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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Rangeland Resources & Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #305772
Title: Undergraduate range management exam: 1999-2014

Author
item Derner, Justin
item CROWDER, JESSICA - State Of Wyoming
item SMITH, MAE - University Of Wyoming
item PLECHATY, TAMARAH - Crow Valley Livestock Cooperative

Submitted to: Rangelands
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/10/2019
Publication Date: 3/30/2015
Citation: Derner, J.D., Crowder, J., Smith, M., Plechaty, T. 2015. Undergraduate range management exam: 1999-2014. Rangelands. 37(1):26-38.

Interpretive Summary: The Undergraduate Range Management Exam (URME), administered by the Society for Range Management, assesses higher order learning skills and synthesis knowledge of the art and science of rangeland management by undergraduate students representing schools/universities from all of North America (Canada, USA, and Mexico). The multiple choice exam is composed of six subject categories: 1) Range Ecology, 2) Grazing Management, 3) Range Improvements, 4) Range Regions, 5) Range Inventory and Analysis, and 6) Multiple-use Relationships on Rangelands. Students from three universities/ colleges (Brigham Young University, University of Alberta and University of Wyoming) have won 11 of the 16 individual honors from 1999-2014. The University of Alberta (7 top finishes) and Brigham Young University (5 top finishes) have dominated the team competition over the past 16 years. Technological advances associated with mobile devices (e.g., iPad) provide the pathway forward to move from paper to interactive tests that incorporate pictures, videos and simulations/models to provide real-life demonstrations/experiences to students in the “art and science” of range management.

Technical Abstract: The Undergraduate Range Management Exam (URME) has been administered to undergraduate students at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management since 1983, with students demonstrating their higher order learning skills and synthesis knowledge of the art and science of rangeland management. The multiple choice exam is composed of six subject categories: 1) Range Ecology, 2) Grazing Management, 3) Range Improvements, 4) Range Regions, 5) Range Inventory and Analysis, and 6) Multiple-use Relationships on Rangelands. Students from three universities/ colleges (Brigham Young University, University of Alberta and University of Wyoming) have won 11 of the 16 individual honors from 1999-2014. The University of Alberta (7 top finishes) and Brigham Young University (5 top finishes) have dominated the team competition over the past 16 years. Technological advances associated with mobile devices (e.g., iPad) provide the pathway forward to move from paper to interactive tests that incorporate pictures, videos and simulations/models to provide real-life demonstrations/experiences to students in the “art and science” of range management.