Department of Avian Sciences is Transferred to Animal Science

In January, the UC Office of the President approved the transfer of one of the oldest departments on the UC Davis campus, the Department of Avian Sciences, to the Department of Animal Science. The transfer issue arose in January, 1997, when the faculty and Extension specialists in the Department of Avian Sciences voted to meet with the Department of Animal Science to discuss a possible merger. Avian Sciences retirements in the early 1990s had reduced the number of faculty and staff to the point where the administrative workload on each faculty member had become inordinate. Actually, consolidation was not a new issue for these two groups. Avian Sciences had consolidated their administrative operation with Animal Science two years earlier and learned that being part of a larger department was not only cost effective but provided many other benefits such as continuity when staff were ill or on vacation. In addition, some of the faculty and specialists in the two departments had a history of working together in teaching, research and various committees.

Professor Kirk Klasing, Interim Chair for Avian Sciences, and Professor Ed Price, Chair of the Department of Animal Science, repeatedly convened their respective Executive Committees during the first few months of 1997 to discuss the similarities and differences of the two departments and establish the conditions under which a consolidation could take place. Chair Price noted that the joint meetings were an essential part of the merger discussions. These meetings helped the two departments to become acquainted and, at the same time, created a forum for healthy discussion of our differences. Everything was put on the table, teaching philosophies, research goals, funding for graduate students, student advising loads, facility needs, etc. Even the Dean of the College was brought into the discussion when it was discovered that the funding base for the two departments was different.

In late spring, terms for the merger were reached and the issue was put to a vote by both departments. Avian Sciences faculty and specialists voted to transfer their FTE to Animal Science and the latter department voted to accept them. On July 1, 1997, the two departments unofficially began operating as a single department. At the same time, the Avian Sciences faculty and specialist offices on the third floor of Meyer were moved to the first and second floors with Animal Science faculty and specialists. Ed Price continues to serve as Chair for the expanded Department of Animal Science.

The recently established Center for Avian Biology will continue to provide leadership for the Department's research program with birds. As consolidation of the two programs proceed, the teaching, and extension programs are being integrated with the goal of maintaining the visibility of existing avian programs. For example, specific tracks for Avian Biology and Poultry Management have been proposed for the Animal Science Major. Also, funds have been obtained to renovate several existing research buildings at the Avian Sciences Field Facility on Hopkins Road. Once the consolidation has been finalized, a campaign will be initiated to increase scholarship support for avian-oriented students.