Crop Sciences unveils new student collaboration space

The Department of Crop Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences has opened a new student collaboration space, located on the first floor of Turner Hall at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 

“We hope it builds a sense of community, not just within a class year, but across the program,” said Isaac Klimasmith, director of undergraduate programs for the department. “We want our students to think of themselves as students in the major and not just kind of bouncing along on their own.”

Klimasmith raised the idea, secured funding from the ACES teaching enhancement grant, and developed the space. He said it's meant to foster connection across students — and staff — in the department. 

“It’s a launching point for our students outside of the classroom,” said Adam Davis, head of crop sciences. “We’re here to support them at all times: this space lets students study, collaborate, build community, and easily connect with faculty and staff beyond class.”

With a large conference table, comfy seating, snacks, laptops, graphing calculators, textbooks, and more, the space is a multi-purpose home for anybody in crop sciences. Beyond pre-packaged snacks, crop sciences assistant professor James Santiago has set up a vertical hydroponics system that will grow lettuce and fresh greens for students to build their own salads. 

It will be staffed full-time, whether by Klimasmith himself, advisers, graduate student staff, or student ambassadors. Graduate students will also hold their office hours in the space, so undergraduates have a centralized place to convene.

The space will serve as a place for prospective students and their families to visit and get answers to any questions they may have, too. 

“It’s a place for everybody,” Klimasmith said. “I really hope all the pieces come together to create an environment where students know that they have a team of people who really want to see them supported and successful.”