Missouri State University has a new academic college – The William H. Darr College of Agriculture.

The university’s Board of Governors approved the change from school to college to recognize the agriculture program’s continued expansion in terms of academic degree options, student enrollment and number of faculty and support personnel, as well as to better meet the needs of its students.

The three departments in the college are:

• Animal science,
• Environmental plant science and natural resources, and
• Agribusiness, agricultural education and communications

The college offers ten undergraduate and four graduate programs. It has several top-notch facilities on both the Springfield and Mountain Grove campuses that provide hands-on learning and research experiences. They include: the Darr Agricultural Center, Journagan Ranch, Baker’s Acres and Fruit Experiment Station.

The name change not only better reflects the college’s organization, but also helps students gain a higher recognition of their degrees and be more competitive in seeking jobs and careers.