When Brigham Young University-Idaho implemented a series of academic restructuring changes earlier this month, university leadership renamed the College of Physical Sciences and Engineering to the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, also known as the College of STEM.

As part of that change, the school's Agriculture program was included in the College of STEM, something that isn't reflected by the college's name. BYUI students Savanna Moffatt, Jaylin Ward and Sofia Archer see this as a step backwards.

"If I would've never saw College of Agriculture, and just saw College of STEM, I would've completely skipped over this school," said Moffat, a 5th-semester student studying communication with a minor in animal science.

"If that's how unimportant [agriculture] is here, then [BYUI is] not important to me anymore," Moffat said.

"[Not having agirculture in the title] is almost diminishing," said Ward, a 2nd-semester student majoring in agribusiness with a minor in animal nutrition.

Agriculture is a big part of the history of the church. When Brigham Young moved the Saints out west in 1847, he emphasized it as essential for their survival and self-sufficiency.

"It's a big thing that can open a lot of doors for a lot of people," Ward said.

For Archer, who is a 2nd-semester student majoring in animal science with a minor in agribusiness, the College of Agriculture was a key reason why she decided to enroll here.

"I wanted to be able to surround myself around the church," said Archer. "...Diminishing the name and putting it into the little smaller category...when it's so much bigger than that to so many different people is really important."

The three students believe that the addition of Agriculture into the College of STEM, without the proper attention, can steer future BYUI students interested in agriculture away from the school.

"When you put agriculture into a smaller box," Moffatt said, "kids decide not to go to places like this where they can grow their testimonies and they end up falling away from the church."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the second-largest land owner in the United States with 1.7 million acres. In October 2024, the church acquired 46 farms and over 41,000 acres in Arkansas, Florida, Nebraska, and the Carolinas, among others.

"When you push [agriculture] out of the way," Moffatt said. "Who is going to work with that land? No one. It's not just my future I'm fighting for, it's the church's."

The College of Agriculture played a role in all three students’ decisions to attend the school, and each has benefited from that experience.

"Not only am I growing my faith and my testimony," Ward said. "But I'm growing my passion and my knowledge."

"If you would've told me six months ago that I would be where I'm at now," Archer said. "I probably wouldn't believe you."

After hearing about the change, Moffatt decided to create a petition to get the university to change the name from the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, to the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and Math, or the College of STEAM.

"Agriculture is now housed in BYU–Idaho’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics," the petition reads. "While this reflects the scientific and technical side of agriculture, the current college name leaves out the very field it represents."

The petition, which has over 180 signatures as of Jan. 15, was created after Moffatt realized that more people shared her frustration with agriculture not being represented in the College of STEM.

"Me and [Sofia] were driving...and we were talking about our passions for agriculture," said Moffatt. "I was like 'I can't believe they did that' and she's like 'yeah, I can't believe they did that!' and I was like 'wait, there's more people out here that feel like I do?'"

The biggest reason for the push from Moffatt and her friends is about being seen and heard.

"It's about visibility and respect for every farmer and rancher out there and everybody that works under the church," said Moffatt. "They deserve to be seen and heard."

"Agriculture is a daily reminder of all of God's gifts that He's given us," Ward said.

The petition, which can be found here, states that those who sign it support the request to have Agriculture officially recognized in the college's name and branding.

"This change would better reflect the students, faculty, and programs that make up the college and the important role agriculture plays at BYU–Idaho," the petition reads. "Your support helps make sure Agriculture has a visible place at the table."