Off-Campus Environments

In fulfillment of its land-grant mission to reach beyond the borders of its campus, Iowa State University actively uses sites across Iowa, the nation, and the world to provide learning opportunities for all constituencies.

Historically, Iowa State University Extension has led the institution in its engagement mission to Iowans. With 100 county offices and five outreach centers, Extension reaches the people of Iowa with education and information in six program areas. County Extension offices serve as the primary means of interaction with clients at the community level and function as the “front door” to the University. Over the past 10 years, county and area offices have been upgraded to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. Extension administration and locally elected Extension Councils are dedicated to increasing accessibility and visibility of off-campus learning environments.

Currently, there are 106 County and Regional Fairs in Iowa that operate as 4-H/FFA Achievement Shows and community fairs. Through the 4-H Youth Program, Extension staff work closely with state and local fair associations to provide a safe and positive educational setting. The primary focus of a county fair in Iowa is providing an event that highlights youth and their projects. County ISU Extension staff members ensure that appropriate educational opportunities occur during county, regional, and state fairs. At the county level, staff members are involved directly or indirectly in selecting qualified exhibit judges, organizing the exhibit evaluation event, and organizing special exhibits, workshops, or opportunities for 4-H members to offer public demonstrations of what they have learned. Extension staff members work with fair boards to make sure sufficient space and time is available during the county fair.

Fairs also have a major economic impact: in 2005, 19,753 4-H and FFA youth exhibitors entered 84,746 livestock projects in county and regional fairs; 19,401 youth entered 81,355 non-livestock projects. A total of $611,593 was paid to youth in premiums earned in 4-H/FFA competitions. Iowa county and regional fairs strive to adapt to the changing needs of today's youth, and ISU Extension is expanding the role of education at Iowa’s fairs. For example, ISU Extension staff prepares an exhibit for the Clay County Fair with approximately 12 to 15 educational displays focusing on production agriculture, value-added agriculture, and economic development. This regional fair in Spencer provides an opportunity to bring the resources of Iowa State University to nearly 300,000 fair visitors in northwest Iowa each year.

Iowa State operates 10 research and demonstration farms across the state and four satellite locations (no on-site staff). Farms are also operated near Ames for research and teaching activities. The farms are strategically located in major agro-climatic areas of the state. Various research and demonstration projects are conducted, providing site-specific information for agriculture. The farms are also used for hands-on learning events or field days. In 2005, 121 field days were held and 15,072 individuals visited the farms. Extension staff and the research farm staff managed the events. Due to budget reversions in the past five years, two farms have closed and farm staff has been reduced by approximately 30.

Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, and the University of Iowa through the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, cooperatively manage the Lakeside Laboratory. Offerings include courses for educators and students, research, and outreach events. Lakeside Lab is located on a 143-acre campus on West Okoboji Lake in northwestern Iowa, near the town of Wahpeton. Founded in 1909, Lakeside’s mission has been to provide students an opportunity for hands-on experience working with Iowa’s natural and human environments through field-oriented summer courses. Lakeside also provides research facilities and support for graduate students and faculty working on research projects in northwestern Iowa. In addition to full-immersion, three- and four-credit academic courses, Lakeside offers a variety of shorter courses that typically last only one or two weeks. Extended learning opportunities for all ages, as well as year-round activities for the general public are part of the offerings available at Lakeside. Additional information about academic courses and lifelong learning at Lakeside Lab can be found on the Web site.

Iowa State student participation in international study programs has grown by more than 350% from 318 in FY94 to 1,135 students in FY04. This increase is a response to program improvements implemented by Iowa State as part of its commitment to providing quality, international learning experiences. Students have more options on where and what to study (250-plus programs) and how long to remain abroad (semester and year-long programs are available). Other improvements include stronger college and department offerings (see college study abroad websites below), direct enrollment, faculty-led programs (in FY04 approximately, 776 students participated in 50 programs led by ISU faculty and staff), and service-learning opportunities. During FY04, Iowa State students studied in more than 45 countries on programs lasting from days to a full academic year. In FY05, Iowa State students studied on every continent including Antarctica.

Financial aid can be applied to the cost of study abroad and, for students earning at least three credits, study abroad tuition aid equal to 90% of Iowa State tuition can be applied. This arrangement accounts for approximately $500,000 per year of central administration support. An additional $100,000 per annum in scholarships is available through the Study Abroad Center, and significant scholarships are offered through individual colleges and departments. Faculty grants are available for site visits to establish new programs and to help defray costs when leading groups abroad. A procedure for program review through a Study Abroad and Exchange Advisory Committee is well established, and particular attention is given to matters related to health and safety. In addition to the services provided by the Study Abroad Center, students are well served by advisors in the colleges and by those colleges that have established study abroad or international programs offices.

• Agriculture
• Business
• Design
• Engineering
• Human Sciences:
(former) Education
(former) Family and Consumer Science
• Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Veterinary Medicine
• Study Abroad Center

National Student Exchange (NSE) is a consortium of colleges and universities in the United States, its territories, and Canada that facilitates exchange opportunities for students among its member campuses. Founded in 1968 as a not-for-profit education association, NSE provides alternative off-campus learning offerings for students who are not seeking a study abroad program. The program has placed more than 75,000 students. The program is a model for sharing academic resources among a nationwide network of colleges and universities. A major benefit of NSE is the expanded academic opportunities for students. Students view NSE as having more than 180 branch campuses with all the program resources those campuses provide. NSE offers students almost unlimited course choices in addition to instant access to ethnically different campuses including a significant number of Historically Black and Hispanic-serving colleges and universities. Iowa State joined the NSE consortium in 1997 and is among the top 10 schools placing students on exchange annually. Twenty-five percent of the students hosted on exchange at Iowa State eventually transfer to the university, fostering recruitment from new student markets.

The Iowa State NSE program is currently housed with Special Retention Programs within the Dean of Students Office and is completely self-supported by student application fees. Financial aid can be applied to the cost of an exchange. Allocation of additional resource space for the program is being planned within the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center, scheduled for completion in December 2006. More extensive marketing to students and academic departments should be initiated to maximize the resources and benefits of the program and achieve a 10% annual increase in student applications and participation.

The John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center is the location of the Des Moines Higher Education Collaborative. This is a partnership of Iowa State University, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, Grand View College, Drake University, Simpson College, and the Des Moines Area Community College. The Collaborative seeks to meet the continuing education needs of central Iowa’s businesses and their employees through broad professional development programming that emphasizes “best business practices” and continuing higher education. One example of successful efforts is The George Washington Carver Teacher Education program–based in the Des Moines Higher Education Collaborative–which was recognized with the Distinguished Credit Program Award by the Association for Continuing Higher Education Inc.