First cohort of NDSU Honors College learns to collaborate and lead with an abundance mindset

The next leaders in agriculture will need a foundation of curiosity, collaboration and humility. North Dakota State University is taking the first steps in laying that groundwork.

In May, NDSU announced the first cohort of the NDSU Honors College, created with the goal of preparing the next generation of leaders through a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach. Students examine how new technologies are built, governed and experienced.

With the first semester almost halfway done, students and faculty reflect on the first-of-its-kind academic experience at NDSU.

Andrew Moline is a first-year student from Blaine, Minnesota, studying microbiology and biotechnology. He says the Honors College sets itself apart with an “abundance mindset.”

“We’re learning that by working together, we can create diverse teams with different specialties and increase human flourishing around the world,” says Moline.

The concept is new to him, but he describes it as a mindset of optimism about what the world can accomplish together with existing resources, rejecting the idea that competition is at odds with collaboration.

NDSU Honors College students enroll in a curriculum blending classroom learning with hands-on research, mentorship and real-world problem-solving.

The Innovation and Imagination Challenge Studio course has a syllabus designed by the students. Moline describes it as a creative exploration-type studio course.

“The overall idea is that it’s not about learning content and being tested on it – it’s about us 30 students working together, being supported by the faculty to examine the world’s biggest problems,” says Moline.

The Honors College draws on a wide range of disciplines, from architecture to finance.

Learning from a variety of NDSU faculty as well as national and global thought leaders, students are challenged to think critically about the frameworks guiding technological progress.

“I think the Honors College ties back to NDSU’s land-grant mission about introducing everyone to university resources and spreading that knowledge across the state and elsewhere,” says Moline.

James Brown, founding executive director of the NDSU Honors College, says the students have been enthusiastic and engaged.

“These students don’t want to work on problems or develop solutions just for their own achievement,” says Brown. “They want to know what impact they will have, what unintended consequences occur, who benefits and who is potentially hurt or pays for a solution.

“The only way they can do this is by reaching outside their area of study and learning about other fields and other perspectives,” continues Brown.

Yuri Orth is a first-year student from Moorhead studying natural resource management and biology. She’s looking to study conservation, explore some field work and conduct research.

“It has immediately felt so natural to be with a group with such different backgrounds but the same drive to achieve and connect and make a difference,” says Orth.

She’s not yet sure exactly what she wants to pursue after graduating, but she has her heart set on bettering the environment and environmental policy. That’s why, she says, this cross-disciplinary approach of working with different majors gives her the freedom to find solutions to problems from different angles.

“The faculty and everyone we’ve met so far have been the most supportive and influential on our learning,” says Orth.

Orth says that, to her, the Honors College indicates that NDSU has the energy and vision to connect more with the community and “support the students who are really reaching for the stars.”

Brown points to agriculture as the quintessential cross-disciplinary field for feeding the world.

“From robots for precision agriculture, biology for increased yields, engineering for better sensors, nutrition for higher-quality food, politics for ensuring food gets to people, psychology for how people think about and approach food and nutrition – it all comes together in agriculture,” says Brown.

In addition to academic opportunities, students selected for the Honors College receive a scholarship that, for most students, covers the full cost of attendance. The scholarship removes financial barriers, allowing them to focus fully on their studies and research.

Read more about the NDSU Honors College