Nova Scotia Agricultural College

Nova Scotia Agricultural College
Motto	Mens Agitat Molem (Latin)
Motto in English	"Mind over Matter"
Established	1885
Type	Public Agricultural College/University
Endowment	$2.966 million[1] (as of December 31, 2009)
President	Dr. Bernie MacDonald Co-President/VP Administration Dr.Leslie MacLaren Co-President/VP Academic
Undergraduates	9611
Postgraduates	821
Location	Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, Canada
Campus	Urban
Former names	School of Agriculture, Truro (1885-1905); The School of Horticulture, Wolfville (1893-1905); Nova Scotia Agricultural College 1905-present.
Colors	blue      & gold
Nickname	Rams
Affiliations	CCAA, ACCC, AUCC, IAU, CBIE, CUP.
Website	http://nsac.ca

Coordinates: 45°22′15″N 63°15′26″W / 45.37083°N 63.25722°W / 45.37083; -63.25722 Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC) is a Canadian university college located in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, a village near the town of Truro. NSAC was officially founded February 14, 1905. In the early years, NSAC focused on educating farmers in aspects of field and animal husbandry. NSAC entered a new era in 1980 after the Nova Scotia government passed legislation authorizing the institution to grant undergraduate B.Sc. (Agr.) degrees. NSAC offers the only university level program in agriculture in Atlantic Canada. The press, Golden Ram, is a member of CUP.

History

Nova Scotia Agricultural College was officially founded February 14, 1905 by the merger of The School of Agriculture (1885–1905) in Truro and The School of Horticulture (1893–1905) in Wolfville.^[2] NSAC was located on the provincial demonstration farm in Bible Hill which has grown over the years to a total area of 442 hectares (1,092 acres).^[3] It is located along a bluff overlooking the Salmon River.

In the early years the college focused on educating farmers in aspects of field and animal husbandry. These early graduates often went on to pursue a university degree, usually from Macdonald College at McGill University or the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph, Ontario.^[4]

A disastrous fire in 1946 destroyed the science building and a temporary campus was set up in former World War II military hospitals in Debert. This temporary campus served students until the fall of 1953 when the new science building, now known as the Harlow Institute, was opened on the Bible Hill campus.^[4]

NSAC entered a new era in 1980 after the Nova Scotia government passed legislation authorizing the institution to grant undergraduate B.Sc. (Agr.) degrees.^[5] The decision was made by the institution to do this in association with Dalhousie University and the first students graduated with the new degree in 1985. An agreement was also signed with Dalhousie to provide MSc degrees in 1996. NSAC grants its own technology diplomas for the 2-year programs and the institution remains an independent post-secondary research and education facility administered by the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture.

Nova Scotia Agricultural College has entered into discussions towards a merger with Dalhousie University for the incoming class of Fall, 2012.

Programs

Agriculture
General
Agribusiness · Agricultural science Agronomy · Animal husbandry Extensive farming Factory farming · Farm · Free range Industrial agriculture Intensive farming Organic farming · Permaculture Sustainable agriculture Urban agriculture
History
History of agriculture Arab Agricultural Revolution British Agricultural Revolution Green Revolution Neolithic Revolution
Types
Aquaculture · Dairy farming Grazing  · Hydroponics Livestock  · Pig farming Orchards  · Poultry farming Sheep husbandry
Categories
Agriculture Agriculture by country Agriculture companies Biotechnology Livestock Meat industry Poultry farming
Agropedia portal
v · d · e

NSAC is the only university in Atlantic Canada having a mandate to offer agricultural education and offers specialized training at the Technical, Technology, Bachelor, and Masters levels. Bachelor's degrees in Agricultural Mechanization, Engineering (with Dalhousie), Animal Science, Plant Science, Soil Science, Environmental Biology, Agricultural Economics, and Aquaculture are offered. Undergraduate degrees — B.Sc.(Agr)— are granted in association with Dalhousie University. NSAC maintains an association with Brock University whereby NSAC students can receive a Bachelor of Science with a major in Viticulture & Oenology (granted by Brock). Graduate degrees — Master of Science — are granted with Dalhousie University in Agricultural Chemistry, Animal Science, Environmental Studies, Plant Science, and Soil Science. Nova Scotia Agricultural College offers: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Animal Science); Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Aquaculture); Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Environmental Sciences); Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Plant Science). Master in science in Agriculture. A wide variety of technology programs are offered as well, one well noted one is the Diploma in Business Management. This program offers concentrations in Farming, Dairy Farming, Equine, Companion Animal, as well as Greenhouse & Nursery. The program trains students in how to operate a business from both a financial stand point as well as teaching proper plant growing and animal husbandry techniques.

Noted alumni

• Donald Cameron, former Progressive Conservative Premier of Nova Scotia

See also

• List of agricultural universities and colleges
• Higher education in Nova Scotia
• List of universities in Nova Scotia
• Canadian Interuniversity Sport
• Canadian government scientific research organizations
• Canadian university scientific research organizations
• Canadian industrial research and development organizations

Notes

^1 Enrollment Statistics 2009-10, NSAC Registry

References

1. ^ Annual Report of NSAC Foundation, 2009-10, page 4
2. ^ Kernaghan, Lois (1985). "Nova Scotia Agricultural College". The Canadian Encyclopedia: p. 1291. 
3. ^ “Nova Scotia Agricultural College Quick Facts 2010-2011
4. ^ ^{a b} Ellis, A. Dale (1999). Shaped Through Service:An illustrated History of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. Truro, NS: Agrarian Development Services (ADS) Ltd.. p. 279. ISBN 0-9686008-0-8. 
5. ^ Chapter 6 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, “Agriculture and Marketing Act”, Part XVI Agricultural Education.

External links

• Official website