Keeping the Best in Illinois

BY CHRIS MAGNUSON, FARM WEEK NOW

“We face a common challenge -- our students are being recruited away by agricultural colleges in neighboring states,” said  Kim Kidwell, Dean of the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. 

Rather than compete against each other for students, the U of I, Illinois State University, Southern Illinois University and Western Illinois University have united to keep students in Illinois to pursue their college education.

“We have four outstanding agriculture universities in Illinois. As we visit with potential students we are always looking for the best fit to match a student’s interest” said Rob Rhykerd, Chair of the Agriculture Department at ISU. “I always hope that the best fit is ISU, but sometimes the best advice I can give a prospective student is to attend one of our three other great programs in the state”

Illinois Farm Bureau assisted in facilitating the development of the collaborative marketing effort.

“I think they’ve done a great job of making the case for staying in state to attend one of our four Ag universities in Illinois," said Richard Guebert Jr., IFB President.  

Research indicates high school students that leave the state to go to college are less likely to return after they graduate.  Illinois leads the nation in net loss of students, totaling 14,344 in 2016.

“The loss of brain power ultimately hurts our state,” Guebert said. “I know from talking to talking to employers based in Illinois, they prefer to recruit from Illinois universities.”