The Department of Horticultural Science is among the best Horticultural Science programs in the nation. The department is committed to engaged teaching, innovative research, artistic design, and impactful extension and outreach. The department has a holistic portfolio associated with the production and utilization, ecology, breeding, and basic biology of fruit, vegetable, flower, ornamental, and functional horticultural plants. Through constant evaluation and adjustment, personnel within the department collaborate with partners to create a horticultural science Hub that optimizes the role of plants in addressing local to global Grand Challenges. The success of the department is led through the collective actions of faculty, senior professionals, postdocs, visiting scientists, graduate students, undergraduate students, on-campus and off-campus collaborators, and stakeholder partners. Faculty currently includes 30 tenure track and 7 nontenure track leaders with a balanced portfolio of ~28% FTEs in academic programming (teaching and mentoring students), 28% in extension and outreach, 36% in research, 3% in artistry or innovation, and 5% FTEs dedicated to service, inclusive of on and off-campus leadership. The equivalent of 3-4 FTEs are committed to administration to lead the department, the JC Raulston Arboretum, the Center for Integrated Pest Management, and International Programs. The department also celebrates integration and collaborations with the Center for Environmental Systems (CEFS) to advance shared goals. Ten additional professional non-faculty leaders independently manage superior research or extension programs.

The BS undergraduate program has grown rapidly in the past 5-6 years with a 74% increase in the number of undergraduate students totaling 156 in the spring of 2023. Likewise, the spring of 2023 had a record number of 60 graduate students. These growth numbers are linked to initiatives at the department, College, and University levels plus cultural dynamics that favor student interest in Horticultural Science. The number of students in the Ag Institute program declined during COVID.  We seek to rebuild those numbers.

The department implemented a strategic planning process that was highly participatory with input from within and beyond the department. The process provided a refreshed vision, mission, values, and proactive initiatives. Rooted in our strengths in teaching, research, and extension, the department will grow into the future to address opportunities and challenges that lie ahead to further the positive impacts of horticultural science and inter-disciplinary collaborations, to address prioritized local to global Grand Challenges.