Non Technical Summary
According to the International Confederation of Dietetic Associations, registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) apply "the science of food and nutrition to promote health and to prevent and treat disease to optimize the health of individuals, groups, communities and populations." RDNs work in healthcare facilities, community and public health settings, corporate wellness programs, pharmaceutical companies, food and nutrition-related businesses and industries, and professional sports programs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the job market for RDNs will grow nationally by 11% between 2018 and 2028. The current national workforce of RDNs is predominately white and female, 80% and 92%, respectively. Research has found, however, that patients prefer healthcare providers of their own race and ethnicity, likely because these providers are more culturally sensitive and offer care in ways more reflective of the patient's background. Furthermore, sociocultural factors also drive food choices and preferences. Regardless of the work setting, an increasingly racially and culturally diverse population has produced a vital need to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts for the RDN workforce.The nationally accredited Idaho State University (ISU) BS in Dietetics Program prepares students for the graduate-level education required to become an RDN. To help meet the increasing demand for RDNs, ISU is expanding the program to the diverse, population-dense Treasure Valley of Idaho. Currently, students majoring in nutrition and dietetics are predominantly Caucasian females. ISU is well situated to engage the Hispanic/Latino and Native American populations in our state and increase the interest among males in the profession. Within the 5-year grant cycle, ISU plans to recruit, engage, retain, and mentor 5 Scholars, including prospective students born male at birth, and/or with Hispanic/Latino or Native American race/ethnicity. Employing program-level and university-wide resources, high school and transfer student recruitment and selection efforts will be multi-tiered, ongoing throughout the year, and evidence-informed. The program is planned for completion in eight semesters or four academic years. The curriculum is infused with experiential learning experiences. ISU has multiple existing programs to help retain, support, and mentor a future pool of diverse BS in Dietetics students. With this funding, ISU aims to diversify the students in this program, thereby diversifying the dietetics profession.

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
902	6010	3020	100%

Knowledge Area
902 - Administration of Projects and Programs;

Subject Of Investigation
6010 - Individuals;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;

Goals / Objectives
The major goals of this Multicultural Scholars Program project are:To address the lack of diversity in the field of dietetics by engaging the Hispanic/Latino and Native American populations in Idaho and increasing interest among males in the profession; andTo prepare Scholars for graduate work or gainful employment as a registered dietitian nutritionist while offering an environment and beneficial opportunities for Scholars to have a supportive and positive college experience at Idaho State University (ISU).Goals will be met through the following objectives:Recruit, engage, retain, and mentor 5 Scholars within the 5-year grant cycle, including prospective students born male at birth, and/or with Hispanic/Latino or Native American race/ethnicity.100% of Scholars meet with their Academic Advisor at least once every semester to review career path and degree requirements.At least 80% of Scholars needing academic support services, attend weekly tutoring session, and bring grade up to a C- or better.At least 80% of Scholars attend training on the college experience within the first month of arriving at ISU.At least 80% of Scholars engage in student organization that helps hone leadership, team building, and communication skills.At least 50% of Scholars engage in activities aimed at building project development and/or research skills, including opting to share their research (in writing and/or orally) at public event.100% of Scholars participate in at least one personal and professional enrichment and/or training opportunity per semester.At least 80% of Scholars participate in at least one program with mentors per semester.100% of Scholars attend at least one relevant training activity during the academic calendar year.100% of Scholars participate in at least one special experiential learning experience with mentors per academic year.

Project Methods
The project will be conducted and evaluated through the efforts of the Project Director, MSP Recruiter, and BS Dietetics Program Director. Descriptions for specific methods regarding recruitment, mentoring, and evaluation follow.RecruitmentHigh school and transfer student recruitment and selection efforts will be multi-tiered, ongoing throughout the year, and evidence informed. Program-level and university-wide resources will be employed. Evidence-based practices for recruiting Native American, Black/African American, and male students are relationship-building activities; Hispanic/Latino, Native American, multiracial, and male students respond favorably to recruitment emails. Recruitment plans include collaborating with other Idaho colleges. ISU and Brigham Young University Idaho (BYU-I) have a longstanding articulation agreement. The BS Program Director is working with Boise State University to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and plans to pursue MOUs with Lewis-Clark State College and the College of Southern Idaho, a designated Hispanic-serving Institution (HSI). Culturally appropriate materials will be created in multiple formats (printed and downloadable factsheets, website content, social media posts, and email messages). Recruiting pathway documents will highlight pre-requisite courses, contact information, and a QR code for the program's website. The MSP Recruiter will serve as the point of contact for email and phone inquiries; during the business week, emails and phone calls will be responded to within 24 to 48 hours of receipt.Another relationship-building approach will be a general education nutrition course taught by a Nutrition and Dietetics faculty member. Leveraging a course to pique potential student interest in a specific major area of study is a proven recruitment strategy. The MSP Recruiter or BS Program Director will attend key events at pipeline colleges and community high schools (e.g., BYU-I Career Fair, Fort Hall Shoshone-Bannock Job and Resource Fair). The MSP Recruiter will work closely with the Tribal/University Advisory Board to ensure best practices for conducting outreach to Tribal communities. S/he will consult with the ISU Native American Student Services Coordinator, a member of the Shoshone Bannock Nation, when conducting outreach. This evidence-informed approach has been found anecdotally to be a successful recruitment method for the Program; students appreciate a friendly face and point of contact when they have questions. Recruitment documents will be disseminated to faculty/advisors and students via student organizational meetings, class presentations, and other events. Recruitment emails will be sent to interested students.MentoringThe ISU campuses offer rich opportunities for undergraduate scholars to be mentored by the BS in Dietetics Program (Program) faculty, as well as a myriad of other Idaho State University (ISU) faculty, staff, and peers. Scholars will receive support and mentorship from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics faculty and via several institution-wide services. The BS in Dietetics program has a small student-to-faculty ratio; thus, faculty regularly clarify individual aspirations and enhance student commitments to the program. The MSP Recruiter will also regularly communicate with enrolled Scholars and proactively address mentorship needs. One-third of the ISU student body is enrolled in health profession degree programs, which provide excellent interprofessional educational opportunities. MSP Scholars will learn from the Colleges of Health and Pharmacy faculty, attend interprofessional case studies, attend biomedical research events, and network with peers in other health degree programs.The Project Director will ensure that the Mentoring Plan is implemented, evaluated, monitored, and revised, as needed, across the five-year grant cycle. As BS Program Director, she will also mentor each scholar via individual advising sessions, as well as in her roles as a Nutrition and Dietetics Department faculty member and Department student organization faculty advisor. The Project Director will also coordinate special experiential learning experiences for the Scholars annually. The MSP Recruiter will help identify ISU-wide mentorship opportunities for the Scholars and assist the Project Director with mentoring responsibilities as needed.The Mentoring Program will offer personal support, assistance, social guidance, and positive campus survival skills to the Scholars. Activities and interactions with faculty, students, and others in the ISU community aim to address personal needs and contribute a positive college experience and academic success. Upon admission to the program, the MSP Recruiter will review with each Scholar, the student organizations and mentoring opportunities incorporated into the ISU undergraduate curriculum and BS in Dietetics program. Mentoring activities are divided into the following five categories: 1) Strategic and Consistent Contact regarding Career Pathway and Academic Success; 2) Referral Agent for Academic Support Services; 3) Personal and Professional Enrichment and Training Opportunities; 4) Sponsor and Encourage Attendance at Programs with Mentors and Scholars; and 5) Continuous and Relevant Training to Equip Scholars with Resources.EvaluationWe expect didactic and practical experiences gained through the BS in Dietetics will prepare competent graduates ready for graduate school and supervised practice, an eligibility requirement for the national credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. Per ACEND accreditation requirements, ISU has a written program monitoring and evaluation protocol, which is reviewed annually and updated as needed by the BS Program Director. Staff continuously assess collected data pertaining to mission, goals and objectives to make findings-based improvements and updates. Program planning and outcomes evaluation are integrated with institutional planning and assessment, as appropriate.The Project Director will collect data to evaluate the following project objectives and report on the progress as requested:Recruit, engage, retain, and mentor 5 Scholars within the 5-year grant cycle, including prospective students born male at birth, and/or with Hispanic/Latino or Native American race/ethnicity.100% of scholars meet with their Academic Advisor at least once every semester to review career path and degree requirements.At least 80% of Scholars needing academic support services, attend weekly tutoring session, and bring grade up to a C- or better.At least 80% of Scholars attend training on the college experience within the first month of arriving at ISU.At least 80% of Scholars engage in student organization that helps hone leadership, team building, and communication skills.At least 50% of Scholars engage in activities aimed at building project development and/or research skills, including opting to share their research (in writing and/or orally) at public event.100% of Scholars participate in at least one personal and professional enrichment and/or training opportunity per semester.At least 80% of Scholars participate in at least one program with mentors per semester.100% of Scholars attend at least one relevant training activity during the academic calendar year.100% of Scholars participate in at least one special experiential learning experience with mentors per academic year.