Source: University of Puerto Rico - Utuado submitted to
TRAINING PROFESSIONAL TREE SPECIALISTS AT UPR AT UTUADO
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1030597
Grant No.
2023-67037-40096
Cumulative Award Amt.
$630,000.00
Proposal No.
2022-10049
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jun 1, 2023
Project End Date
May 31, 2026
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[A7601]- Agricultural Workforce Training Grants
Project Director
Sanfiorenzo, A.
Recipient Organization
University of Puerto Rico - Utuado
(N/A)
Utuado,PR 00641
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
This project seeks to address the lack of professionally trained agricultural workers in tree management. Labor shortages in the arboriculture sector are being experienced throughoutthenation.InPuertoRico,trainedtreeprofessionalsareneededsinceagroforestrysystems (AFS) are increasing in the island, and tree management in AFS is critical for crop and forage productivity, and hurricane and earthquake farm preparedness. This project will develop and implement an Associate's Degree Curricular Sequence in Arboriculture of UPR-Utuado andaTreeManagementCertificatethatwillaidinthetrainingofthenextgenerationoftreeworkersin our region.TheprogramswillbeopentoPuerto Ricoresidentsandthosewillingtorelocatetotheisland.Althoughtheprogramswillhaveonline components, tree management training requires face-to-face immersive instruction. The main goal of the proposed project is to increase the number of agricultural workers trained in tree management.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
12506993020100%
Knowledge Area
125 - Agroforestry;

Subject Of Investigation
0699 - Trees, forests, and forest products, general;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
The goal of the proposed project is to increase the number of agricultural workers trained intree management.The project has six target objectives to achieve its goal. The six project objectives are:1. Objective 1. Develop 8 new courses about tree management for DAT-UPRU Associate DegreePrograms.2. Objective 2. Create one new curricular sequence about tree management for DAT-UPRUAssociate Degree in Horticulture Program.3. Objective 3. Create one Professional Certificate in Tree Management for the retraining ofagricultural workers.4. Objective 4. Train 15 Associate Degree students to achieve the competence for ISA Certified® level of knowledge and skills.5. Objective 5. Retrain 15 agricultural workers to achieve the competence for ISA Certified® level of knowledge and skills.
Project Methods
This educationprojectwillcreatetwotrainingprogramsintreemanagement.TheArboricultureCurricularSequence(ACS)withintheAssociateDegreeofHorticulturewilltarget graduating seniors or other students entering the Associate Degree in Horticulture. TheTreeManagement Certificatetargets agricultural workers that wish to obtain retraining in tree management. The proposed training programs will lead to an agricultural workforce better prepared to manage trees in agricultural areas.The PD and Co-PD will be responsible for the management and proper administration of the project. They will meet weekly to discuss project activities and milestones. They will meet monthly, or as needed, with the project external evaluator to discuss project evaluation activities. To achieve Objectives 1, 2 and 3, the PD and Co-PD will dedicate the summer, and 25% of their time during the academic year of Year 1 for the development of the 8 new courses, and creation of the two training programs. Activities related to Objectives 1, 2 and 3 include: course design, coursecreationatUPRU,programcreationatUPRU,andpurchaseofnecessarycoursematerials andequipment.Inaddition,recruitmentactivities(explainedbelow)forthefirstgroupofstudents will take place during Year 1 of the project.Years2,3and4oftheprojectwillbededicatedtotheachievementofObjectives4,5and6.AftercoursesandprogramsarecreatedinYear1,studentrecruitmentactivitieswilltakeplace. Recruitment activities of students will include high school visits, announcements through UPRU social media, participation in radio, podcasts and TV shows and diffusion through UPRU alumni networks, and the PD and Co-PD's professional networks. Recruitment activities of agricultural workerswillincludethesamerecruitmentactivitiesasforstudents,inadditionto presentationsto the PR Farmer Association, USDA-NRCS field technicians and Extension Service agents. The PD, Co-PD, Mrs. Roman and UPRU personnel will be involved in student recruitment activities. Project participants will be selected based on past-experience, interest, capacity for program completion,GPAandaninterviewprocess. RecruitmentactivitieswillbeheldfromOctoberuntil January, and the selection process will be held from February to March of each project year. The same calendar of recruitment and selection will be followed after project funding ends.StudentswillcompletetheirAssociateDegreeinHorticultureandArboricultureCurricularSequencein two years. They will take the ISA Certified Arborist Exam in May, after they have completed all their coursework. The first group of students will graduate in Year 3 of the project. The second group of students will graduate in Year 4 of the project. The third group of students willgraduateafterprojectfundingends.WorkerswillcompletetheTreeManagementCertificateinoneyear.TheywilltaketheISACertifiedArboristExaminJuly,aftertheyhavecompletedall their Summer Practicum. The first group of workers will complete the certificate in Year 3. The second group of workers will complete the certificate in Year 4. The Co-PD will be responsible for the academic counseling of participating students and workers. The PD and Co-PD will be responsible for the teaching of the new coursework, facilitation of the summer introductory internship and the hiring of experienced adjunct teaching faculty. After participants complete the program,agroupchatwillbemaintainedtocommunicateprofessionalopportunities.Inaddition, itisexpectedthatparticipantswillbecomemembersofISAandwillbelistedintheISACertified Arborist database.

Progress 06/01/23 to 05/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:This proyect impacts hispanic underepresnted comuintyes at Puert Rico. During the reporting period, ten courses related to arboriculture were developed and subsequently approved as part of the curricular sequence at the University of Puerto Rico at Utuado. These courses are designed to enhance the academic rigor of the program and provide students with comprehensive knowledge and skills in arboriculture. Additionally, a summer internship program was designed for project participants, focusing specifically on practical experiences in arboriculture. This internship aims to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, ensuring that students gain hands-on experience in real-world settings. Furthermore, during the "Tierra Adentro Festival," an annual event hosted by UPR Utuado, the project celebrated Arbor Day with a variety of extension and outreach activities. These activities were designed to engage the community and raise awareness about the importance of tree management. The celebration included a workshop on pruning techniques, which provided participants with practical skills in tree care. Additionally, project members were available to answer questions from attendees about tree management on their properties, whether residential or agricultural. These initiatives not only promoted the significance of arboriculture but also strengthened the relationship between the university and the local community. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project organized an Arbor Day celebration, which featured practical workshops and interactive conversations with the general public. These workshops provided hands-on experience in tree management techniques, while the discussions allowed participants to engage directly with experts on various aspects of tree care and management. 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?During the next reporting period, we will focus on promoting and recruiting participants for the Professional Certificate in Tree Management. Our efforts will include targeted outreach and marketing strategies to attract individuals interested in advancing their skills in arboriculture. Additionally, we will commence offering the Professional Certificate in Tree Management, providing a structured program designed to enhance the competencies of participants in this field. Concurrently, we will continue offering the newly developed courses to students enrolled in the Associate Degree program, ensuring they receive comprehensive training in tree management as part of their academic journey.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Develop 8 New Courses on Tree Management for the DAT-UPRU Associate Degree Programs. Ten courses in arboriculture were successfully developed and approved at the University of Puerto Rico, Utuado. These courses are designed to enhance the academic offerings related to tree management and provide students with specialized knowledge in this field. The titles of the courses are as follows: Tree Health Tree Health Laboratory Tree Management Safety Tree Management Safety Laboratory Tree Pruning, Climbing, and Aerial Lift Tree Pruning, Climbing, and Aerial Lift Laboratory Tree Products Introduction to Arboriculture Introduction to Arboriculture Laboratory Opportunities in the Tree Care Industry Objective 2: Create a New Curricular Sequence on Tree Management for the DAT-UPRU Associate Degree in Horticulture Program. With the development of the aforementioned courses, the next step will be to integrate them into the curriculum for the Associate Degree in Horticulture at UPR Utuado. This curricular sequence will provide a structured pathway for students to gain expertise in tree management within the context of horticulture. Objective 3: Create a Professional Certificate in Tree Management for the Retraining of Agricultural Workers. An initial survey was conducted to assess the level of interest among potential participants in a Professional Certificate in Tree Management. Based on the positive response, planning for the certificate program began during the reporting period. This certificate will be instrumental in retraining agricultural workers, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in tree management. Objective 4: Train 15 Associate Degree Students to Achieve the Competence Required for ISA Certified® Level Knowledge and Skills. Recruitment activities were conducted to identify and enroll 15 students in the Associate Degree program, who will begin taking the relevant courses in August 2024. These students will be trained to achieve the competence required for the ISA Certified® level, ensuring they possess the necessary knowledge and skills in arboriculture. Objective 5: Retrain 15 Agricultural Workers to Achieve the Competence Required for ISA Certified® Level Knowledge and Skills. The initial design of the Professional Certificate in Tree Management was developed, laying the groundwork for the retraining of 15 agricultural workers. This program is intended to elevate their expertise to meet the standards required for ISA certification, thereby enhancing their professional qualifications in the field of arboriculture.

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