INDUSTRY EDUCATION grounds , irrigation , seed and sod , as plant breeders or extension agents and more .
“ Every one of our students sits across the desk from me at the end of their four-year degree and does their exit interview ,” he said . “ I ask them three questions : What did we do right ? What did we do wrong ? And do you have a job ? When I ask them if they have a job , they always say ‘ yes .’ We don ’ t have a 100-percent placement rate . We have a 100-percent placement rate with a waiting list .
“ I asked one student if he had a job . He said , ‘ yes .’ I asked him how many applications he sent out , and he said he didn ’ t send any ,” Crouse added . “ He said , ‘ As soon as they caught wind I was graduating , I had 31 job offers via text message .’ That is pretty much the standard story for our students . If they don ’ t have a job by the beginning of their junior year , they certainly have one by the beginning of their senior year .”
NC State ’ s 1,500-acre Lake Wheeler Road Research Lab houses its turfgrass research lab , heralded for advances in turfgrass management , pest control and genetics .
According to Crouse , if there is not a particular research opportunity available for a student , the faculty
will work with that student to create a position .
“ It ’ s so much more cost effective to recruit graduate students from your own population ,” he said . “ As that student gets older and more involved in their program , they are going to be trusted with greater skills so that when they do become a master ’ s student , all the basic training is already done .”
For high school students interested in NC State , the university offers a program called Spend a Day at State that allows prospective students to visit the college . Those interested in Turfgrass Science sit in on an Introduction to Soils class , and can learn about the Crop and Soil Sciences department , curriculum , scholarships , the application process and the admission process .
For more information about NC State , visit https :// www . ncsu . edu / or https :// cals . ncsu . edu / crop-and-soilsciences /. SFM
SportsField Management magazine will detail other college and university turfgrass programs in coming issues . If you would like your school profiled , please contact John Kmitta at jkmitta @ epgacceleration . com or 763-383-4405 . sportsfieldmanagementonline . com February 2023 | SportsField Management
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