Goal 1. Teaching and Learning: Provide interdisciplinary, experiential education about sustainable food and agriculture subjects for professional and personal application through existing and new courses and integration of a student-centered, working farm.
Goal 2. Research and Discovery: Continually foster exploration, creativity and innovation across the food system for students, faculty and staff.
Goal 3. Outreach and Engagement: Connect with area farmers and community members through co-curricular learning and discovery.
Goal 4. Administration and Operations: Cultivate strong institutional support and internal leadership that ensures integration into university operations for an enduring program.
Program History
From 2013-2016, we convened a series of listening sessions that shaped the elements of the Sustainable Food Systems Network at Penn State. From the beginning, members of our learning community emphasized that the program be student-centered and should stand on three legs. First, a Food Systems minor offers interdisciplinary and engaged learning, second, at the center of the Food Systems curriculum is the Student Farm, and third, an active engagement and outreach program connects the campus community with the interests and needs of the broader community in which it is nested.
The program director, a core group of faculty and an enthusiastic group of student leaders established the many academic and engagement initiatives of the program. The thriving Student Farm Club was established by students in August 2015. In spring 2016, we broke ground and launched the Student Farm at Penn State on a pilot site on Penn State’s University Park campus. Now, the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm has expanded to 4 acres, has Food Systems Coordinator and Education and Operations Manager staff positions and organizes engaging programs across the campus and community.
Program History
Experience a Day on the Student Farm
Our History Through Images
Our History Through Images