The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) announced today in an internal email that its long simmering consideration to consolidate its agricultural units is seeing the light of day.
The Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) and College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR) were split administratively in 1993 from University of Nevada Cooperative Extension under then President Joe Crowley, who, it was alleged at the time, was unhappy with the consolidated units having a dean and director with so much power and influence statewide.
The separation led to ire and confusion as roles for each unit were challenged and meeting mandated missions was subject, at times, to reinvention.
Today, however, UNR Provost Kevin Carman announced the reintegration of the units.
“I have notified the Faculty Senate that we are proposing an administrative consolidation of UNCE, CABNR, and AES (Agricultural Experiment Station). Under this structure, (CABNR) Dean Payne would serve as Dean and Director of UNCE and CABNR and Director of AES.
“There would be an Associate Director for AES, an Associate Director for UNCE, and an Associate Dean for CABNR Academic Affairs. CABNR, AES, and UNCE would all retain their individual identity and budgetary autonomy.
“Critical programs such as 4H and Master Gardener would be preserved and enhanced. By law, county investments in Extension programs would stay in the counties and be used to serve the citizens of the counties.
“I feel that this administrative structure would provide enhanced opportunities for synergies between UNCE and UNR faculty and provide better administrative support for UNCE, CABNR, and AES.”
