Scarlet and Gray Excellence (SAGE) is a learning community that forms an academic and social cohort to support first-year students in achieving academic success and develop a sense of belonging on campus to increase retention. Through its emphasis on communities and self-awareness, students will strengthen their leadership skills and work towards increasing respect for differences. Students will be immersed in a curriculum that considers different cultures and realities. Students, who participate in SAGE can expect to work closely with an academic success coach and peer mentors as they learn about study skill strategies, take core classes in a cohort-based model, participate in private group study table sessions to build a team of support.
Additionally, students will gain the opportunity to make connections with SAGE faculty members to enrich their overall experience. Students take four common courses throughout the year, which includes two general education courses, and two arts and science courses specifically designed for students in SAGE. Students take only two courses with SAGE in each semester which allows them the opportunity to take major specific courses as well.
The learning community creates opportunities for students to form partnerships with each other and build professional connections. Student-centered social and unique personalized cohort events are designed to create opportunities for exposure and social connectedness.
Who
are the participants?
- Making connections with faculty are important for students who want to experience success academically and within their major.
- Students who are interested in connecting their personal experiences with the curriculum in the learning community courses.
- Students are in their first-year of college. Students who participate in college preparatory programs and enrolled in college courses while in high school are not eligible.
- 40 applicants will be accepted.
Benefits include:
- Students will have the opportunity to engage in out-of-class experiences and trips for hands-on applications to courses and different majors.
In the past, students have engaged in some of the following experiences:
- Overnight trip to OSU’s very own Stone Lab research island in conjunction with the Introduction to Environmental Science course
- Tour of the Columbus campus to prepare students who plan to campus change
- Visiting the Cleveland Museum of Art with the Buckeye Generation Learning Community
- Visited Washington D.C. to see different museums and the D.C. mall area
- Attended the “Black Violins” concert at Midland Theatre
- Peer mentors plan social and unique personalized cohort events for participants to build strong connections with their peers
- Immersed in a curriculum focused on communities and self-awareness taken together as a cohort, create a unique learning environment and opportunity for students to fulfill general education requirements for all majors while also participating in exciting hands-on learning experiences
- Support for the transition to the Columbus campus, if that is your plan
- Students can receive a $500 academic scholarship if they submit their application by the May 1st deadline
Application process
- Students interested in becoming a member of Scarlet and Gray Excellence should complete the SAGE Application for full consideration.
- Applicants are encouraged to pay their Ohio State Newark Acceptance Fee for full consideration for SAGE.
Student Testimonials
“I liked the number of events that we had. I think that SAGE, specifically, is very important because there aren’t a lot of other spaces that we can talk about our personal experiences or struggles and be understood.”
“I made great friendships that will carry out onto [Columbus] campus. I learned a lot through the classes and trips we took and enjoyed the challenge of getting to know people with different backgrounds.”
