Urban Forestry seeks more university support

 
Urban Forestry is a program set to be enhanced in accordance to the criteria in the Southern University Retrenchment and Reorganization Plan presented to the Board of Supervisors by Southern University at Baton Rouge Chancellor James Llorens.​ ​
Yadong Qi, professor in urban forestry, said that the program is very comprehensive.​
​The urban forestry curriculum prepares students to address important urban and community forestry such as urban forestry management, forest health management, ecosystem analysis, arboriculture, urban hydrology and ecology.​
“I hope everyone understands Southern University has a lot of jewels,” stated Qi.  “Southern has a lot of great things to offer and Southern needs to know that.”
Urban forestry’s program was designated by the State of Louisiana Board of Regents as a Department of Excellence through faculty excellence.​​
“This positions Southern University in a very unique position,” said Qi.​
According to Qi, the program is the only program in the country that offers bachelors, masters and doctorates in urban forestry.
The program was established in 1992 with the aid of a five-year grant from the USDA Forest Service.​
According to the SUBR website, ”Urban forestry program is one of the first degree-granting programs in the urban forestry in the United States.”
The Faculty Annual Accomplishment report of 2008-09 stated, Qi maintains the urban forestry microscope lab, ecology lab and the urban tree farm.  These labs have hosted numerous laboratory activities and are fully utilized by the faculty, staff and students in the urban forestry program for teaching, research and extension.​​​
Urban forestry is one of the degree granting programs a part of the College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences.​
​”We need to be supported by the university,” said Qi.
​Urban Forestry would be considered for merger or consolidation if it ​fit the criteria in the plan: low student enrollment, low number of program majors, low number of graduates, low production of student credit hours, limited ability to attract external funds, limited capacity to meet workforce needs of state and limited possibilities for future growth.​
The urban forestry program recently graduated five students that ​received doctoral degrees according to Qi.
Urban Forestry is one of five programs originally designated for enhancement in the plan presented in December. 
The major goal of the plan is to raise the level of efficiency, effectiveness and accountability through restructuring and reorganizing.​
With the declaration of financial exigency, the university will expedite the process of enhancing these programs.
As reviews and evaluations continue campus-wide other programs can be considered for enhancement based on the criteria.