URI’s Coco Committee offers a unique blend of service, education, and animal care for URI students. Founded in Spring 2023, the club has grown to include 30–35 active members who participate in regular community outreach events, including nursing home visits and on-campus appearances, with a crew of goats in tow.

Open to all majors at URI, students gain hands-on experience with livestock care and event planning. Under guidance from Dr. Justine Deming, clinical associate teaching professor in URI’s Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences, members learn to navigate university protocols through the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), work closely with farm staff and veterinarians, and take on leadership roles in logistics and community outreach.

Last Friday, some members brought the club’s goats to visit with residents at Kingston’s Brookdale South Bay assisted living facility. From bathing and training the goats to managing transportation and guiding public interactions, students gain valuable, practical skills through these regularly scheduled events. Each nursing home visit begins with a short educational talk, giving members a chance to build confidence in public speaking while sharing fun animals facts.

“The safety and enjoyment of the residents at the nursing homes is of utmost importance and the students are careful to always have control of their goats and to offer guidance on how to interact with and feed the goats as well,” says Deming. “It’s a special opportunity to share our interests in animals with members of the community and bring a smile to many faces.”

The club is affectionately named after one of the groups’ goats, Coco.