Non Technical Summary
A recent program review for the Master's of Science in Agriculture at Cal Poly Pomona revealedthere is an urgent need to revamp the current structure of graduate education to keep up with thesocietal changes, which demands innovative pedagogies and curriculum redesign for nextgeneration workforce preparation so to meet the needs of diversity, equity, and inclusiveness. Thefaculty team (three PIs) representing Food Science & Technology (FST) program in the departmentof Nutrition and Food Science with support of other eight faculty in the College of Agriculture issubmitting this Planning Grant proposal, aiming to revamp the current MS program by integratedcurriculum redesign, strengthened faculty collaborations, and enhanced academia-industrygovernmentpartnerships. Specifically, we propose to elevate and expand a current MS option inFST to a stand-alone program with three subplans offering culminating experience in thesis,project, and comprehensive exam. The planning grant will support team building among 11participating faculty and engagement of 8-10 dedicated partners in forming a program advisoryboard. Two stakeholder hearing meetings will help solicit inputs for a full proposal developmentand submission in 2026. The integrated project aims to address all six need areas under Education,two under Research (1 and 2), and three under Outreach/Extension (2, 3, and 5). Thecomprehensive design of the project will involve faculty from multidisciplinary fields overarchingthe four codes:F. Food Science/Technology and ManufacturingG. General Food, Agricultural and Human SciencesM. Agribusiness (including Management, Marketing, and Agricultural EconomicsN. Human Nutrition

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
903	5010	3020	100%

Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
5010 - Food;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;

Goals / Objectives
Thefaculty team (three PIs) representing Food Science & Technology (FST) program in the departmentof Nutrition and Food Science with support of other eight faculty in the College of Agriculture are intended torevamp the current MS program by integratedcurriculum redesign, strengthened faculty collaborations, and enhanced academia-industry-governmentpartnerships. Specifically, we propose to elevate and expand a current MS option inFST to a stand-alone program with three subplans offering culminating experience in thesis,project, and comprehensive exam. The planning grant will support team building among 11participating faculty and engagement of 8-10 dedicated partners in forming a program advisoryboard. Two stakeholder hearing meetings will help solicit inputs for a full proposal developmentand submission in 2026. The integrated project aims to address all six need areas under Education,two under Research (1 and 2), and three under Outreach/Extension (2, 3, and 5). Thecomprehensive design of the project will involve faculty from multidisciplinary fields overarchingthe four area codes under USDA NIFA classification.

Project Methods
Specific objectives under this Planning Grant project include:1. Faculty team building for MS curriculum redesign and new course development;2. Conduct stakeholder hearing to seek inputs from industrial and governmental partners and to securetheir confirmed commitment in forming a program advisory board;3. Develop a full proposal for submission in 2026 when incorporated all data/inputs collected above.Activities to achieve the specific objectives include:Obj. 1 - faculty team building: regular in-person and Zoom meetings will be conducted, specially, threePI/co-PIs will meet monthly forplanning and coordination purpose; quarterly meetings involving otherparticipating faculty will be organized to exchange progress on new course development andreview/revision of new program materials.Obj. 2 - partnership building to form a program advisory board: one stakeholder hearing meeting willbe hosted for each of Year 1 and Year 2, specifically during winter break of 2024-25 AY and during thesummer of 2025, respectively. The PIs and participating faculty listed in the planning grant proposalwill join industrial partnersand governmental representatives to brainstorm new research topics for MSstudents'theses or projects, discussnew course development, and update the overall program progress. By fall 2025, a program advisory boardwill be officially formed with confirmed commitment from participating stakeholder representatives. InYear 1, the PIs will also visit local food processing facilities to identify potential internship sites.Obj. 3 - full proposal development: in Year 2 the three PIs will continue with monthly meetings to writeand prepare components for a full proposal development, aiming for a successful submission by spring2026. Specifically, the PI (YOL) will be responsible for securing an external evaluator, assisting thepreparation of evaluation plan, and coordinating with the University's Research and Sponsored ProgramOffice on budget planning and administrative approvals; the co-PI (XY) will be responsible for assemblingall components for a full proposal package; and the co-PI (BH) will be responsible for securing allsupporting letters from external stakeholders and advisory board members. In spring 2026 the PIs will alsomeet regularly to prepare a final project report for the planning grant and prepare dissemination materials.These activities within a 2-year project period are also presented in Project Timetable.