CFAES Wooster new umbrella term for Ohio State location

Writer(s): 
New science building on the CFAES Wooster campus

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Wooster, Ohio has long played an important role for The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).

Two of its major components, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), and the two-year associate degree-granting program, the Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI), got their start there in 1892 and 1968, respectively.

While in past years, the research and student pieces have operated separately, new changes are afoot to unify the campus. A first step in ensuring this evolution is a name change to CFAES Wooster.

Changing the name of the campus will also produce shared resources, infrastructure, personnel, and equipment. “It allows us to think about this location as a full campus, rather than simply two components,” said Cathann A. Kress, vice president of agricultural administration and dean of CFAES. “It will brand the location as an integral part of CFAES and provide a gateway for Ohio State in northeast Ohio.”

OARDC has evolved to be the main research enterprise of the entire college, encompassing not just research in Wooster, but activities in Columbus and statewide – including outlying agricultural research stations located in Kingsville, Caldwell, Jackson, Willard, Fremont, Custar, Coshocton, and South Charleston.

“We have grown so that OARDC is broader than just the Wooster location,” Kress said. “And this campus is much broader, dedicated not only to research, but also to teaching and OSU Extension activities.”

A renaming and rebranding of the 4,200-acre campus as CFAES Wooster is but one of many planned changes. Road and campus signage will be updated along with campus infrastructure, such as roads and sidewalks, buildings, and laboratories.

“Unfortunately, the buildings and spaces designed in the past do not support newer ways to collaborate and innovate,” Kress said. “Through increased efficiencies, we are enriching the educational, extension, and research experiences for our students, faculty, staff, and clientele to interact more in modern, common buildings and spaces.”

Infrastructure enhancement and renovation capital projects have been underway since 2017.

In January 2021, a new ultramodern 60,000-square-foot, $33.5 million campus science building will be officially opened.

“This building has been a great bright spot,” said Anne Dorrance, CFAES associate dean and Wooster campus director. “To have faculty and students be able to perform cutting-edge research together in a building appropriate for the type of science we do now is really exciting.”

Seen as the new central hub of the Wooster campus, the science building will feature:

  • A first-floor café that will serve as a social gathering space—something that has been missing on campus; a large, divisible multipurpose room to support teaching, research, outreach, and community programs; and open seating and gathering space.
  • The Department of Entomology’s popular Bug Zoo will also move into the science building, which will allow the collection to be showcased for visitors and school groups.
  • Four entomology research labs for faculty and graduate students.
  • Two undergraduate chemistry teaching classrooms for ATI students.
  • The second and third floors will have offices, research labs, space for small conferences, and shell space to allow for additional growth.
  • Outdoor space will include an outdoor patio and pollinator garden.

“The teaching labs and classrooms are a big improvement over converting a research lab for teaching and will offer ATI students a shorter walk to chemistry labs,” Dorrance said. “It’s one of the first steps in bringing the campus together and incorporating our ATI colleagues into central campus.”

In addition to entomology, the CFAES Wooster campus includes representatives from the Departments of Animal Science, Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Horticulture and Crop Science, Plant Pathology, the School of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Food Animal Health Research Program.

“Current investments demonstrate a commitment from Ohio State and CFAES, but more is needed to remain competitive and to support our mission: We Sustain Life, not only related to agriculture, but also to food and environmental fields,” said Kress.

At present, 112 faculty and 356 staff are employed on the Wooster campus. Student enrollment includes 540 ATI undergraduates and 82 graduate students. As one of a handful of two-year agriculture programs in the nation and consistently ranked near the top, ATI offers a competitive advantage to CFAES.

Thirty-one programs of study provide career preparation that maintains a 99% job placement rate for all ATI graduates within four months of graduation. Many students who start at ATI also transfer to main campus in Columbus, taking advantage of CFAES’ goal of a seamless Buckeye experience. Last year, over 200 ATI students continued their studies in Columbus. 

CFAES Wooster is also a vital asset and catalyst for workforce development across the state of Ohio. Faculty and staff in both Wooster and Columbus have expertise in agricultural-related research, innovations, lifelong learning and continuing education, higher education, workforce development and technical education, and industry partnerships. Additionally, workforce certifications, trainings, and approximately 20 OSU Extension events are held in Wooster for community members each year.

“We want CFAES Wooster to be seen as a comprehensive campus, with impact, opportunities, and potential as a hub for discovery, innovation, learning, and partnerships,” said Kress.

Writer(s): 
Sherrie R. Whaley
614-292-2137
For more information, contact: 

Cathann A. Kress
kress.98@osu.edu
614-292-6164

Anne Dorrance
dorrance.1@osu.edu
330-202-3560