More ATI students planning bachelor's degrees

Since Ohio State University's Agricultural Technical Institute first began offering Associate of Science (transfer) degrees in 1996, the percentage of the student body enrolled in A.S. programs has increased every year. This year, for the first time in ATI's history, there are more new students enrolled in A.S. programs than in Associate of Applied Science programs. ATI currently offers 11 Associate of Science degrees and 17 Associate of Applied Science degrees.
As admission to the Columbus campus becomes more competitive, more students are being funneled to the regional campuses and ATI, which are open-admission. Some intend to transfer to the Columbus campus after one year, which they can do if they earn a GPA of 2.0 or better. But for many students, ATI is their first choice.
"It was set in stone that I was going to go to Ohio State," said first-year student Caitlyn Russell of Wellsville. "But I chose to start at ATI because I like the smaller atmosphere. I knew it would be an easier transition for me. And I love it here." Russell is majoring in pre-agricultural education. When she graduates with her Associate of Science degree, she will have completed half the requirements for a bachelor's degree in agricultural education.
Stephen Nameth, ATI director, sees the trend as dovetailing perfectly with Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut's 10-year strategic plan for higher education in Ohio. "The plan sets very specific goals for increasing the number of students who complete two- and four-year degrees, and our enrollment patterns will contribute to the achievement of those goals." At 723, ATI's autumn quarter enrollment is about 5 percent larger than autumn quarter of last year. -- Frances Whited

Renovation, expansion slated for ATI conservatory

One would expect any 82-year-old to show signs of age, and the tropical plant conservatory at Ohio State University's Agricultural Technical Institute is no different. The Wooster campus landmark, which was built in 1926, will be getting a much-needed facelift as part of a three-phase renovation and expansion project.
The conservatory was originally located on an estate in Mansfield. In 1974, ATI acquired the building, which was carefully taken apart and moved piece-by-piece to Wooster, where students, faculty, and staff reconstructed it.
Over the summer, the brick foundation was repaired and repointed (the mortar renewed), and Greenhouse Coordinator Doug Schuster and Professor Gary Anderson undertook a renovation of the plant collection itself. Every specimen was repotted in a terra-cotta-colored container to provide a clean and uniform look to the hundreds of plants in the collection. Schuster and Anderson also reconstructed the water garden and redesigned the decorative plant display areas.
Phase I of the renovation will also include repair and repainting of the iron framework of the front building, installation of a new environmental control system, and glazing with blue glass similar to the original, almost all of which was lost in the move from Mansfield.
In Phase II of the project, a small brick structure will be added to the back of the conservatory to provide storage space and an area to stage displays before they are installed. An outdoor courtyard is also planned. The final phase of renovation will include the repair of the framework and glass in the back building.
The estimated cost for the renovation, which will be completed over a number of years as funds become available, is more than $200,000. -- Frances Whited

New Learning Center takes teaching to the next level

A gift in honor of one of the dairy industry's leaders has brought the latest in educational technology to a classroom at Ohio State University's Agricultural Technical Institute. The Henry C. Gelbke Learning Center is named in honor of a registered Holstein dairy producer from Vienna, Ohio. The Learning Center allows students to benefit from the latest technology in teaching the science of dairy production and management.
In addition to a newer, more powerful computer, the Learning Center is equipped with a Sympodium, an interactive pen display that enables the user to write over slides, save notes, access web sites or multimedia files, and project work onto a screen.
An AirLiner, a wireless slate, can interact with the Sympodium from anywhere in the room. Using the slate, a student could select answers to a projected quiz, or a professor could control his or her presentation from the back of the classroom. A new lectern, sound system, and document camera enhance the capabilities of the Sympodium and AirLiner. Notes or diagrams can be saved as digital files and uploaded to Carmen, Ohio State's learning management system, so students can access them at any time. -- Frances Whited

ATI to host NACTA judging conference

In April 2009, hundreds of students from two- and four-year colleges and universities from all over the United States will converge on the campus of Ohio State University's Agricultural Technical Institute for the 2009 NACTA Judging Conference. Sponsored by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, this annual three-day event includes agricultural competitions, with teams and individuals competing for a variety of awards.
Five competitions are held every year (livestock, soils, crops, dairy, and the quiz bowl), with the host institution having the option of adding other competitions. In 2009, additional contests will include agricultural business management, computer applications, horse care and management, horse judging, horticulture, and power and equipment.
Most contests include both a written examination and a practical component. In the crops lab practical, for example, contestants will identify common crop diseases and insects,  evaluate crop quality by ranking samples, and recognize symptoms of common crop nutrient deficiencies.
The judging conference will also include field trips to local agricultural businesses and area attractions, with a closing banquet to recognize contest winners. "We are really looking forward to showcasing ATI, Wooster, and Wayne County," said ATI Director Stephen Nameth. "It's going to be an exciting three days." -- Frances Whited