Ethnic minority students traditionally pursue degrees and careers in the food and agricultural sciences at rates lower than their non-minority counterparts. To help improve upon this situation, the Food and Agricultural Sciences Institute (FASI) was created to expose academically talented high school students to opportunities within the food and…

This study sought to determine the format and feature preferences of readers of an agricultural education newsletter. Results showed the newsletter was well-read and easy to read; that a 4-6 page monthly format was desirable; and that it was an effective communications medium. (SK)

A study was conducted to (1) determine the level of job satisfaction for teacher educators in agriculture; (2) describe the demographic characteristics of teacher educators; (3) identify relationships between job satisfaction and demographic variables; and (4) determine how satisfied teacher educators are with the satisfier and dissatisfier…

Comparison of responses from 128 of 154 agricultural education faculty to a 1980 study found that (1) job satisfaction varied little over the 10 years; (2) demographic and situational variables were not good indicators of satisfaction; and (3) Herzberg's motivation factors were better indicators than hygiene factors. (SK)

Responses from 49% of 649 agricultural sciences graduates indicated that most were interested in distance education courses; interest was correlated with attitude toward distance education and possession of a teaching certificate. Most preferred self-paced study. (SK)

Five scenarios are used to depict possible negative consequences of applying a bipolar tolerance model to gender and ethnicity issues in higher education. The ITAP model is proposed, which ranges from Intolerance to Tolerance to Appreciation to Proactive behavior. Strategic actions for appreciative and proactive behavior are recommended. (Contains…

Describes a study of the student characteristics and factors influencing those choosing vocational agriculture as a major. (JOW)

Discusses a study of the state-of-the-art as it relates to computer usage by agricultural education programs. The study sought to determine the types of computer experiences received by students, how the experiences were acquired, and investigated the present and future use of computers. (JOW)

Responses from affiliates and nonaffiliates of AG*SAT, a consortium of land-grant universities, indicated a desire to deliver more instruction via satellite; satellite courses focus primarily on emerging topics for which there is presently limited capacity. Results suggest that distance education technologies may exceed the current land-grant…

The author responds from a minority perspective to questions related to recruitment of minority students for agricultural education programs. Answers focus on why Black students do not enroll in vocational agriculture classes, how to recruit Blacks to become teachers, and what the research says about minorities in agriculture. (CH)

Contains eight articles on keeping up with new technologies in agricultural education. Articles discuss keeping perspective, staying current, nontraditional careers, examples, machinery technology, the need to keep up, and teaching technology. (CH)

A survey to assess the demand for courses delivered by distance education and skills and experiences in using distance education technologies received responses from 360 agricultural science graduates. Most were interested in taking distance education courses and were familiar with the technologies, but few were experienced in using them.…

This series of articles examines the use of research in vocational agriculture, including interpretation of findings, research needs and problems for the 1980s, using research in inservice education, and the role of supervisors in research. (SK)

Site visits to 11 agriscience high school programs and interviews with 11 teachers showed that (1) teacher attitudes had significant impact on African-American enrollment in agriscience; (2) high-tech, science-based programs enrolled more African-American students; and (3) schools with an African-American agriscience teacher had higher…

Study of 380 secondary students (55% agriscience, 45% biology) indicated that agriscience students were more positive about the image and future of agriscience; African Americans had more negative attitudes about agriscience; and those most likely to enroll in agriscience were male, more positive about the future of agriscience, or had agriscience…