Recruitment, retention, and graduation are important issues facing academic departments at universities around the country, including Animal Science. A recent Gallop survey indicated that students want college to prepare them for a career that provides purpose. Their recommendations echoed previous surveys that student engagement and interaction with, and mentoring by, faculty enhance student preparation and purpose. The University of Connecticut (UConn) has developed programmatic areas, including First Year Experience (FYE) and Career Everywhere, to improve engagement between faculty and students. This enhanced engagement, in turn, leads to Life Transformative Education (LTE). The overarching theme of LTE is that undergraduate education engenders identity, agency, and purpose in students through authentic and inclusive learning experiences, and emotionally supportive advising and mentoring. These programs are designed to build community by enhancing interactions between faculty and students in individual or small group environments. In Animal Science, this typically includes student-led research and independent study projects, and group experiences in hands-on courses. At UConn, incoming freshman join the Animal Science Learning Community. This one-credit seminar class is facilitated by a senior faculty member and is designed to assist students with the transition into the major, and for students to get to know each other in an open and safe environment. Further, with the understanding that faculty and staff are actively involved in student career development, the Career Everywhere program was developed to train faculty and staff as Career Champions to more directly assist students in identifying and reaching their career goals. In total, these programs transition students into the major, and provide opportunities for faculty mentoring and experiential learning leading to LTE, which prepares students for a career that provides purpose.
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