Progress 01/15/22 to 01/14/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The Microbiome Science as a Pathway to Success program at Colorado State University serves students, faculty and staff within the microbiome disciplinary realm. The program builds on a history of collaborative inter-disciplinary research and education at CSU among the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory (NREL), the Microbiome Network (>40 scientists), the Access Center, and the Office of the VP for Student Affairs. The program will provide scholarships of $6,500 per year for up to four years to five students (MSP Fellows) from first-generation and/or low-income backgrounds from groups under- represented in food, agriculture, and human sciences, conservation and natural resources, and Water Sciences. Students will be recruited from 12 CSU Alliance Partnership and USDE-funded TRIO high schools in Colorado, the majority of which are in rural districts that CSU has identified as schools of high needs. MSP Fellows will select one of seven Microbiome Network-supported majors: Animal Science, Biomedical Sciences, Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Environmental Health, Microbiology, Soil and Crop Science, and Watershed Science. The Microbiome Network represents a transdisciplinary platform for training the next generation of STEM scientists across multiple disciplines and career paths, and the fellows will be associated with three CSU colleges through their majors: College of Agricultural Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and the Warner College of Natural Resources. Scientists within CSU's Microbiome Network study the functional and structural basis of microbiomes, and their ecological relevance and applications to human, animal, plant and soil biology, agricultural sciences, and environmental systems. Training in microbiome-related fields involves specialized content knowledge, modern field and laboratory techniques, and the computational and analytical skills to work with massive datasets. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The program provided each student with assistance in establishing, or in the case of continuing students, updating their academic program plan to align with their career goals. The academic plans included the development of their courseselection and sequence within their major, the enrollment in a minor where appropriate, and the identification of co-curricular activities (e.g., internships, research opportunities, and specialized training) in support of their academic plan. We helped students identify additional campus resources to enhance their education,including a paid internship opportunity through theCSU Office of Inclusive Excellence (Student #1) and a study abroad semester in Australia (Student #3). We provided professional development training on communication skills to share their research findings and internship experiences with the campus community. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Students presented their research and internship experiences at the Celebrating Undergraduate Research and Creativity conference in Spring 2023 and the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?For the next reporting period, we plan on selecting additional students and working with these students to develop their academicplan. For current students, we will provide academic well-checks through advising support and help facilitate theirinvolvement in the co-curricular activities discussed above.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We focused primarily on Objectives 1-4 during the reporting period. We met regularly with current students and their home departments to provide the them with the proposed educational experiences and professional development training per Objectives 2-4. We selected an additional student and worked with the students to develop and refine their academic plan. During this reporting period one students graduated (Student #2), two students are thriving and maintained their MSP fellowships (Student # 3 and Student #4), and one student left the program (Student #1). Below are profiles of each student. Student #1 White/Hispanic-Latina, First Generation Animal Science Major Conservation Biology Minor Junior Class Standing CSU GPA 2.7 While this student lived on campus in her first year of studies, she would travel home to Denver on weekends to assist her mother, who is providing care for a sibling with severe learning disabilities. In her second year at CSU, she lived with her family in Denver and traveled to CSU for her courses. The demands of her personal life coupled with a difficult commute to/from campus took a toll on her academic standing. After her CSU GPA fell below the required minimum for the USDA MSP grant, we worked with her for two consecutive semesters to provide additional advising and tutoring support under the provisions of the grant, but her GPA continued to decline. Subsequently, she lost financial support through the USDA MSP grant in AY 22-23. However, our work with her helped create new support connections and leadership opportunities at CSU. In May 2023, she was funded by the CSU Office of Inclusive Excellence to serve as a student representative from CSU at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity. Student #2 White/Hispanic-Latino, First Generation Animal Science Major Senior Class Standing, Graduated Spring 2023 CSU GPA 3.95 This student completed his final year of studies at CSU in AY 22-23. During his senior year, he took a research position in CSU's Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences with one of the faculty supporting the USDA MSP student participants as well as a funded student position with the City of Fort Collins in aquatic biology. He presented his research on campus as part of the Celebrating Undergraduate Research and Creativity conference in Spring 2023. In Spring 2023, he was accepted to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program in the CSU College of Veterinary Medicine to begin studies in Fal 2023. Student #3 White/Hispanic-Latino Animal Science Major Agricultural Business and Global Environmental Sustainability Minors Sophomore Class Standing CSU GPA 3.48 The student continued to thrive at CSU in her major and double minor. She aspires to work in agricultural sustainability and was placed in an undergraduate research experience in Fall 2022 within the Department of Animal Science at CSU. In the research placement, she focused on nutrition in cattle. In Spring 2023, she studied abroad in Australia. Student #4 Multiple Racial Identities, First Generation Ecosystem Science & Sustainability Major Environmental & Natural Resource Economics Junior Class Standing CSU GPA 3.77 An Honors student new to the USDA MSP program this year but not new to CSU, this student not only began her thesis-related research, but she also took part in an internship with CSU's Foundation Seed program as part of CSU Extension. She engaged in both field and lab-based experiences in agricultural sciences as part of the placement. Following completion of her internship, she was employed by the CSU Soils Lab working with faculty in both agricultural and natural resource sciences. She presented his research on campus as part of the Celebrating Undergraduate Research and Creativity conference in Spring 2023.

Publications

Progress 01/15/21 to 01/14/22

Outputs
Target Audience:The Microbiome Science as a Pathway to Success program at Colorado State University serves students, faculty and staff within the microbiome disciplinary realm. The program builds on a history of collaborative inter-disciplinary research and education at CSU among the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory (NREL), the Microbiome Network (>40 scientists), the Access Center, and the Office of the VP for Student Affairs. The program will provide scholarships of $6,500 per year for up to four years to five students (MSP Fellows) from first-generation and/or low-income backgrounds from groups under-represented in food, agriculture, and human sciences, conservation and natural resources, and Water Sciences. Students will be recruited from 12 CSU Alliance Partnership and USDE-funded TRIO high schools in Colorado, the majority of which are in rural districts that CSU has identified as schools of high needs. MSP Fellows will select one of seven Microbiome Network-supported majors: Animal Science, Biomedical Sciences, Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Environmental Health, Microbiology, Soil and Crop Science, and Watershed Science. The Microbiome Network represents a transdisciplinary platform for training the next generation of STEM scientists across multiple disciplines and career paths, and the fellows will be associated with three CSU colleges through their majors: College of Agricultural Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and the Warner College of Natural Resources. Scientists within CSU's Microbiome Network study the functional and structural basis of microbiomes, and their ecological relevance and applications to human, animal, plant and soil biology, agricultural sciences, and environmental systems. Training in microbiome-related fields involves specialized content knowledge, modern field and laboratory techniques, and the computational and analytical skills to work with massive datasets. Changes/Problems:We adapted our original recruitment plan to include virtual presentations given the statewide COVID restrictions on in-personlearning in Colorado high schools. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The program provided each student with assistance in establishing, or in the case of continuing students, updating their academic program plan to align with their career goals. The academic plans included the development of their course selection and sequence within their major, the enrollment in a minor where appropriate, and the identification of co-curricular activities (e.g., internships, research opportunties, and specialized training) in support of their academic plan. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?For the next reporting period, we plan on selecting an additional student and work with the student to develop their academic plan. For current students, we will provide academic well-checks through advising support and help facilitate their involvement in the co-curricular activities discussed above.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We focused primarily on Objectives 1 and 2 during the reporting period. We developed our recruitment and application plan for identifying and selecting students. We refined the plan to include virtual meetings and presentations given the COVID restrictions in place at the University and partner high schools. We conducted virtual and in-person school visits during the spring and fall semesters, meeting with teachers, academic advisors and prospective students at our Alliance Partner and TRIO High Schools. We conducted in-person meetings with in-coming freshmen from the partner schools that were participating in the summer bridge program at CSU. During this reporting period we awarded three students (Student #1, Student #2, and Student #3) MSP fellowships. We worked with the students to develop and refine their academic plans. Below are profiles of each student. Student #1 - Accepted to USDA MSP in Fall 2021. Animal Science Major, Conservation Biology Minor. Sophomore Class Standing. CSU GPA 3.15. White/Hispanic-Latina. First Generation This student is from the Denver Metro area and is attending CSU as a first-generation student. The oldest of several siblings, the student travels home to Denver on weekends to assist her mother with childcare for a sibling with severe learning disabilities. She aspires to be a veterinarian. The student has taken part in specialized academic advising support offered through the USDA MSP and has been connected to a CSU Financial Aid Office counselor to receive specialized financial support resources for her CSU financial aid package. Student #2 - Accepted to USDA MSP in Spring 2022. Animal Science Major. Senior Class Standing. CSU GPA 3.94. White/Hispanic-Latino. First Generation This student is in his final year of studies at CSU and was identified as eligible for the USDA MSP in Spring 2022 through a partnership between CSU's USDA MSP leadership and the CSU Financial Aid Office. The student has excelled in his time at CSU and has participated in a Pre-Veterinary program of study in relation to his major in Animal Science. Student #3 - Accepted to USDA MSP in Spring 2022. Animal Science Major, Agricultural Business and Global Environmental Sustainability Minors. Sophomore Class Standing. CSU GPA 3.43. White/Hispanic-Latino. This student is in her second year of studies at CSU and was identified as eligible for the USDA MSP in Spring 2022 through a partnership between CSU's USDA MSP leadership and the CSU Financial Aid Office. The student is very focused on her academic experience and is opting to take two minors of study in addition to her major in Animal Sciences. She aspires to work in agricultural sustainability.

Publications