Factors influencing recruitment, retention, and job placement in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University

The need to produce qualified graduates in the food, agriculture and natural resources fields is becoming increasingly important. Demand for employees in these areas can be met by traditional agricultural groups, as well as by individuals from urban areas and minority groups. Targeting recruitment strategies will help ensure colleges of agriculture will produce graduates to fill available positions in the food, agricultural and natural resources systems. This study explored the factors influencing the college choice of students, specifically minority and non-traditional agriculture students, entering the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University during the fall of 2006. This study found that factors related to college recruitment strategies, institutional characteristics and selected individuals had an influence on college choice. Overall, minority and non-traditional agriculture students had a similar set of influences to white students. However, both minority students and non-traditional agriculture students in this study used personalized conversations more frequently and were more influenced by their friends. In addition, both groups were more concerned with the availability of financial aid and began their college search earlier than white students and traditional agriculture students.