University undergraduate division advisor influence on student curricular choice in the field of agriculture

The research hypotheses tested in the study were: (1) There is no significant difference between no-preference advisors and students in perception of the influence and importance of the advisory function in selecting a major. (2) There is no significant difference between no-preference advisors and students in their perception of selected factors in selecting an agricultural curriculum. (3) There is no significant difference between advisor and student perception of the field of agriculture.;Two sample groups were chosen for the study, University Undergraduate Division no-preference advisors and students enrolled in an agricultural curriculum after original enrollment in no-preference.;Data from Parts 1 and 2 of the advisor and student surveys were analyzed by using percentages and distributions. Parts 3, 4, and 5 of the advisor and student surveys instituted the t- test method of analysis to determine statistically significant differences between the two survey samples. The level of significance used was.05. A Likert type scale was assigned to the survey items in Parts 3, 4, and 5 with one (1) being of most importance and four (4) being of least importance.;Findings and recommendations. No significant differences were found in Part 3 of the survey concerning advisor and student perception of the field of agriculture. Statistically significant differences were found in Parts 4 and 5 of the surveys concerning the degree of importance of certain advisory functions in the student's selection of a major field of study and the influence of certain factors in assisting a student in selecting agriculture. Difference was determined at the.05 level of significance.;Methods and procedures. The two sample survey instruments developed for use in the study included the advisor survey divided into five parts consisting of forty-six items and the student survey similar in design to the advisor survey consisting of five parts and fifty-two items.;From the study, it may be concluded that no-preference advisors and students perceived the field of agriculture similarly. However, there were statistically significant differences in the advisor and student knowledge base of career opportunities available within the field of agriculture. It is recommended that an in-service training program be implemented to enhance advisor knowledge of the career opportunities available in agriculture.