Goals and Objectives

The Pennsylvania Department of Education and The Pennsylvania State University's College of Agricultural Sciences established the following goals and objectives for the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Agricultural Sciences.

Goals

1.  Provide educational programs in agriculture and environmental science to gifted and talented high-school-age youth.

2.  Challenge these youth to use their talent and intellect in studying and researching the scientific nature of agriculture and its interrelationship with the environment.

3.  Acquaint high-school-age youth with the scientific and professional opportunities available to them in the food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences.

4.  Promote an atmosphere of multicultural  diversity, dialogue, learning, and respect.

Objectives

1.  To provide an academically talented group of students in Pennsylvania with opportunities to expand their knowledge of food, agriculture and the sustainable use of renewable natural resources, recycling and waste reduction, and their understanding of the high technologies involved, in ways not usually found in their own schools.

2.  To provide the PGSAS participants with an opportunity to become exposed to scientific concepts, land stewardship concepts, laboratory facilities, and the facilities and professional scientists not normally available at high-school level.

3.  To provide hands-on experience in new technologies and research techniques available in food, agricultural, and natural resource sciences.

4.  To assist the PGSAS participants in learning that agricultural sciences provide an array of interesting and rewarding careers.

5.  To encourage PGSAS students to develop leadership, communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills, and to apply them upon returning to their home districts.

6.  To establish an environment where PGSAS participants from different backgrounds can interact and share.