50 years of shaping students
The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Learning Community is celebrating its 50th anniversary this academic year.
In 1971, the CFAES Learning Community began as the Agriculture and Natural Resources Living-Learning Program (LLP). During its first year, the LLP was available only to male students. But due to its popularity, the community quickly changed its policy, and the following school year it was available to both male and female students.
The first 10 years held substantial growth for the LLP. Student numbers expanded, the residence halls hosted “floor dinners,” and a designated study space was created for students.
Today, the CFAES Learning Community continues its mission by providing first- and second-year students with majors in CFAES the opportunity to live with students in similar areas of study. One of the program’s main goals is to help make the transition from high school to college easier.
To achieve this goal, the CFAES Learning Community helps students gain access to new resources and experiences. Students in this program have the chance to meet with industry professionals and Ohio State alumni and to attend group trips. The learning community also helps students form strong friendships early in their college career.
“It really sets the stage for how students start to perform throughout their entire college career,” said Academic Program Coordinator Sarah Williams. “They’re making friends, getting connected early on, and networking.”
Over the past 50 years, hundreds of students, like Joe Gryboski, have been able to feel the impact of living in the CFAES Learning Community. Gryboski is a third-year student studying animal science nutrition and currently serves as a resident advisor for the learning community. He is also president of the CFAES Undergraduate Student Council.
“Living in the CFAES Learning Community was one of the best choices that I made when I came to Ohio State,” said Gryboski. “It expanded my learning past the classroom walls by allowing me to live and learn with students that came from diverse backgrounds.”
In the future, the CFAES Learning Community hopes to offer even more resources for its students. Specifically, Williams would like to implement an early arrival program for students in the learning community. This would allow them to become more familiar with campus and their peers before beginning classes.
If you are interested in learning more about participating in the CFAES Learning Community, visit this link for more information.