Recipient Organization
LANGSTON UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
LANGSTON,OK 73050
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
"Facilities Development in the Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences: Langston University Continuing Growth Pathway-- 2023-2028"Project Summary/AbstractAgriculture and economic community development were founding principles of Langston University and remain so today through the work of the Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (SL/SAAS). True to the Land-Grant mission, SL/SAAS engages in academics, research, and extension/outreach programs. The 2023-2028 Langston University's Facilities Program Plan of Work (POW) outlines an effort to strengthen the University's Food, Agriculture, Natural and Human Sciences (FANH) programs and expand opportunities to people and communities. Each requested item in the 2023 LU-POW aligns with the goals and objectives of the 1890 Facilities Grant Program. They also align with the Langston University School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences Strategic Plan.The Plan of Work includes a request for funding toA,upgrade the existing facility housing the School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences to provide additional spaces for student population growth and facilitate necessary furniture and technology improvements;B,establish large-animal teaching, research and extension center, which includes beef cattle;C,Support an expansion phase for the recently developed Horticulture Extension and Research Center (HERC)to include additional office spaces, a food processing demonstration laboratory, development of demarcated areas forSmall Farm Orchards, a Vineyard,Sustainable Agriculture, Selected Specialty crops. These enhancements will vastly upgrade, modernize current facilities and add new innovative dimensions to SL/SAAS program offerings.
Animal Health Component
40%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
30%
Applied
40%
Developmental
30%
Knowledge Area
805 - Community Institutions, Health, and Social Services;
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;
111 - Conservation and Efficient Use of Water;
202 - Plant Genetic Resources;
801 - Individual and Family Resource Management;
Subject Of Investigation
1419 - Leguminous vegetables, general/other;
0780 - Grasslands, other;
1699 - Pasture and forage crops, general/other;
0110 - Soil;
0001 - Administration;
Field Of Science
2090 - Statistics, econometrics, and biometrics;
2080 - Mathematics and computer sciences;
3010 - Economics;
3100 - Management;
3030 - Information and communication;
Goals / Objectives
Objective 1:Upgrade the existing facility housing the Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences to provide additional space for student population growth and add necessary equipment and technology upgrades for modernization.Objective 2: Introduce a large animal production and management unit, including beef cattleto support Teaching, Research, and ExtensionObjective 3:An expansion phase of HERC-II which will include additional office spaces, a food processing demonstration laboratory, the development of demarcated spaces forSmall Farm Orchards, a Vineyard,Sustainable Agriculture, and Selected Specialty crops.
Project Methods
Method 1: Three additional 1200-1400 square feet conference rooms that will be used as teaching conference rooms will be added to the E.L. Holloway Agricultural Science building to facilitate expanded program offerings. They will be furnished with modern furniture and technology for various pedagogical modalities. Existing classrooms, laboratories, office spaces, and student success spaces will also be upgraded with new technology and equipment. Conference rooms will be used to support research and outreach conferences and workshops as necessary.Method 2:The large animal center will be constructed on 80-100 acres of existing LU land adjacent to the AIGR farm facilities. Appropriate housing will be established for cattle and calves. This will include the construction of a barn with a concrete floor and with space for grain and concentrate storage. An observation platform with 30-50 seats will be built for live animal demonstrations. Automatic water feeders, mineral feeders, grain troughs, round-bale feeders, squeeze chutes, and other necessary items and utensils for cattle feeding, care, and management will be provided in place before the introduction of animals into the center. The facility will be located on the south side of the LU campus and will include adjacent pastureland of about 75 acres. The area will be fenced for cattle rearing and native Oklahoma grasses make a natural pasture habitat for these animals.Method 3:Expanded construction will take place at the HERC on land areas developed during phase-1 development of HERC located south of the Langston University campus and completed in 2023.The demarcated spaces will allow us to meet many more of the needs of our communities and our stakeholders. It will increase our outcomes and impacts with small, limited resource and beginner farmers. Plant/soil, and environmental science principles taught in the classroom will be demonstrated in real-life field settings. Undergraduate and graduate students will have an opportunity to carry out a wide range of field experiments and present and publish their findings. This expansion will better prepare our students for advanced research and for application in the workplace.It will also be vital for developing international programming focused on small-holder farmers and agripreneurship.The gross square footage of permanent structures in this phase-II is approximately 20,000 ft2. All square footage of phase-II HERC will be used for teaching/research/extension purposes.Existing greenhouses-1 and proposed greenhouses-2 are for the purposes of student teaching and installation of research projects. In addition, outreach/extension community groups can participate in workshops in greenhouse-1 and 2. For example, hands-on learning of commercial flower and plant production; application of fertilizers, chemicals, and biological control methods; demonstration and teaching of various irrigation methods; hydroponic vs. media growing of plants; pruning and disbudding of flowers; grafting and other plant propagation methods; basic water and pH testing methods; bulb forcing; horticulture club activities; plus others. The additional conference room will be for the purpose of learning and teaching horticulture skills to students, stakeholders, commodity groups, community organizations, and other interested parties. The demonstration lab/kitchen will be used for food processing demonstration and training. This expanded facility will, therefore, satisfy all three facets of the land-grant mission: teaching, research, and extension.