Department of Agricultural Education & Studies

AgEdS Learning Community

Learning Community

The AgEdS Learning Community is for freshman students majoring in Agricultural Education or Agricultural Studies. The overall goal of the learning community is to help students adjust to University life.

Specific objectives of the AgEdS Learning Community are:

Ease the transition to University life
Assist in the development of a network of resources and support
Career awareness and exploration

As a member of the AgEdS learning community participants will be involved in the following activities:

Common classes – Participants are enrolled in the same sections of courses.
Weekly seminars – Educational and fun-filled seminars planned by the peer mentors will be held weekly.
Fall field trip – An educational field trip is planned for early in the fall semester. The trip will focus on agribusiness sites with tours and presentations related to career development. The university covers costs for the trip.
Peer mentors – Two upper-class students in AgEdS are selected to provide a direct link to current students. Mentors coordinate the seminars, trips, and activities; additionally, they will be available to answer questions related to ISU, the department, and university life in general.
Faculty/staff involvement – Learning community participants will have the opportunity to interact with AgEdS faculty and staff.

Why should I sign up for the learning community? Specifically, learning community participants will:

Develop a time management plan
Learn effective note and test taking skills
Identify personal strengths and weaknesses
Understand the steps in the career development process
Find out what skills employers are seeking
Identify ISU academic and career resources
Establish a peer network of AgEdS students

How do I sign up for the learning community?

Enrollment for the AgEdS Learning Community will be on a first-come, first served basis. Interested students are asked to sign up by returning the registration form or by e-mailing your response to Mr. Michael S. Retallick. Special registration procedures will be provided at summer orientation.

Contact: Michael S. Retallick, Coordinator
AgEdS Learning Community
Department of Agricultural Education and Studies
Iowa State University
206 Curtiss Hall
Ames, IA 50011-1050
Fax: 515.294.0530
E-mail: msr@iastate.edu