HUNTINGTON, Ind. — Huntington University is pleased to announce that DuPont Pioneer donated $5,000 toward the construction of the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies Greenhouse Project as part of the DuPont Pioneer sponsorship program.
“We are grateful to DuPont Pioneer for partnering with us in this student impact project. We look forward to many others following their lead to make this vision a reality,” stated Vince Haupert, vice president for advancement.
Huntington University is seeking to build a new, ground-level greenhouse to meet the growing needs of the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies and the Department of Biology. The new greenhouse will feature multiple zones with energy-efficient environmental controls for managing temperature and lighting and will be located adjacent to Dowden Science Hall for easy access from teaching labs and full-day sun exposure.
The proposed greenhouse complements the university’s existing small, east-facing greenhouse. The current greenhouse has already been filled with a permanent living plant collection, and its small size restricts its usefulness to new programs and classes.
“The new greenhouse will meet the teaching needs of ag courses like crop science, plant breeding, and plant pathology, and will provide additional resources for biology courses such as general biology and botany,” said Dr. Raymond Porter, director of the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies. “The additional space would allow for student-faculty research involving various plants and treatments. Space for hydroponic/aquaponic systems will enable the growth of plants and fish for teaching and student research. Students will gain experience in basic greenhouse management as well as aquaponics or hydroponics operations.”
Launched in the fall of 2014, the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies at Huntington University promotes a Christian perspective on agriculture, which recognizes a responsibility to be good stewards of God’s creation and to examine questions of sustainability and justice. The program is intended to meet the growing need for agribusiness innovation and entrepreneurship, communication and public policy, crop
production, agricultural education and ministry and missions. To learn more about the Haupert Institute, visit www.huntington.edu/agriculture.
About DuPont Pioneer: Pioneer makes contributions to community-based organizations on behalf of the business and employees. Consideration for outreach grants is given to communities where Pioneer sales representatives, DuPont Pioneer employees and customers live and work and that support quality-of-life initiatives to create an improved, sustainable lifestyle for people worldwide.
About Huntington University: Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest, and Forbes.com has listed the university as one of America’s Best Colleges. Additionally, Princeton Review has named the institution a “Best Midwestern College.” Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in northeast Indiana. The university is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).