INDUSTRY EDUCATION

EDITOR ’ S NOTE : The following is the next in our series delving into colleges and universities that offer programs devoted to turfgrass management , turfgrass science , and related disciplines . In this edition , we examine the Turfgrass Management and Science program at Purdue University .

PURDUE UNIVERSITY Purdue University Turfgrass Management and Science students learn to oversee and implement programs for the production , maintenance and performance of a variety of turfgrass areas such as golf courses , athletic fields , lawns , parks and sod farms . The program combines basic scientific principles , technical agronomic information , business and management coursework , written / oral communication and problem-solving skills to prepare graduates for a wide range of careers .

This program ’ s storied history dates back to SFMA Founder William H . Daniel , Ph . D ., who was heavily involved in all aspects of turf education and research as one of Purdue ’ s first turf professors . Daniel has been honored by scientific societies , foundations , associations and the governor of Indiana for his career efforts , and Purdue ’ s turfgrass research and diagnostic center is named after him .

All photos provided by Purdue University .

“ His emphasis was all things turf — lawns , golf and sports fields — but he recognized that there were some things that needed to happen to raise the bar professionally for sports field managers ,” said Cale Bigelow Ph . D ., professor , Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture , Turf Science , Management and Ecology at Purdue . “ He was very interested in the safety of the athletes on the fields , especially keeping them dry .”

According to Bigelow , in the early days of the Purdue turfgrass program , there were only two faculty members involved . Today , there are five faculty allocated to turfgrass , as well as a fine-tuned curriculum . Sixty of the 120 credits required for graduation are the basic sciences , humanities , social sciences , and other general education classes . Thirty credits are related to the technical aspects of turfgrass management — including three turfgrass-specific classes , soils , soil fertility , pest management , as well as electives in everything from plant propagation to landscape contracting . The remaining 30 credits are business related .

“ We made that change approximately 10 years based on feedback from alumni and industry professionals , because once you ascend in your role in the industry , you become a resource manager ,” said Bigelow . “ It ’ s a fairly balanced plan of study . There are the basic sciences , there is the technical aspect , there are the practical things related to turfgrass management , but there is also the business side of it , which really prepares a student to pursue a wide variety of career options .”

22 SportsField Management | August 2023 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com