Meeting & Agendas

The first three courses in the Entrepreneurship Certificate award have been added to the Fall 2013 course schedule. Descriptions for those courses will be included after the advisory committee meeting allowing members to offer input and suggested revisions to the descriptions.

The committee reviewed and offered modifications to the Fall 2013 course descriptions. Approved amendments: Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture 48 contact hours This course provides students with an overview for what it means to be a sustainable farmer or gardener. Students will be introduced to the economic, environmental, and social aspects of various agricultural systems and will explore history, principles, and practices of sustainable agriculture in our local and global communities. Topics include herbs, fruits, nuts, vegetable crops, and livestock. Students should be able to identify basic principles of sustainable agriculture and business in areas such as land management and production, design and innovation, and marketing and profitability. Fundamentals of Soil Science and Land Management 32 contact hours This course covers basic concepts, terminology and applications of sustainable soil science. Soil ecosystems will be studied at both microscopic and macroscopic levels. Soil management and soil building practices as well as sustainable resource management will be examined. Laboratory topics include soil types, soil mapping, land use, nutrient and mineral analysis, and data collection techniques. Organic Crop Production (note: plant basics and planting end - harvest, 48 contact hours post harvest and marketing is part II) This course covers the fundamentals of development, management, and production of field crops. Students will explore production methods, soil health and plant nutrition, and how basic plant biology relates to crop yields. Topics include capital outlay; record keeping and classification of field crops according to morphology, use and distribution; botany and plant breeding; soil types, tillage and crop rotation; fertilizers, compost and integrated pest management (IPM); and climate considerations. Organic certification practices will be emphasized. Lab work required. The new course descriptions will be added to the Fall 2013 course schedule. Approval of minutes: A motion was made to approve the April 4, 2013 meeting minutes. Motion passed.

The group will meet at ACC’s Elgin Campus to visit the Agricultural Program’s site. Mike Midgley will contact the College’s Facilities personnel and ask that they join the committee on its site visit. Members interested in serving as Chair and Co-Chair should contact Mike Midgley at Midgley@austincc.edu. The next meeting date: Wednesday, May 22, 2013