{"id":6,"date":"2019-02-26T18:54:49","date_gmt":"2019-02-26T18:54:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/cals-strategic-plan\/?page_id=6"},"modified":"2025-06-03T18:46:58","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T18:46:58","slug":"homepage","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/cals-strategic-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing Our Future 2023-2030"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

What will the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) need to look like in 10, 15, 20 years? We\u2019ve created an agile, ambitious and attainable strategic plan that will ensure CALS remains the premiere land-grant college that draws students, faculty and staff to learn, work and tackle the grand challenges facing our world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About<\/h2>

At CALS, we transform challenges for food, agriculture, energy and the environment into opportunities for everyone. Learn more about our vision, mission and core values.<\/p>\n

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Learn More<\/span>\n<\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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CALS Researcher Ricardo Hernandez and student Mark Watson, who leads the vertical farming club, work with lettuce plants at the Horticulture field lab near the Arboretum. Photo by Marc Hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The strategic plan is organized into three broad focus areas: People, Programs and Innovation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At CALS, one of our top priorities is to recruit, retain and invest in our students, faculty and staff. In this effort, we strive to grow and reinforce a culture of belonging and well-being; efficiently connect our community through CALS communications; and create a career-ready workforce through professional development and networking. We aim to make long-term, strategic investments in our people and the systems, processes and infrastructure that enable them to do their best work in learning, conducting research and serving all of our many stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Strategic Priority 1.1:<\/strong> Recruit, Retain and Invest in the Talented Faculty, Staff and Students of CALS<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Strategic Priority<\/strong> 1.2:<\/strong> Continually Grow and Reinforce a Culture of Well-Being, Belonging and Ongoing Professional Development in CALS, Fostering a Community Where Everyone Feels Valued and Thrives<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Strategic Priority<\/strong> 1.3:<\/strong> Build a More Efficient, Connected CALS<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Strategic Priority<\/strong> 1.4:<\/strong> Build a Career Ready Workforce<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n
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    building OUR community and connectivity<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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    Columbia Native Excited about FFAR Fellowship Opportunity<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

    NC State University plant pathology Ph.D. student Mariana Prieto Torres has always been interested in science, earning degrees in both biology and microbiology in her home country of Colombia. However, after spending hours listening to lectures and working in the lab, she became curious about how research in the lab benefits the outside world.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

    We support our students to do the extraordinary \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n\n

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    Training Tomorrow\u2019s Ag Communicators<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

    Every day, news headlines and social media spark debate around the tough questions faced by consumers, farmers, political leaders, researchers, regulators and agribusinesses regarding food and fiber. CALS partnered with industry and two other colleges to prepare students with the knowledge and skills to demystify issues surrounding food and fiber.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

    We invest in the next generation of leaders \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Programs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    We want to transform education and instructional delivery systems to serve all student needs through hybrid, virtual and face-to-face programs and provide more paths to CALS through HBCUs and community colleges. In addition, we strive to expand international programs through partnerships and collaborations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • Strategic Priority<\/strong><\/strong> 2.1:<\/strong> Transform Education and Instructional Delivery Systems to Serve All Student Needs<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Strategic Priority<\/strong><\/strong> 2.2:<\/strong> Transform Our International Profile<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Strategic Priority<\/strong><\/strong> 2.3:<\/strong> Enhance and Expand our Industry and Non-Academic Partnerships<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n
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      TRANSFORMING HOW WE LEARN TO BETTER SERVE STUDENTS<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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      Bridging the Big Data Divide<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

      The future of agriculture can largely be described in two words: big data. Unprecedented amounts of data have already been collected through emerging technologies and machines, and much more data is needed to drive better research, public policy and decisions in the field. Right now, few people can use this agricultural data to its maximum potential, but the new and innovative Agricultural Data Science Certificate course offered through CALS will create graduates who can do just that\u2014and more.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

      We’re meeting the demands for big data experts \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n\n

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      ALLI Bridges the Gap in Leadership Education<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

      Suman Das always envisioned himself as a leader. An Indian \u00e9migr\u00e9 with degrees in chemistry, Das graduated from CALS in May 2022 with his Ph.D. in molecular and structural biochemistry. Through the Agricultural Leadership Learning Institute (ALLI) for Graduate Students, Das expanded his leadership and communication skills, allowing him to reach the next level in his career.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

      We prepare our students to reach new heights \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n\n

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      The Gift of Perspective<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

      Inspired by a study abroad program he attended as a Ph.D. candidate in the 1970s, Emeritus Professor Tom Wentworth ensures new research abroad opportunities for students and faculty through his gift to the Research Pack Abroad Program. The gift will fund student and faculty travel to ensure that the opportunity for students to work in labs abroad is a dream they can realize.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

      Creating opportunities for global study \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Innovation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Population growth, health disparities, food inequities, evolving farming practices, and climate change are real challenges requiring distinct strategies and solutions. CALS is uniquely positioned to address these challenges by staying at the forefront of science and discovery, aligning research, teaching and Extension to benefit a more sustainable North Carolina, and then sharing lessons learned with billions throughout the world. Sustainability in education is crucial in meeting these needs, and our learners are eager to be a part of a sustainable future. Our research agenda is aggressive and touches all elements of sustainability, including biological systems, the environment, food stability, infrastructure, resilience and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      • Strategic Priority<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> 3.1:<\/strong> Advance a Comprehensive Agenda Focused on Sustainability<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Strategic Priority 3.2:<\/strong> Build Our Infrastructure<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Strategic Priority 3.3:<\/strong> Transform Our Extension Delivery Model<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Strategic Priority 3.4:<\/strong> Continually Prepare for the Future<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n
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        Advancing sustainability, preparing for the future<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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        3D Printing Plant Cells Show Promise for Studying Cell Function<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

        A new study from North Carolina State University shows a reproducible way of studying cellular communication among varied types of plant cells by \u201cbioprinting\u201d these cells via a 3D printer. Learning more about how plant cells communicate with each other \u2013 and with their environment \u2013 is key to understanding more about plant cell functions and could ultimately lead to creating better crop varieties and optimal growing environments.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

        Uncovering the powerful potential of 3D bioprinting \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n\n

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        NC State Spinout Company to Fight Food Waste<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

        When food science professor Josip Simunovic applied to the Chancellor\u2019s Innovation Fund, he wanted to build a machine: one that would allow other inventors like himself to get new products to market faster \u2014 and at a fraction of the cost. SinnovaTek, a company he co-founded, has now helped bring more than 100 new FDA-approved products to market.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

        Sparking innovation and partnerships \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n\n

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        The WASTE Lab: Adding Value to Agricultural Waste<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

        When you think of agricultural waste, you usually think of unwanted or unusable materials: Discarded biomass and residues that have no value and can often be costly to dispose of correctly. CALS agricultural waste management professor Praveen Kolar and student researchers in the Waste Applied in Science Technology and Engineering (WASTE) Lab are rethinking ways to use those leftover materials and valorize them.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

        Recycle, reuse and add value \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        What will the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) need to look like in 10, 15, 20 years? We\u2019ve created an agile, ambitious and attainable strategic plan that will ensure CALS remains the premiere land-grant college that draws students, faculty and staff to learn, work and tackle the grand challenges facing our world. The…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":51,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"views\/homepage.blade.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/floating-box-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"pageIntro\":\"We have opportunities to solve grand challenges that impact us locally, within North Carolina, nationally and globally.\",\"backgroundColor\":\"red_400\",\"boxPosition\":\"left\",\"ctaNum\":\"one\",\"useCTA\":false,\"focalPoint\":{\"x\":0.47,\"y\":0.19},\"imageURL\":\"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/cals-strategic-plan\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2023\/01\/NC_State_Dairy_Farm_skyline_by_Justin_Kase_Conder_licensed-until-July-2025-1500.jpg\",\"imageID\":864,\"imageAlt\":\"Aerial view of Lake Wheeler Road Field Lab\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-6","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/cals-strategic-plan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/cals-strategic-plan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/cals-strategic-plan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/cals-strategic-plan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/cals-strategic-plan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/cals-strategic-plan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1015,"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/cals-strategic-plan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions\/1015"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/cals-strategic-plan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/cals-strategic-plan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}