Performing Department
College of Agriculture, Community and the Sciences
Non Technical Summary
The 1890 Scholarships Program will allow Kentucky State University (KSU) to offer financial support to students pursuingdegrees in agriculture-related fields, increasing student enrollment and retention in these areas. KSU has a range of agriculturecourses (including practicum experience) to train students in plant and animal science, human health and environment, globalagricultural perspectives, and practicums, as well as the areas of food and fiber, agricultural, renewable natural resources,forestry, and family and consumer sciences. The objectives are to: 1. increase the number of students who attain baccalaureatedegrees in the food and agricultural sciences and related fields at KSU by offering scholarship opportunities; and 2. supportthese scholars in their intention to pursue a career in the food and agricultural sciences and related fields to meet the need for ahighly skilled food and agricultural systems workforce. A detailed recruitment and selection plan has been developed to offercompetitive scholarships, as well as a mentoring program with faculty and student professional groups in agriculture. Studentswill participate in a range of practicums, internships, and professional development opportunities. A reporting and evaluationplan, with the help of an advisory committee, will assist the selection committee in awarding and tracking of students, as well asprovide longitudinal tracking at a career level to ensure students are being trained, retained, graduating, and entering theagricultural careers.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The objectives of the proposal are:1. To increase the number of students who attain baccalaureate degrees in the food and agricultural sciences and related fields at KSU by offering scholarship opportunities.2. To support these scholars in their intention to pursue a career in the food and agricultural sciences and related fields to meet the need for a highly skilled food and agricultural systems workforce.
Project Methods
For the FY2024 scholarships program cohort, for 50 current and incoming students, we will continue to: 1) provide full in-state orout-of-state tuition (up to 18 semester credit hours) and fees, standard housing, meals, and books for eight consecutivesemesters (summer courses could also be included) for approximately 50 current students, or first-time or transfer students orthe top 25% of students (full ride or up to approximately $15,000 per year averaged for in-state and out of state students) whomeet the first-tier scoring requirements on criteria for the scholarships program; and 2) support in-state or out-of-state tuition (up to18 credit hours or $8,000 per year), fees, and books for eight consecutive semesters for up to 10 first-time students or transferstudents who meet the second-tiercriteria. Final scholarship amounts and the number of students at each level may vary depending ontuition changes, number of students applying, and number of students retained each year.The KSU 1890 Scholarships Committee will award scholarships competitively based on a review of the documents below andthe following scoring system (a total of 100 points possible):1. GPA on a 4.0-point scale:• 2.8 to 3.0 (5 pts);• 2. >3.0 to 3.5 (10 pts);• 3. >3.5 to 4.0 (15 pts);2. Strength of evidence of leadership and community participation in the resume (up to 10 pts);3. Strength of essay on intent to pursue a career in the food and agricultural sciences (up to 60 pts based on demonstratedinterest in food and agricultural sciences, major declared, grammar, spelling, and career plan);4. For a high school applicant, strength of Letter of recommendation from High School Counselor (up to 5 pts) and strength ofletter of recommendation from High School Teacher (up to 10 pts).5. For a transfer student, two letters of recommendation (one from either the Department Head or Dean, and the other from afaculty member) will be evaluated (15 pts)The Selection Committee will assign each recipient student to a faculty mentor in their agricultural interest area and the studentwill be required to visit with this professor at the beginning of each semester to discuss the student's progress in the program.The student will be required to submit a progress form and continued agricultural career commitment form to the SelectionCommittee as proof of the meeting. The committee will review all scholarship recipients at the end of each semester to monitorprogress in completing their education, maintaining a 2.8 GPA, and participation in student groups for leadership development.Students will be offered a number of opportunities to attend and present at professional meeting and workshops each year topromote leadership development in agriculture. Additionally, the students will also be asked to participate in agriculture-orientedleadership activities in student organizations, such as the KSU Green Society, Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources andRelated Sciences (MANRRS), Ag Ambassadors program, or Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society.For graduates of the program, a private and confidential electronic (Qualtrics) survey will be conducted. We will send one emailinvitation to each student's mailing and alternative institutional email address; nine email reminders will be sent over the courseof the online survey period. We will also contact these graduates on social media to ask them to participate. The surveyquestions will include demographic information (such as gender, ethnicity, major, age, etc.), total undergraduate debt, currentjob or position and to indicate how this position relates to the area of agriculture, current living location, whether the graduatehas any plans to attend graduate school, recommendations for the school for the degree program, if the graduate has a currentLinkedIn account, and if the scholarships program was helpful. We will also solicit other comments. This process will berepeated each year.