Non Technical Summary
Delaware State University is engaging students in STEAM learning programs to strengthen and improve their career pathway in the food and agricultural sciences. This program strategy provides valuable opportunities to strengthen capacities and capabilities of students training in food systems and agricultural science programs aimed at producing graduates who are competent in skills required for entry-level positions in agriculture and related fields. Forty students over four years will participate in this program. Academic studies will orient students to interdisciplinary, participatory research and extension on food systems enabling a better understanding of American agriculture goals.

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
102	0199	1050	100%

Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;

Subject Of Investigation
0199 - Soil and land, general;

Field Of Science
1050 - Developmental biology;

Goals / Objectives
The main goal of the project is to recruit qualified students and increase retention of freshmen in agriculture majors andincrease the number of undergraduate STEAM students graduating nationally with BS degrees in agriculture and related fields in the United States. CAST will work with our local NRCS office to expand the exposure and awareness of food systemand agricultural science programs through our partnership (soil science, agriculture and science engineering) leveraging our Center of Excellence and Emerging Technologies.

Project Methods
The project will have oversight by CAST at Delaware State University. Each year a team of students, including students from DSU's Early College High School program and nationwide, will be recruited and provided orientation that includes detailing opportunities for research in agriculture related careers. Through a competitive selection process, scholarships will be offered to selected students, who have been admitted based upon DSU's criteria, and have a 3.2 GPA. They will also be required to provide two letters of recommendation from current high school instructors and an essay describing their interest in the agricultural field. Eligible students will receive a full STEM scholarship which will provide full tuition, and room and board fees for four years.The scholarship may be lost if the student fails to maintain a cumulative semester 3.0 GPA while enrolled at DSU. Depending upon the circumstance, the student may receive a one-semester probation if their GPA falls below 3.0 GPA.