Source: OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
MULTICULTURAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM: TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF DIVERSE GLOBAL FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM LEADERS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1031526
Grant No.
2024-38413-41457
Cumulative Award Amt.
$247,500.00
Proposal No.
2023-05727
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Nov 15, 2023
Project End Date
Nov 14, 2028
Grant Year
2024
Program Code
[KF]- Multicultural Scholars
Recipient Organization
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
CORVALLIS,OR 97331
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
There is a shortage of skilled college graduates to fill positions in agriculture, food, and natural resources areas. This shortage is especially evident in underrepresented communities. The US population is undergoing a rapid increase in minority college-age residents; however, enrollment, and especially persistence, of BIPOC students in colleges and universities still lags behind. Our goal is to bridge this gap, contributing to increase the number of well-rounded, globally-educated and skilled professionals from underrepresented communities that will help develop the larger society in terms of equity, economics and respect for the environment.This program will provide scholarships to recruit, engage, retain, mentor, and train multicultural scholars, who will earn STEM-focused baccalaureate degrees from Oregon State University's (OSU) College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS). Scholars will be paired with an upper-division paid peer mentor and will also receive strong social and professional mentoring and career and leadership development from OSU faculty. All scholars will complete a professional internship and a mentored undergraduate research project, thesis, and public seminar. In addition, scholars will have global engagement through participation in a CAS faculty-led, credit-bearing study abroad.Regular evaluations will guide program improvements. Scholars will graduate well-prepared for careers and graduate programs, increasing the numbers of BIPOC students with scientific and professional competencies to meet the technologically advanced needs of the 21st century food and agricultural systems workforce.
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
90260100001100%
Knowledge Area
902 - Administration of Projects and Programs;

Subject Of Investigation
6010 - Individuals;

Field Of Science
0001 - Administration;
Goals / Objectives
Major Goal: To bridge the participation gap of underrepresented students in Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences (FANH)Objectives:1. We will recruit, retain, andgraduate at least 5 MSP scholarsfrom BIPOC/FGLI backgrounds.Evaluation Data:MSP letters of acceptance,yearly student registrations,grade reports, progress towardgraduation. ACC STEM Metrics,Graduation rate, GPA,scholarly involvement, etc.Benchmark/Comments:Fall term: 100% of scholarshipsawarded. Graduation benchmark:80% of original scholars graduatewithin 5 years. If a scholar isunable to continue, a replacementwill be appointed, bringing totalMSP graduations to 100%.2.MSP Scholars will receivesignificant financial support.Evaluation Data:Fellowship payments data,quarterly approval.Benchmark/Comments:100% of MSP Scholars will receivesignificant financial support.Major Goal: To retain and graduate underrepresented students, increasing career-ready and graduate program-ready graduates in FANH.Objetives1.MSP Scholars will conductundergraduate research. Evaluation Data:Project proposals, enrollmentin research credits, projectupdates, quarterly contactwith research mentors, thesesand final seminarsBenchmark/Comments:100% of MSP Scholars will conductundergraduate research.2.MSP Scholars will receiveacademic, social and near-peermentoring, to support theiracademic success and personalwell-being.Evaluation Data:Surveys and focus groups ofMSP scholars and MSP peermentors. Quarterly contactwith research mentors.Benchmark/Comments:100% of MSP participants receiveappropriate mentoring.3.MSP Scholars will receiveprofessional mentoring, career andgraduate school readinesspreparation and advising.Evaluation Data:Surveys of MSP scholars. Trackparticipation in MANRRS,SACNAS, and internships.Collect professionaldevelopment items (resumes,cover letters, mock interviews)and analyze using rubrics.Benchmark/Comments:100% of MSP participants receiveprofessional mentoring, career andgraduate schoolpreparation/advising.4.MSP scholars will participate in atleast one leadership activity.Evaluation Data:Surveys of MSP scholars. Trackparticipation in MANRRS,SACNAS, CAS leadershipactivities.Benchmark/Comments:100% of MSP scholars participatein leadership activities.5.MSP Scholars will participate in aCAS faculty-led, credit-bearingstudy abroad course.Evaluation Data:Course enrollment, programleaders' evaluations, courseproducts.Benchmark/Comments:100% of MSP Scholars willparticipate in at least 1 CASfaculty-led, credit-bearing studyabroad course.6.We will collect semiannual data onscholars' personal and professionalwellbeing, programmatic support,and academic success metrics, toassess and improve program.Evaluation Data:Surveys of MSP scholars.Personal interviews.Benchmark/Comments:Reports filed semiannually.
Project Methods
EFFORTSWe will begin recruitment immediately following notification of a successful application. We will update our student-designed MSP poster, brochure, and application from a previous MSP and will share these documents with the broadest possible audience using a multipronged approach, including social media posts targeted to MANRRS and SACNAS chapters and utilizing ourOSU collaborators such as SMILE, CAMP, OMLI, EOP, TRIO and LSAMP. We will also utilize local community college partners to recruit transfer students. To meet recruitment and retention goals, we aim to recruit 3 freshman, 2 sophomores, and one junior, which will use 20 years of MSP scholarship support.MSP Scholars will also participate in a paid summer internship in industry or government agencies.Scholars will meet with BRR Adviser each quarter providing "high-touch" academic advising and coaching and information about opportunities and resources. In addition, MSP scholars will choose a research mentor and enter a 14-credit research project and will also have a peer mentor, who will be upper division BRR students.Beginning their 2nd year, MSP scholars will have opportunities for leadership and professional development, and scholars will be funded to attend a conference of their choice.Under the guidance and approval of project directors in this grant, each scholar will select one international opportunity from CAS faculty-led programs concerning global food and agriculture.EVALUATIONSWe will conduct semi-annual evaluations, gathering and discussing data, making recommendations, and using results for reports and program improvements. Yearly interviews will also be conducted also in three areas: personal well-being, professional well-being, and programmatic evaluation and support.Success and careers of MSP scholars will be followed after graduation and data will be included in the final project report. We will collect current/permanent address data during the final student interview and utilize LinkedIn and National Student Clearinghouse database to contact scholars. MSP alumni will be asked to participate in BRR/MSP events with students, including orientation and professional mentoring.

Progress 11/15/23 to 11/14/24

Outputs
Target Audience:All recruitment program materials were updated, posted and shared widely with recruiters, advisors, instructors, club advisors, and social media. Our target audience is STEMundergraduate students with high interest in careers in Food, Agriculture, Natural resources and Human sciences, from first-generation, low-income, and/or community college transfer students. We prioritized lower division students with high need, outstanding academics in STEM, and willingness to 'give back' to vulnerable communities. We recrited widely, in Winter term 2024 and Fall term 2024. Three students were identified and received scholarship in Spring 2024 and another four students were recruited and onboarded in Fall of 2024 consisting of 2 maleand 5 female students. Jimena Anguiano-Cisneros Roberto Antonio Romero Demetrius Payton-Rivas Cain Diaz Briseyda Quintana Paz Brenda Trujillo Esha Ahmed https://www.kezi.com/news/local/oregon-state-university-receives-more-than-1-million-in-federal-grants/article_35f55d66-aff8-11ee-a7ad-235eb562475d.html Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Students have attended Chapter, Regional and National conferences gaining mentors, role models and attending professional development workshops, and training sessions.The 38th annual Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) conference took place in Chicago, Illinois fromMarch 20-24, 2024. The conference theme is "ASPIRE TO INSPIRE".MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences) hasheld regional cluster meetings in Denver, Colorado.The goal of these meetings isto develop leadership skills and foster mentoring. The National Divesity in STEM Conference/The SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference (NDiSTEM) is the largest multidisciplinary and multicultural STEM diversity conference in the country. The NDiSTEM Conferenceis a gathering which serves to equip, empower, and energize participants for their academic and professional paths in STEM. Over the course of the event, college-level through professional attendees are immersed in cutting-edge STEM research, professional development sessions, motivational keynote speakers, and the Academic & Career Expo, as well as multicultural celebrations and traditions, and an inclusive and welcoming community of peers, mentors, and role models. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?website has been updated with new scholars -https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/brr/oregon-state-university-celebrates-nations-longest-running-multicultural-scholars-program Since its inception in 2009, the MSP has secured seven grants, each around $200,000. These grants, awarded in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2018, have been pivotal in training future leaders in Food, Agriculture, Natural resources, and Human sciences (FANH). Currently, the program supports two cohorts from the 2021 and 2024 grants, ensuring a continuous flow of mentorship and collaboration. The unique structure of overlapping cohorts allows more advanced students to guide and inspire new scholars, enhancing the educational experience. The 2024 proposal, titled "Multicultural Scholars Program: Training the Next Generation of Diverse Global Food and Agricultural System Leaders," has selected seven new scholars to join five previous awardees and a robust network of 45 MSP alumni. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to provide community, belonging, and professioal development for MSP scholars. Students will attend MANRRS or SACNAS Chapter meetings at Oregon State U. We provide outreach to K-12 students and have upcomg STEM workshops. We have one student connected to their research project, and will work with the remaining students to identify FANrHs related research and faculty mentors for comprehensive undergradaute research. We will have students participating in the next 2025 Spring Break service-learning trip to Puerto Rico. We will continue to provide professional development activities including an upcoming Etiqutte Dinner, Behavioural Resume Workshop, and conference attendance.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We have recruited, awarded and so far retained 7 MSP scholars, 2 more than project goal. All students are in good standing with GPAs ranging from 2.71-3.93. Four scholars have been on a Study Abroad to Mexico taking the course Veterinary Medicine in Mexico. One other scholar has taken the Puerto Rico service-learning course Exploring Health, Sustainability, and Food Security in Puerto Rico. Students have attended Chapter, Regional and National conferences gaining mentors, role models and attending professional development workshops, and conferences. Two students are currently serving as Chapter officers for the 2024-2025 academic year, another is serving as an Ambassador for the College of Agricultural Sciences. Another scholar serves as Residence Assistant for University Housing and Dining. We have held two gatherings specific for our MSP students. We have two active grants at OSU and we invited all students including alum who were invited and asked to provide their advice for new MSPs for college academic success.We invited professionals to share support networks including student engagement, tutoring, mental health, and soft skills development.

Publications