The Roads Scholars Tour is sponsored by the Offices of Outreach and Engagement and supported by the Office of the President, the Office of Continuing Education, and OSU Extension.

Roads Scholars Tour

“I never knew what ‘One University’ meant before I took this tour.” Past Roads Scholar

This 2-day traveling seminar is designed for faculty who are newly hired, newly tenured, or new to senior leadership positions. It takes you through Ohio to meet faculty who are working with community partners, talk with current and future Ohio State students, learn from business and community leaders, and get acquainted with other faculty who may be partners for future projects.

Blogs by participants

Photos and itineraries of Past Roads Scholars Tours

Short video of past tour stops: WMV file

Why Should You Become a Roads Scholar?

More than 700 Ohio State faculty members have gone on the tour since 1997. Roads Scholars applied their experiences by—

• Interacting/collaborating with colleagues met on the tour
• Discussing with colleagues what was learned on the tour
• Becoming involved with or enhancing outreach collaborations or efforts
• Visiting Ohio communities/sites or meeting with Ohioans
• Using what was learned in teaching and interacting with students
• Using what was learned to conduct or develop research

What past Roads Scholars say:

I would highly recommend the Roads Scholar Tour to every faculty member at OSU, whether you’re new to OSU or you’ve been here for years.

There is something for everyone to learn, and I am sure you’ll come away from the trip with a renewed interest, passion, and commitment for your teaching, research, service and above all your involvement with outreach and engagement to the community and society.

The Roads Scholars program confirmed the fact that we are not only doing good things, but we are doing things that the university values and encourages. It also taught me what the land-grant mission encompasses and opened my eyes to larger avenues of possible outreach.

The trip has been a fantastic experience in networking and collaboration.

What can I say about this trip other than wow? It was eye opening to me to see the quality and dedication of faculty and staff across Ohio State who are reaching out to their communities and the state.

As a new faculty member, I am coming away from this experience not only with many new contacts from my fellow scholars, but with many great ideas on how to work with the community around me.

I would do this again in a heartbeat. Not being from Ohio and not knowing the state, it was time that was very well spent.

I feel much more a part of the university now and also understand much better the importance of the outreach and engagement program.

I really appreciate the regional campuses and their contribution to Ohio even more.

I gained a new appreciation of the scope and impact of OSU across the state of Ohio. I share examples of this in my classes to help inform students about career possibilities that they might not have considered

It is great to take a step back and be able to mull the multiple possibilities available. There will be some positive actions and collaborations as a result of these 2 days.

Great program! Refreshing and a great way to recharge after the tenure process.

It made me feel more connected to this very large and diverse institution. That feeling has affected my willingness to be engaged in campuswide issues and see that my college is part of a larger academic culture.

I would love another chance to participate. This is the best faculty retreat.

The bigger sense of OSU and what it means to be a land-grant institution helped me properly place my institute and its efforts, as well as help me educate my bosses on the same.

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