September - University of Nebraska

In a workshop held on East Campus by the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources on June 14, 2005,
the need for a Doctor of Plant Health in the midwest was persuasively made. Industry, from large companies
to very small ones (e.g. Syngenta, crop consultants) and governmental representatives requested the
university prepare broadly trained personnel in plant health who would be comparable to medical general
practitioners and doctors of veterinary medicine. Additionally, Dr. Robert McGovern, Director of the
University of Florida’s Doctor of Plant Medicine Program, reported 2003-2005 graduates of their program
were earning an average of $50,000 per year.
Meetings with relevant Department Heads and faculty were positive in moving forward to meet such a
demand. While all courses in the proposed curriculum are available, it is understood that as the program
matures and assessment results are considered, one or two new courses may be needed. Suitable space for
students, a director, an administrative assistant and some financial support for the students (e.g. out-of-state
tuition assistance) have been identified or proposed. Since the degree is neither a teaching nor research
assistantship, there is no provision for funding such students in the university system. However, the
Foundation for Environmental Agricultural Education (FEAE) will support two fellowships for one year.
The program would complement the Master of Agriculture degree program and perhaps others. Students
completing the program would have career opportunities in industry, government, extension and private
practice. It is surmised that UNL’s program leading to the degree of Doctor of Plant Health (DPH) would
complement programs leading to the Doctor of Public Health (e.g., program at Harvard School of Public
Health). UNL’s program, however, would be comparable to that provided by the University of Florida-
Gainesville, leading also to the generalist degree of Doctor of Plant Medicine.
Industry and government, both local and national, have indicated to us that they would be ready to hire
graduates now if they were available. Total demand is difficult to determine, but with virtually none of these
generalists available in the U.S. or the world, a large market is potentially feasible.
New developments in plant horticulture, crop production and forestry, homeland security, and the
prospective turnover of personnel in the public and private sector suggest a growing and steady demand for
Doctor of Plant Health graduates in the future.
We anticipate that 10 students (likely 2 resident students, 8 non-resident) will be admitted each year to the
four-year program. Maximum capacity for the program would be 40 students; however, the program would
be considered viable once it reached enrollment of 20 students. Because of the relative uniqueness of the
program, it is likely the program will draw students to enroll that would not have been attracted by other
UNL graduate programs. Additionally, because of the potential industry contributions graduates are likely to
make, a non-resident tuition structure outside of the traditional model is being sought.
It is proposed that non-resident students be charged 125% of resident graduate tuition over the course of their
programs. For example, 8 non-resident students in 2007-08 would be charged $280 per credit (30 credit
hours X 8 students X $280=$67,200 total). Table 3 assumes 10 students admitted each of the subsequent
years with 8 of 10 being non-resident and tuition increasing at 5% per year.
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