Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Arkansas Multicultural Scholars FIRST Program (AR-FIRST) is holistically dedicated to expanding diversity and supporting underrepresented minority (URM) first-gen transfer students in Bumpers College at the UA-Fayetteville. AR-FIRST expands upon the already-existing transfer partnerships by leveraging the statewide University of Arkansas System (7 two-year community colleges) to (a) increase the number of URM transfer students who pursue and (b) complete baccalaureate or D.V.M. degrees in agricultural; (c) support successful transition into graduate education or employment opportunities; and will (d) expand the community of diverse undergraduate agricultural leaders by creating a more welcoming culture for future students and scholars. The ultimate goal of this program is to increase the number of URM students pursuing agricultural degrees and entering the agriculture workforce in the state of Arkansas. AR-FIRST aims to: (1) Utilize the recruiting strategies already practiced by UA System partnerships to identify strong candidates from community colleges; (2) Partner faculty mentors with Scholars with academic, financial and social support as well as culturally-appropriate mentoring; (3) Provide Scholars with educational and career training in their chosen fields within agricultural sciences through their enrollment in an agriculture major; and (4) Provide Scholars with research opportunities, internships, career development, culturally competency and leadership training, service learning, and agricultural-centered experiences.
Animal Health Component
60%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
60%
Developmental
40%
Goals / Objectives
This 5-year, $213,523, Arkansas Multicultural Scholars FIRST Program (AR-FIRST) is holistically dedicated to expanding diversity and supporting underrepresented minority first-gen transfer students in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville (UAF). FIRST stands for "Facilitating Inclusion, Reaching Students Together" and emphasizes the importance of providing opportunities and resources for underrepresented minority (URM) first-gen transfer students, particularly those from rural backgrounds. AR-FIRST will expand upon the already-existing transfer partnerships aimed at URM individuals by leveraging partnership transfer programs through the University of Arkansas System, as well as MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences) chapters across Arkansas. AR-FIRST objectives are to (a) support 10 AR-FIRST Scholars who pursue and (b) complete baccalaureate or D.V.M. degrees in agricultural fields (Primary Discipline Code/Academic Discipline: G-General/multidisciplinary); (c) support a successful transition into graduate education and employment opportunities; and (d) provide professional development for industry or graduate school.
Project Methods
Various methodologies will be used to assess each outcome including, student and mentor perception data, targeted numbers of participants, and creation of deliverables. Qualitative and quantitative methods of evaluation, including surveys, IDI assessment, leadership assessments, interviews, focus groups, data on retention, GPA, student experience reflections, and graduation will be collected during the implementation of the project and at the end of the project. Assessment and dissemination of all program outcomes will continue past the grant period, ending as the Scholars complete their degrees and embark on their careers in agricultural fields. Academic data (GPA, presentations, publications, reflections) for Scholars will be collected by their Faculty Mentors and the PI to track the Scholars' progress toward degree completion.