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Tech-driven ag careers help fuel record enrollment at U of I’s College of ACES

The dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois says it’s a record-breaking fall.

German Bollero tells Brownfield, “For the first time in 60 years, we’re over 3,000 undergraduate students in the college.”  He says, “About 670 freshmen, plus almost 200 transfer students, so very excited about that.”

He says the growth is due to dedicated staff, increased scholarship opportunities, and an engaging curriculum.

“All of our majors have been growing.”  He says, “Our largest department is agriculture and consumer economics.  Natural resources and environmental sciences is an area that students are very interested in as well, and a lot of students are interested in food, food innovation, and food and its connection with health.”

Bollero says many of today’s students are attracted to agriculture-related fields because of the industry’s quick adoption of technology and plentiful career opportunities.

AUDIO: German Bollero – U of I College of ACES