The next several months will represent a time of transition in the College of Agriculture at Auburn University. James Marion, who has provided very effective leadership for agriculture at Auburn during the past eight years, will be retiring this summer as the Dean of the College of Agriculture and the Director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station.

It is extremely important that Auburn seek and find the very best person available to lead our agricultural programs into the 21st century. Agriculture has been a central focus of this university since it was designated as Alabama's land-grant institution in 1872. Through the years Auburn has played a critical role in the development of agriculture and agri-business in Alabama. Today, agriculture and agribusiness (including forestry) account for one-third of Alabama's exports, and agribusiness production exceeds $30 billion annually. I believe that agriculture will continue to be important to our state and that agriculture will continue to be a central focus of Auburn University.

My advice to the new dean and director will be to maintain and enhance communications with the agricultural community. Our faculty and administrators need to hear and understand what is important to people working in agriculture. Our research projects should be geared toward solving problems that are critical for agriculture and to providing information that will enable producers, processors, and distributors to be more productive and profitable.

I have suggested that advisory groups be formed in each production area or other major category to exchange information. These advisory goups will be composed of agricultural or industry representatives and faculty in that discipline. At a minimum, I would like to see at least one meeting per year where the faculty would describe their research and the producers would provide feedback as to whether that research is answering the questions that they have. This exchange of information could help ensure that Auburn, through its research and extension efforts, is meeting the needs of our clients.

It is also important that the instructional programs of the College of Agriculture prepare students to satisfy the demands of the marketplace when they graduate. Auburn has a well-deserved reputation for quality instruction and we want our graduates to be well prepared for the world in which they will live and work.

Another critical issue for agriculture at Auburn is improving facilities that support the college's research and instructional programs. This spring a bill has been introduced in the Alabama Legislature that would provide funds to Auburn through an Agricultural Economic Development Bond Issue. The funds would be used to modernize facilities in poultry science, animal science, and other areas. These modern facilities will be an important component in Auburn's efforts to be responsive to the research needs of important agricultural industries in our state.

I extend my best wishes to Dean Marion and my appreciation for the fine job he has done. And I look forward to working with the new dean and director when that person is on board.

William V. Muse

President, Auburn University