Creating a Heart of Campus

When someone says The Ohio State University, for most, we think about cheering on our beloved Buckeyes, “O-H!” For others, the Columbus campus, the Wexner Medical Center, research, or agriculture come to mind. With six campuses across the state, along with Ohio State Extensions in all 88 counties, The Ohio State University brings a breadth of knowledge and resources, and Wayne County is stronger because of the Wooster Campus.

Originally named the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, The Ohio State University was founded in 1870 as a land-grant university in accordance with the Morrill Act of 1862, in which the state received grants in the form of federal land. The state used the proceeds from selling the land to establish a public institution, fulfilling the act’s provisions, and eventually becoming Ohio State University.

Focusing on various agricultural and mechanical disciplines, Ohio State developed into a comprehensive university under the direction of then-Governor and later U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes, and in 1878, the Ohio General Assembly passed a law officially changing the name and broadening the scope of the university.

In the 1880s there was a push for agricultural experiment stations, and in 1882, the Ohio General Assembly established the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, which occupied 17 acres on Ohio State’s Columbus campus for ten years. With growth in Columbus, it was getting difficult to expand, so different counties put in bids to move the Station. With the help of the county commissioners, the Agricultural Experiment Station relocated to 470 acres in Wayne County in 1892, officially coming to Wooster. 

In 1965, the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station officially changed its name to the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) to more accurately reflect its mission and programs. Formally merging with Ohio State in 1982, today it encompasses nearly 4,200 acres in Wayne County with 10 branches across the state for a total of approximately 7,100 acres dedicated to agricultural research.

Similar to the four regional campuses of Ohio State, the Wooster Campus is structured differently than the others. It’s a campus of a specific college within the university, the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). The campus also features a two-year associate degree-granting program, the Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI).

Consisting of 4,200 acres, the campus includes a central campus, Beef Facility, Dairy Facility, Swine Facility, Land Laboratory, Equine Center and the Grace L. Drake Agricultural Laboratory.

With just over 300 faculty and staff, 90 graduate students and approximately 500 undergraduate students, The Ohio State University CFAES Wooster Campus focuses on three mission areas, research, teaching, and Extension, and is dedicated to one essential purpose: to sustain life.

“Our biggest success is training students to help fulfill our mission,” said Andy Michel, Associate Dean and Director of the CFAES Wooster Campus.

Michel, who has been associate dean and director since January of 2023, is an entomologist. “It all started with my insect collection while growing up in Chicago,” stated Michel. A graduate of Purdue University, Michel’s dad questioned him as to what he was going to do with a degree in entomology. “Therefore, I decided to continue my studies at the University of Notre Dame where I studied mosquitos, combining medical with entomology,” continued Michel.

Michel started with the university in 2007 when Ohio State was looking for an entomologist to work with crops. “I transitioned from mosquitos to ag insects,” said Michel. “I helped provide solutions to insect problems with new technologies and new control tactics.”

A leader in the entomology department on the Wooster Campus; it was an easy transition to director of the CFAES Wooster Campus. “The CFAES Wooster Campus is a close-knit research community with a real emphasis to collaborate,” said Michel. “When the former director announced her retirement, I knew it was my chance to continue the emphasis on this collaboration and with our stakeholders as well,” continued Michel. “It’s been really good to interact with our local partners and farming community.”

“Our enrollment is up, and our retention rates are among the highest of Ohio State’s regional campuses,” stated Michel. “With increasing urban agriculture; our numbers have been growing.”

As a regional campus of the university, the tuition rates are lower than main campus. “It’s a great way to get an Ohio State education at a reduced rate,” said Michel. “Over half of our students will transition to the Columbus Campus to continue their education, so we’re able to offer them a savings the first two years.”

“Our staff has done an amazing job reaching out and making students and prospective students feel welcome on campus,” said Michel. “Not only do we see a lot of first-generation college students, but current college freshman were juniors and seniors in high school through Covid, so they need a little extra care to help them progress,” continued Michel. “It’s our goal to see all students succeed.”

The CFAES Wooster Campus has seen a shift from PowerPoint presentation style teaching in brick-and- mortar buildings to hands on experiential learning. “There are serious issues in agriculture and

manufacturing today, along with other industries. These issues are complex and need individuals who have interdisciplinary, teamwork and collaborative skills. The university provides these skills.”

Recently, the CFAES Columbus and Wooster Campuses each received a state-of-the-art Trimble Technology Lab. Trimble, headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, built the multidisciplinary labs to enhance the university’s hands-on learning, teaching, research, and outreach activities in food, agricultural engineering and construction management. “Trimble recognized the importance of providing training for our students and becoming an engaged community partner,” said Michel.

In the last few years, there’s been a shift to bring the campus together. Cathann Kress, Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Dean, CFAES, has shifted the mindset of one campus, one college, one university. “A sidewalk was constructed to connect central campus to ATI,” said Michel. “This symbolized what we’re doing. We want there to be more of a campus feel, providing students with the college experience and ending this historical separation on campus.”

Along with bringing the campus together, Ohio State’s CFAES Wooster Campus is also hoping to connect the community to campus. “In the next five to ten years, the community will see some changes and updates, as we build the heart of campus,” said Michel. “Just like our new science building, we’re hoping these future changes continues to bring the campus together.” Future projects include renovations to

the Fisher Auditorium classrooms, adding a new academic building, a new student activity center, new residence halls and a new bookstore. Outdoor projects include walking paths to connect Secrest

Auditorium to the central campus, a soccer pitch, completing the disc golf course and adding a three- hole golf course, bringing back turf management research on campus.

An investor in the Wayne Economic Development Council, The Ohio State University CFAES Wooster Campus is a vital asset to this area, and Wayne Countians are proud to have an Ohio State campus in our backyards, “I-O!”

To learn more about the CFAES Wooster Campus, please visit wooster.osu.edu.