Previous concerns as to the direction of agricultural education at Lincoln University have now come to a head, with a major staff restructure.
The Farm Management Group have passed a vote of no confidence in the Senior Management of the Faculty of Commerce who have reprioritised course direction.
These decision makers have little background in grass roots agriculture and have no understanding of the importance of farm management in rural education.
The spin doctors from the Vice Chancellor's Office have glossed over staff leaving, by citing most went through voluntary redundancies but the issue lies in the disestablishment of positions and how the existing staff will handle the increased workloads and retain a quality service for the students.
Lincoln has been going through some fairly major restructuring to balance the books to get onside with the Government regarding the rebuilding programme. Most agree that some rationalisation needed to happen especially with courses where this institution has little competitive advantage.
Given that Agriculture numbers have been increasing (particularly in Farm Management) and numbers in non-ag programmes collapsing, AgMgmt and AgriBus were feeling relatively secure in their position within Lincoln. However, they were sorely mistaken and Ag Mgmt has born the brunt of the job cuts within the Commerce Faculty.
Papers like MGMT 316, 317 and 318 have numbers around the 120 now with the 200 level Ag Mgmt papers approaching 200.
First year enrolments in the Farm Management Department are approx 160, while Commerce is 66 with some Commerce programmes receiving 0 or single figure first year enrolments. This is where the insanity begins and can only be seen as a grab for students by generic commerce, who I believe have only lost one staff member and plan to pillage parts of the farm management courses and teach with personnel with little agricultural expertise.
The Farm Management Department have lost a Professor, an Assoc Prof , a Senior Lecturer Hort Mgmt, a Senior Lecturer Ag Mgmt, a Senior Lecturer Ag Engineering and a OneFarm Researcher. Other than the Professor these positions are not being replaced, and existing staff are expected to pick up these additional papers.
These losses make up over 40% of the existing Ag Mgmt staff and will effectively put all Ag Mgmt and AgrBus post grad programmes, and the Dip Ag and Dip Ag Farm Mgmt at risk, while undermining the ability to offer the same inputs into the B Com Ag and other Ag degrees.
These courses are the strength of the University and NZ has been well served by graduates who have filled jobs in all positions of responsibility in agriculture.
The result of these proposals after a very flawed consultation process where staff submissions appear to be totally disregarded has seen a vote of no confidence in the Senior Management of the Faculty of Commerce.
It appears confidence has been lost in senior management by staff as to the future direction of Lincoln University, and all alumni and participants in agriculture should voice their concern to the Council and politicians as to where this is all heading.
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