Performing Department
Applied Science Technology & E
Non Technical Summary
The aim of this Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP)is to increase recruitment and retention of underrepresented students who receive baccalaureate degrees and are well prepared for professional and scientific careers in food and agricultural sciences. To address cultural disparities within the workforce, USU will focus efforts on the recruitment, mentoring and training of MSP scholars.Four pillars support the Utah State University (USU) MSPincluding:1. Professional development--professional networking, grow knowledgebase in agricultural science, collegial interactions, and a clear understanding of the impact of agricultural sciences on society.2. Research Skills--collection and analysis of data, running statistics, lab work, disseminating research, etc.3. Sense of belonging--participation with USU cultural clubs and organizations, CAAS week, Connections (i.e., a program that introduces freshmen to college, etc.4. Cultural awarenessistorical foundations in one's culture; exploration, synthesis, and discuss systemic inequity in society for minoritized and underrepresented populations; etc.Human capital is essential to meeting workforce needs, yet today's agricultural employers throughout the U.S. report shortages of skilled workers (Goeker, et al., 2015). This shortage is the result of a training gap that is exacerbated by a higher education participation gap; there is a proportionally lower participation by minority students in higher education than white, non-Hispanic students, particularly those seeking degrees in STEM fields. Enrollments at USU follow this pattern with the proportion of minority students seeking agricultural or food sciences degrees not reflecting the demographics of our local, regional, and national populations. This project seeks to meet workforce demands in agriculture and food sciences by beginning to close the gaps in training and participation in agriculture and food sciences by identifying and recruiting MSP Scholars and by providing resources to promote their success in completing baccalaureate degrees.
Animal Health Component
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Research Effort Categories
Basic
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Applied
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Developmental
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Goals / Objectives
GoalThe aim of this MSP proposal is to increase recruitment and retention of underrepresented students who receive baccalaureate degrees and are well prepared for professional and scientific careers in food and agricultural sciences. To address cultural disparities within the workforce, USU will focus efforts on the recruitment, mentoring and training of MSP scholars through the following objectives.Objectives1.Recruit and select seven underrepresented minority students as College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (CAAS) MSP Scholars2.Provide scholarships to underrepresented/underserved students pursuing education in food and agricultural sciences.3.Provide MSP scholars pre-professional development and training opportunities through internships and industry experiences.4.Provide opportunities for MSP scholars to engage in research and present their research findings.5.Provide MSP scholars with opportunities for cultural development through engagement in study abroad.6.Provide MSP scholars with opportunities for personal development through participation in campus organizations including Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources & Related Sciences (MANRRS), an organization that promotes academic and professional advancement of minoritized populations in the agricultural sciences.
Project Methods
Borrowing from educational research, MSP at Utah State University (USU) will be following small cohorts of MSP students over their academic years. Students will participate in Four Pillars while taking part in the MSP:Recruitment of ParticipantsThe MSP at USU will be open to any eligible student from a traditionally underrepresented group in the agricultural sciences. These groups include primarily Native Americans (mostly Navajo and Ute) and Latinos. The MSP at USU will be open to any eligible student from a traditionally underrepresented group. We will recruit from 1) high school agricultural science programs and 2) the USU Blanding and Price Campuses. Co-PI's Drs. Sorensen and Burrows both work closely with the school-based agricultural education (SBAE) community in Utah. During their visits with SBAE programs and at state events, they will inform teachers and students about the MSP at USU.Efforts and ActivitiesService learning and professional development through professional organizations and MANRRSEvaluation: Exploring students' learning through personal reflective journaling and short semi-structured interviews/questionnaires following participation in the service learning and/or professional developmento Professional Development and Workshops§ Internships· Evaluation--Student journaling, student performance during the internship (mentor perspective), and students' learning that took place during the internship (student questionnaire and/or short semi-structured interviewso Formal Mentoring§ Evaluation: Examine and code available mentor/mentee meeting notes and required documentso Experiential and Formal Learning in Agricultural Science Programs§ Evaluation: The following information will be collected (e.g., Students' standing, credit hours, and course grades will be collected and taken into consideration as the students' progress through their academic years at USU) and reviewed each academic year to evaluate students' progress through the MSP.Summer Internship Program with Local Agricultural Businesses/IndustriesEvaluation: Review feedback from both the student and the supervisor of the internship assigned to each student, as well as any progress reports or evaluations conducted by said business or organizationso Research and Presentation Skills§ Participate in Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities (URCO)· Evaluation: Students will have opportunities to apply and receive grants through the USU Office of Research, as well as opportunities to present their research in the Fall and/or Spring USU Research SymposiumsReports·Assessment Reports for Reporting AgenciesEvaluation: Students' progress through each year of the MSP will be assessed and evaluated--through academic course grades, grade point average, and participation in mandatory/voluntary MSP programming and events (e.g., professional development, experimental learning, conferences, etc.)Program Changes/ModificationsEvaluation: Any needed program changes based on feedback from regular assessments (e.g., questionnaires, interviews)