OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES

The Operational Objectives focus on how we deliver our programs though research, teaching, and extension education and outreach. They include the University-related issues of diversity (student, faculty and staff), internationalization (student, faculty and staff), and information technology.

1.  Develop discipline-based solutions to research problems while maintaining a strong customer-driven applied economics research.

• Develop fund-raising campaigns to endow core research functions in the Department.
• Provide incentives to produce peer-reviewed published output from research activities of all faculty.
• Strengthen emphasis in graduate education on importance of contributing to the published literature of the profession.
• Use the Internet and other techniques to disseminate research to key decision-makers in the emerging vertically linked food and agribusiness system.
• Strengthen partnerships with other Texas A&M programs and Centers through which clients in relevant emerging areas can be identified and new linkages established (i.e. Bush School, IFSE).

• Recruit more effectively for top prospects by developing a permanent source of funding for incoming graduate students.
• Develop and support graduate curricula within each graduate degree plan that will provide students with a common body of knowledge and cutting-edge knowledge in their selected areas of specialization.
• Identify and strengthen areas of specialization that are strategic to the Department's growth and success.

• Obtain additional resources for the undergraduate teaching program to maintain status as one of the top ten undergraduate programs in the United States.
• Increase the enrollment of minority students in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness majors.
• Provide high-quality management, decision-making education to COALS majors in marketing, finance, and management.
• Expand internship programs to include broader student and industry participation.
• Survey former students to evaluate current educational programs and plan future degree programs.
• Develop entrepreneurship emphasis area.

• Enhance core programs in marketing and risk management, executive education, state policy analysis, and firm-level management information systems and decision support systems.
• Sustain the Master Marketer Program and increase support of Marketing Clubs.
• Develop new programs to reach producers and agribusinesses involved in the vertical coordination of food and fiber system with new skills needed in contract evaluation and negotiation.
• Expand capabilities in the areas of distance education and information access.
• Interactive Internet delivery of subject matter must be available to remain competitive in the education delivery market.
• Develop education programs for customers to use information technology.

• Educate Texas policy makers on the importance of international agricultural forces and factors impacting the Texas economy, its agricultural sector, and Texas communities.
• Expand the international dimensions of undergraduate, graduate, research, and extension programs.
• Create an institutional environment of incentives, policies, and infrastructure to encourage faculty to develop and participate in international activities at Texas A&M and in other countries.
• Become the premiere resource on Latin American agricultural economics, trade, and policy and focus graduate student recruiting in Latin American countries.

• Emphasize human resource management.
• Attract and retain top talent as a high priority.
• Develop the skills and knowledge of employees.
• Provide appropriate incentives to develop programs and attract funding.
• Meet the challenges of managing a diverse workforce.
• Use technology to expand capabilities and increase effectiveness.
• Develop an investment strategy for obtaining computer hardware and software and for training and maintaining these systems.
• Assure effective use of technology by offering continuing training programs.
• Change the name of the Department to more effectively communicate the breadth of its mission. Proposed new name is Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness.