By Mikayla Mari/ Full360 Reporter
A new Delaware Valley University Poultry Center is on the way, but just waiting on some more financial support before starting construction.
Officials say the Poultry Center will bring unique experiences and classes to students in the upcoming years. It’s planned to be 8,000 square feet and house 8,000 broiler chickens. Students can expect new opportunities for student employment and additional ways to bring in E360 credit.
The Center will completely change the student experience when it comes to poultry on campus. Currently, the University houses about 100 chickens, with only one active poultry science course running. Many students are even unaware of the existence of any type of poultry on campus.
Dr. Broc Sandelin, the Dean of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at the university, said, “We are looking to offer at least one or two more classes and eventually get a poultry science minor, and then if it’s enough to manage, then a poultry science major.”
Many students look forward to the new opportunities associated with the center on campus. Currently, within the University grounds, students have access to an Equestrian Facility, Breeding Equestrian Facility, Dairy Science Farm, Farm 3 (includes meat cows, goats, and sheep), and a Swine Science Center. These facilities are meant to mock industry standards and give students a real feel of the production side of animal science. Many Animal Science students are on the pre-veterinary track, and look for opportunities to interact and get comfortable with as many animals as possible.
Peyton Meyers, a Junior Animal Science major at the University, said, “It’s exciting to have a poultry center on campus associated with large animals.”
The official completion of the facility is still unknown. The facility is still actively being funded, and the official design is being finalized. Currently, blueprints involve offices, a conference room, a classroom, a study room, and a lookout area for students to be able to observe the birds. Outside partnerships, such as Mountaire Farms and Purdue, have taken an interest in the facility and donated money to support the next generations of farmers. This new center will have a major impact on the Delaware Valley University curriculum.
Dr. Sandelin said, “If we had the money right now, for example, it would probably be a year and a half, two years, before it be built.”
This center is said to enhance the experiences of the current students while bringing in a new demographic of students interested in being the next generation of poultry farmers. It also gives popularity to the university, making it stand out as one of the few universities in the area with a poultry center. The closest universities that offer similar buildings are the University of Delaware and Rutgers University.
Delaware Valley University is unique in the fact that it is a small school with around 2,200 students and will be offering a similar facility.
Dr. Benjamin Rusiloski, the President of Delaware Valley University, said, “I think you’ll see people looking at us from a different level. Every time we add something to the South Campus, it increases our visibility and increases the number of people who take a look at us who otherwise wouldn’t.”
Much support has been shown in the community for this new addition to the school. Many students and staff have set high expectations for this new addition, and are optimistic about the new opportunities coming their way.