March 14, 2016 Cooperatives and Their Impact on the Human Condition: Utilizing a Liberal Education Course to Communicate Across the University Dixie Watts Dalton NACTA Conference Dept. of Agricultural and Applied Economics Penn State Virginia Tech June 2010

2 Introduction What is a cooperative?

3 an organization owned and controlled by the people who use it

4 The need for co-op education Few students (citizens) have knowledge of the cooperative form of business Today’s students are tomorrow’s co-op members, co-op employees, leaders, and policy-makers

5 Prevalence of Co-ops Co-ops are prevalent in agriculture ~ 1/3 of ag products are sold through co-ops ~ 1/3 of ag inputs are purchased through co-ops Co-ops exist in many sectors: housing, food, credit, utilities, childcare, …

6 Implementation Given the importance of co-ops to our economy and society (and humanity), create a new course in cooperatives

7 Implementation Every Virginia Tech student must take courses in seven liberal education (Core Curriculum) areas Area 2 is the humanities: “Ideas, Cultural Traditions, and Values”

8 Audience: ag & non-ag Ag students often struggle to find a course of interest in Area 2 Being in the “Core” guarantees exposure across the university (especially since our department comes first alphabetically)

9 Cooperatives & Their Impact on the Human Condition Approvals took more than a year Department, college, & university curriculum committees University Core Curriculum Committee for inclusion in the Core

10 Challenges Convincing curriculum committees that the course belongs in the humanities area Focusing on cooperatives as a self-help mechanism

11 Challenges, once approved Initially attracting students Maintaining a discussion-based format as course size grows

12 It was worth the effort

13 Results: Students Are from all seven colleges at the university Fill the course to capacity each fall semester (capped at 60 to maintain discussion basis)

14 Results: Knowledge & Ability At start of course, often indicate NO knowledge of cooperatives At end of semester, show enhanced knowledge and appreciation of cooperatives Student teams identify an unmet need and indicate how they would create a cooperative to fill the need…real world application

15 Results Students learn a new business form Non-ag students get exposure to agriculture Ag and non-ag students, rural and urban students, interact and learn from each other

16 Results Course receives positive evaluations Students question why cooperatives aren’t more prevalent than they are

17 Results: Evaluation Highlights How did you learn about the course Timetable of classes: “Searched for Area 2 courses….this one looked interesting” Recommended by a friend Have had other courses with the teacher

18 Results: Evaluation Highlights Likes:  Class discussion  Laid-back atmosphere  Learning from peers Would you recommend the course to a friend?  Overwhelmingly yes

19 Applicability Take advantage of every opportunity to put agriculture in front of students Reach broad audiences It can be rewarding for students, teacher, department

March 14, 2016 Dixie Watts Dalton NACTA Conference Dept. of Agricultural and Applied Economics Penn State Virginia Tech June 2010 Cooperatives and Their Impact on the Human Condition: Utilizing a Liberal Education Course to Communicate Across the University