http://ag.montana.edu and click on the link under “Announcements” on the main page. For information on the current status or to make a donation to the Animal Bioscience Building, please contact the College of Agriculture at 406.994.3681. |
| Scholarships |
| Thanks to many generous donors, the College of Agriculture has traditionally given the most scholarships annually at MSU, both in number and in total amount. In the past few years, approximately $250,000 has been distributed to College of Agriculture students. As a general rule, all students applying with a 3.50 GPA or greater have received some financial support through College of Agriculture scholarships. |
|
| Scholarships can make a huge difference to the students who receive them. There are a variety of scholarships available to students at both the College and Department levels. New annual scholarships, as well as endowed scholarships are created each year. The newest scholarship, named in honor of Frederick Linfield, the first Dean of the College of Agriculture, will provide financial assistance to incoming freshmen. |
| There are nearly 100 named scholarships given out by the College each year, many of which are large enough to have multiple recipients in a given year. Examples of these scholarships include: |
 |
Montana Feed Association (In Memory of Oscar O. Thomas) – Awarded to an Animal Science student pursuing a career in animal nutrition. |
|
Montana Wheat & Barley Scholarship – Established through the funding of proposals submitted for consideration to the Montana Wheat & Barley Committee. Awarded to a student interested in agricultural marketing. |
|
Ralph Parker Memorial Scholarship – Established in memory of Ralph Parker by Montana Farmers Union. Awarded to students enrolled in the College of Agriculture taking the cooperative curriculum courses. |
|
Land Resources Stewardship Scholarship – Awarded to students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in a Land Resources & Environmental Sciences curricula. |
|
| For a listing of all current College of Agriculture scholarships, please view the college webpage at: http://ag.montana.edu/ and click on “Students”, then “Scholarships”. |
| To donate to an existing scholarship fund, or for information on how to set up a new account, contact Sandra Germann at 406.994.7671 or sgermann@montana.edu. Scholarships are always needed to help our students better afford the today’s cost of receiving a college education. |
| Endowments |
| Whether for scholarships, student or faculty support, or other areas, endowments secure funding for current and future projects and programs. The minimum amount for a named endowment is $25,000. This can be paid over a period of up to five years or as a lump sum payment. Once established, an endowment is maintenance free for the donor, as the principal funds of the endowment are invested and the interest earnings are used to provide the scholarship or program support on an annual basis for perpetuity. In the future, the College of Agriculture, as well as the University, will be establishing endowed professorships and endowed chairs for faculty positions within Departments, to secure and maintain the quality of programs needed to move into the future. There are over 100 active endowments of all sizes within the College of Agriculture. Almost all endowments can have funds added to them by anyone and they benefit a wide range of disciplines within the College. Endowment examples and their intended uses include: |
|
|
Agriculture Global Studies Endowment - To help with student expenses incurred during the “Follow the Grain” international course. |
|
Pedology Research Endowment - Support students and research committed to understanding the origin, processes and role of soils in managed and natural environments. |
|
Biotechnology Endowment and Horticulture Endowment - To support research and teaching activities within these subject areas. |
|
Student Activities Endowment - To fund student leadership opportunities and club activities. |
|
| To review endowed categories and minimum donation amounts established by the MSU Foundation, please visit http://www.montana.edu/foundation/endowments.htm. |
| For more information about the College of Agriculture, please visit http://ag.montana.edu/ |
