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Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences

College Highlights

College Highlights

The College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences (CAFCS) at Southern University ranks:

  • 1st in undergraduate student retention (76.5%) out of the nine (9) undergraduate degree colleges and schools
  • 1st  in average grant funding per faculty over the last six years out of the nine (9) undergraduate degree colleges and schools ($487,071 per faculty)
  • 2nd in grant funding received (2002-2008) of the nine (9) undergraduate degree colleges and schools-funded grants: $8,767,288
  • 3rd in number of students graduated (28.3%) over the last four years out of the nine (9) undergraduate degree colleges and schools
  • 6th in degrees (average 85 per year) awarded out of nine (9) undergraduate degree colleges and schools
  • 7th in the production of African-Americans with a baccalaureate degree in the agricultural sciences from one of the 17 Historically-Black Land-Grant Universities
  • 10th of the top 100 degree producers of African-Americans with a baccalaureate degree in agricultural sciences of all colleges and universities in the United States 
  • In addition, the Division of Family and Consumer Sciences ranks 3rd in the average number of graduates since 2005 (60 per year)

Approximately 62% of the annual job openings in the food, agricultural, and natural resources will be filled by new graduates from Colleges of Agriculture, Life Sciences, Forestry, Veterinary Medicine and Family and Consumer Sciences (2005 USDA Report: Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in the U.S. Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resources System). Research data show that nationally, there are 52,000 annual job openings for new agricultural graduates during 2005-2010, and only some 49,300 qualified graduates are available for each year for these positions (Employment Opportunities for College graduates in the U.S. Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources System, 2005-2010, USDA-CSRRES and Purdue University publication). The latest data show that the employment of agricultural and food scientists is expected to grow 9% between 2006 and 2016 (Occupational Outlook Handbook (2008-09 ed.), US Department of Labor). Therefore, there is a huge demand for more graduates in agricultural and food sciences.
Over 40% of all college undergraduates are employed in the food and agricultural sciences. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal agency that employs the largest number of college graduates. In this regard, the USDA 1890 Scholars Program offers scholarships to U.S. citizens to pursue bachelor degrees at one of the seventeen 1890 institutions and Tuskegee University. To date, CAFCS has had 15 scholars; twelve (12) have majored in agricultural economics.

The USDA has also supported 1890 Liaison Officers at SUBR. These USDA employees are stationed in the CAFCS.  They provide coordination between the USDA and the selected institutions, recruit high school students, and counsel students on USDA employment opportunities.

Some key accomplishments are:

  • 2003 - USDA/NASULGC Teaching Excellence Award for the Southern Region won by a CAFCS Faculty
  • SUBR's first patent was achieved by a CAFCS faculty in 2004.
  • One faculty member was the Barbara Dixon /Kellogg Endowed Professor recipient (2001-2008).
  • One current Family and Consumer Sciences faculty member served as President of the Louisiana Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (2008-2009)
  • Four (4) professors in the CAFCS have won SUBR Teacher of the Year Award.
  • One faculty member was the recipient of SUBR Presidential Award for Academic Excellence.
  • Several Family and Consumer Sciences faculty members serve/have served as officers in national organizations.
  • Two (2) of the program areas in the CAFCS were recipients of SUBR's "Department of the Year Award."
  • Two (2) CAFCS faculty have secured the USDA/CSREES Capacity Building Grants Program teaching grants, which have provided $151,000 in scholarships to agricultural science students from 2004-09 and which will have $199,000 available to support students in CAFCS until 2011.
  • CAFCS already contributes nearly $500,000 per year in savings to SUBR through its collaboration with the SU Ag Center.
  • Urban Forestry Program has been awarded the "Department of Excellence" through Faculty Excellence by the State of Louisiana Board of Regents of Higher Education. Today, it offers a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Urban Forestry.
  • The Urban Forestry Program ranks 1st in producing African American graduates in Urban Forestry (based on data from the national Association of university Forest Resource Professionals [2009]).
  • The Online Family Financial Planning Program-of which the Division of Family and Consumer Sciences is an Alliance member-is the first of its kind among HBCU's.
  • SUBR is establishing the first Organic Center that will conduct research on organic pork, vegetables and field crops.
  • Two of the buildings on the SUBR campus bear the names of former Family and Consumer Sciences (Home Economics) administrators:  Pinkie E. Thrift Hall (the Family and Consumer Sciences Building) and E. N. Mayberry Hall (one of the campus' dining facilities).

Some Nationally-renowned Alumni from CAFCS:

  • General Russell Honoree, Retired Lieutenant General, US Army
  • Dr. Eula D. Masingale*, former Dean, Home Economics, and the only African American to have served as National President of Phi Upsilon Omicron National Honor Society in Family and Consumer Sciences 
  • Mrs. Freddye Scarborough Henderson*, founder of the first African-American travel agency in the United States
  • Mr. Joseph Stewart, former Vice President, Kellogg Company
  • Dr. Celeste A. Clark, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Kellogg Company

 *deceased