Plans are in place for another branch campus and major.
The branch campus will be located in Flagstaff, Arizona and is dedicated to a niche area of study that no other university in the world currently offers, officials say.
The new major is Butter Sculpture, which combines the arts and food sciences with a blast of creativity. This major will prepare students to efficiently and effectively create art under time constraints. It will prepare students to work in world class facilities and with confidence in their work. The job outlook for a degree in Butter Sculpture has been increasing in popularity and is expected to have a 13% growth rate by 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Construction will begin in the summer of 2026 and is anticipated to be ready for students in fall 2027. Similar to the current branch campus in Pittsburgh, it will begin with a single major because officials believe that is the best plan of action.
“Dedicating the campus to the art of sculpture gives students the ability to connect with each other and create an inviting environment for those passionate about the art and strong connection between dairy products and sculpture” said Moira Temark, Program Director of Butter Sculpture.
As this major is new and unique, Temark said dedicating an entire campus to it allows everyone involved to work together to make sure things run smoothly. She expects there will be some bumps in the road, but everything will be resolved as time goes on.
The university has also secured a deal with a major butter brand across the country, she said. Land O’ Lanes has agreed to supply students with products to use and learn from. The company will also offer internships to the top butter sculpture students in the program. Students will be able to see firsthand how this famous brand works to create the butter everyone has in their refrigerators and learn business skills along the way.
Additionally, students will learn how to make butter from scratch. This is appealing to the prospective students who bake or cook at home, Temark said. Many know how to follow a recipe, but learning how to make one of the most basic ingredients in many dishes is crucial.
“I’m excited to be able to learn the science and art behind sculpting butter because as a kid I always remember seeing the butter turkey at the Thanksgiving table,” said Jess Hillden, senior at Buren High School. Hilden is currently in the culinary arts program at her school and is looking forward to expanding and using her current skills to make beautiful art.
Those in the MU community have voiced their concerns about the location of this campus regarding its effects of warm temperatures especially in the heat of Arizona. Butter at warmer temperatures can make butter sculpting more difficult and harder to make intricate carvings and details. Furthermore, if the butter gets too warm, it can melt students’ projects which would ruin effortless hours of work. Officials have ensured that the campus will be equipped with high quality temperature systems with several backup generators in case electricity goes out.
Officials have plans to add a second major once the butter sculpting is up and running and fully accredited.