Alpha Zeta Partners (AZP) is a professional, honorary fraternity for students in the College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). After induction into AZP, first-year members complete a year-long program with goals around leadership development, developing individual leadership capacity for leading change in organizations and society.
This year-long program consists of four separate seminars. AZP members complete an initial seminar on Leadership and a second seminar on Community Building. Many consider the heart of the program is the third seminar: a six-week education abroad experience in Brazil. Students spend almost half their spring semester in an immersion learning experience that is a collaboration between CFAES and the University of Sao Paulo's Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ) in the state of Sao Paulo. The in-country programming includes coursework on Brazil, food and agriculture industry visits, service-learning, and a home stay with a Brazilian family. Through study, observation, and first-hand experience, students explore aspects of the history, culture, economy, agriculture, environment, and sustainability in Brazil. After returning to the U.S., students complete a final seminar in Washington D.C. to learn about organizational leadership and public policy.
After the year-long program, members of AZP stay involved with the organization through meetings, social events, service opportunities, and seeking ways that we can continue to further our leadership and access for all in order to serve the community around us and prepare ourselves for future careers in the professional world.
Alpha Zeta Partners First Year Experience
Initiation :
- Spring Semester
- Formal welcoming into the Townshend Chapter
- Information session for parents
Seminar 1: Personal Leadership Seminar
- Autumn Semester
- Identify personal leadership styles
- Develop effective leadership
- Increase capacity to utilize leadership skills
Seminar 2: Community Building Seminar
- Autumn Semester
- Develop greater sense of cultural awareness
- Increase adaptability to cultural differences
- Explore different cultures and religions
Seminar 3: Immersion Learning in Brazil
- January and February of 2020
- Six Weeks in Piracicaba, São Paulo
- The University of São Paulo Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ)
- Enrollment in 12 Credit Hours
- Objective is to experience a different culture, expand knowledge of global agriculture, and develop a global mindset
Seminar 4: Change and Policy Seminar
- Spring Break 2020
- Washington, D.C.
- Response to change within an organization and within your life
- Organizational Change
- Current Policy
Expenses
Endowment and special contributions will cover the cost of the leadership seminars. Some assistance will be available for the study abroad travel expense, but students will pay their normal tuition and a program fee of approximately $5,000, which includes airfare, in-country housing, transportation, and breakfasts for the study abroad portion. The tuition is for 12 credit hours at OSU. All financial aid and scholarships may be applied toward these fees. New members are also required to pay a National Alpha Zeta fee upon initiation of $95.