Newman University launched its Agricultural Technology Management Bachelor of Science program in Fall 2024, addressing Midwest agribusiness labor shortages through partnerships with three community colleges and a 57-credit-hour curriculum integrating agricultural science, business management, and digital technologies.
-- Newman University launched its Agricultural Technology Management degree program in Fall 2024, responding directly to documented labor shortages across the Midwest agribusiness sector. The Bachelor of Science program, developed through partnerships with Dodge City Community College, Garden City Community College, and Seward County Community College, addresses regional employer demand for professionals who combine agricultural knowledge with technology proficiency and business management skills. Companies across southwest Kansas have identified a persistent gap: traditional agriculture degrees emphasize production science while generic business programs lack agricultural context, leaving employers unable to fill positions requiring both competencies.
More information is available at https://newmanu.edu/academics/agricultural-technology-management
Agribusiness employers throughout the region report difficulty recruiting candidates who understand crop science fundamentals while also interpreting data analytics, managing supply chains, and applying precision agriculture tools. According to industry research, over 60 percent of large-scale farming operations now use or plan to adopt advanced yield monitoring and variable-rate application systems, yet the workforce equipped to implement these technologies remains insufficient. The curriculum directly targets this skills gap by integrating technical agricultural coursework with business economics, marketing analysis, and digital systems training throughout the 57-credit-hour major rather than treating technology as an elective add-on.
The program requires coursework in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Marketing and Sales, Introduction to Data Analytics, and Agricultural Ethics & Sustainability, embedding data-driven decision-making across the curriculum. Newman secured $1.2 million in federal funding as part of a larger $2.4 million federal appropriation to support the initiative, funding development of a Mobile Smart Agricultural Lab that provides hands-on experience with precision agriculture equipment, geospatial analysis tools, and farm management software platforms. Students learn to collect field data, interpret sensor outputs, and optimize input applications—competencies that distinguish agribusiness technology graduates from peers trained solely in production practices or general business administration.
Newman delivers the program through eight-week courses available both in-person and online, utilizing high-flex classrooms equipped with video capabilities in Garden City, Dodge City, and Liberal. This flexible structure accommodates working students and rural populations across southwest Kansas who balance family responsibilities or employment while pursuing degree completion, with course scheduling and delivery methods designed in consultation with regional employers to ensure students can maintain work commitments while gaining credentials that directly align with industry hiring priorities.
Students transferring from partner community colleges qualify for up to $10,000 annual scholarships, totaling up to $20,000 over two years of study at Newman. The university also matches federal Pell grants dollar for dollar, removing cost barriers that often prevent community college graduates from completing four-year degrees. These financial incentives reflect Newman's commitment to creating accessible pathways for students in a region where agricultural employment represents a significant economic driver but where degree attainment rates have historically lagged behind workforce demand.
Graduates enter career pathways spanning farm and ranch management, agricultural sales and marketing, financial services, agritech product development, and supply chain logistics. The program prepares students for nine primary employment categories, including crop and livestock marketing, energy sector roles supporting agriculture, agricultural lending and risk management, input supply firms, insurance, international trade, and public policy analysis. Alumni have pursued advanced degrees including MBA programs, Master of Agribusiness credentials, and doctoral study in agricultural economics, positioning the undergraduate program as a foundation for both immediate employment and long-term professional advancement in a sector increasingly defined by the integration of biological science, business strategy, and emerging digital technologies.
Visit https://newmanu.edu/ for additional details.
Contact Info:
Name: Clark Schafer
Email: Send Email
Organization: Newman University
Address: 3100 McCormick , Wichita, Kansas 67213, United States
Website: https://newmanu.edu/
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 89182548
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