College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Bailey Scholars Program

Want to know more about the Bailey Scholars Program? Check out our 2023-2024 annual report to learn more about Bailey, or visit our Flickr to see photos of us in action!

What is the Bailey Scholars Program (BSP)?

At its core, BSP is a learning community where each student, graduate, and faculty fellow design their own learning journey and achieve whole person development.  In this program, community members work towards fulfilling personal, professional, and academic goals. The program experience can be broken down into two main components: A minor in Leadership in Integrated Learning, and the Bailey Community itself.

Earning the Minor in Leadership in Integrated Learning

Every scholar's learning experience (courses and topics) are different. The Learning Vision Statement (LVS) is the foundation of a BSP experience. Each BSP Scholar creates their LVS, which reflects their personal, professional, and academic goals and their learning interests.  The LVS will be revisited each semester with the Learning Coordinator.

To attain the minor, a scholar is required to take 18 credits, split two ways:

• 9 credits of core courses
  • 3 courses, for 3 credits each
  • Classes are convened by one faculty member and one graduate student, not a professor.
  • The syllabus is created collaboratively, with the scholars (students) controlling the semester’s topics, the topics mode of learning, and how that learning will be assessed.
  • Flexible options available for students with very full semesters.
• 9 credits of electives (also known as Middle 9’s)
  • Electives chosen by you, the scholar.
  • Chosen based on how they further your learning goals that you identified in your LVS.
  • Can be from any department in the university.
  • Can be classes you already need for your major

During a scholar’s final year at MSU, they present their Learning Journeys to the rest of the community. This is the capstone experience in the BSP where the scholar typically provides evidence and reflection of their time in the BSP and at MSU.

Co-Curricular Activities

Co-Curricular Activities are valuable not-for-credit life experiences. These activities happen outside of the traditional classroom and are an integral part of a scholar’s minor of study. Examples of co-curricular activities may include an internship, volunteer experience, conference, or leadership positions.

Bailey Community

As a member of the Bailey Scholars Program, students have 24/7 access to Justin Morrill Hall of Agriculture which includes the BSP community space and classroom. They are free to study, nap, use the technology or kitchen area, or just stop by for a visit.

The BSP community space is stocked with a fridge, freezer, microwave, and toaster oven. There is always a bowl of snacks on the counter, and food like ramen, mac and cheese, and oatmeal is always accessible. The space is also the host of our frequent community lunches, where members of the community meet over food to bond and swap stories.

Financial scholarships are available exclusively to Bailey scholars for study away experiences. Additionally, each undergraduate may also apply for an annual Learning Allowance to support their goals as set forth in their Learning Vision Statements.

To learn more about all the ways students can become involved in the Bailey community, visit "Get Connected".

The Bailey Declaration

The Bailey Scholars Program seeks to be a community of scholars dedicated to lifelong learning. All members of the community work toward providing a respectful, trusting environment where we acknowledge our interdependence and encourage personal growth.

Bailey Principles

Our principles are the core teachings that we follow. Everything in the BSP is based on these. One principle is highlighted during each core BSP course. 

ANR 210 – COLLABORATIVE LEARNING COMMUNITY:

We are a dynamic, diverse, learning community.
We rely on our interdisciplinarity for the cultivation of authentic learning experiences.
We foster relationships through dialogue and accountability within a larger community by remaining a small collective of scholars.
We employ democratic decision making to conceptualize knowledge.
We are all co-learners who share multiple roles and responsibilities to foster the learning process.

ANR 310 – INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARS:

We welcome, value, learn from, and rely on diverse voices, stories, and experiences.
We cultivate exploration and creative thought.
We are radical thinkers who depend on self-reflection to deepen and stretch our learning.
We foster the holistic growth of the individual through, experience-centered, scholar-driven learning journeys.

ANR 410 – RADICAL INFLUENCE:

We are leaders and role models in the scholarship of student-centered, experiential learning.
We are intentional, critical, and reflective in our practices.
We question and challenge traditional power structures within and beyond the classroom.
We deliberately make space for diversity and individuality in learning.
We foster leaders in integrated learning.