Progress 03/01/03 to 02/29/08
Outputs
The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont, has shown commitment to promoting cultural diversity in the natural resources professions and disciplines. The purpose of the Multicultural Scholars Program has been to increase the number of academically strong multicultural students in natural resource majors, which in turn will increase the number of natural resources professionals in future years. To that effect, four scholars were recruited and retained for four years and completed all the graduation requirements for Bachelor of Science degrees (one also competed an additional B.A. as well in the appointed time). The immediate effect is that the four Scholars have had funding that assists them in covering expenses associated with being a student at the University. During the same period, the School has applied and received USDA Multicultural Scholars program funding for an additional 10 students. Also, the School's effort to
recruit under-represented multicultural students has yielded dividends, to help create the beginnings of a critical mass. These recruitment efforts complemented by programmatic and co-curricular activities has helped promote an environment in which the multicultural scholars could flourish academically and be prepared for professional careers. The School has continued to strengthen its ties with high achieving students at UVM partner high schools and pre-college programs in Boston, Washington D.C., and New York City. During duration of this grant the School continued it foster its alliances with High School for Environmental Sciences (HSES), Thurgood Marshall Academy, the American Museum of Natural History Pre-College Program, and the Brooklyn Academy for Science and the Environment. These institutional relationships have not only benefited The Rubenstein School, but have attracted more students of color to the University. Building upon successful recruitment requires a commitment to
retention. To that end, special Rubenstein School Diversity Task Force Events were sponsored to promote diversity and foster a positive climate for our students of color. Guest speakers were brought to campus to speak about diversity and other environmental justice issues. Efforts continue to be made to build a sense of community for these scholars within the School. The School also created and promoted opportunities for these scholars to gain professional experience, network with individuals in their fields and position themselves for graduate programs and future employment opportunities. Five Scholars (3 from this grant), two co-PDs, and the PD, attended and presented at the MSP/NNF National Workshop in October 2007 and also served on the Planning Committee with Dr. Audrey Trotman. As a result of our recent involvement with the MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences) Annual Conferences (2007, 2008), The Rubenstein School established a MANRRS
Chapter at UVM. Finally, coinciding with the duration of this grant, the School successfully pursued a M.S. and Doctoral National Needs Graduate Fellowship grant to enhance our graduate multicultural population.
PRODUCTS: This grant provided four Scholars with funding that assisted them in covering expenses associated with being a student at the University of Vermont (UVM). In addition, funds were used to send Scholars and mentors to professional conferences such as the MSP/NNF workshop, MANNRS Conference and Faculty Diversity and Environmental Justice Research Symposium hosted by MELDI (Minority Environmental Leadership Development Initiative, University of Michigan). Funds were used for recruitment activities and networking opportunities. Specifically, this grant helped fund activities with High School for Environmental Studies (HSES) and other visits with partner high school and pre-college programs in Boston, Washington D.C., and New York City. For example, we hosted a two-day on-campus site visit for Nia Rhodes, Executive Director, Friends of the HSES, to strengthen our partnership. We also arranged a visit to UVM for a group of 17 students from HSES who were interested in environmental
careers. These students were exposed to the programs at UVM, along with 'in the field' experiences with our faculty and staff. Our faculty have also regularly presented on site during the HSES 'Careers in the Environment' day. A Scholar, another student, a faculty member, and Maria Erb, (co-PD), visited HSES this past year to promote the MSP, tell students about the spring visit to campus, and encourage seniors to apply to the School. Maria Erb, made a connection (and visited the school) with a former Rubenstein School alum who is now a principal at Thurgood Marshall Academy, a predominantly minority high school, in Washington, DC. This alum is specifically interested in the MSP and wants to see his students pursue majors in the study of the environment at UVM. Locally, we interface with the UVM Abenaki Outreach Program and conducted a workshop at the Annual Abenaki Summer Happenings. Finally, funds were used to support and enrich the School, UVM and Vermont communities by introducing
broader topics of environmental justice and cultural diversity through speakers like Jerome Ringo (National Wildlife Federation and Apollo Alliance), Margie Eugene-Richard (2004 Goldman Environmental prize), Pamela Gardner (UVM), Winona LaDuke (Seventh Generation Fund), Thomas Macias (UVM), Donald Murphy (National Park Service), Olga Pomar (South Jersey Legal Services), Annette Smith (Vermonters for a Clean Environment), Sherwood Smith (UVM), Robert Stanton (National Park Service), Mary Washington (Baltimore Parks and National Resources Institute), Van Jones (Ella Baker Center for Human Rights), Audrey Peterman (Earthwise Productions), and Flip Hapgood (Student Conservation Association). The grant also helps support other outreach activities such as: Annual Multicultural Student Networking Luncheon (to support multicultural students, faculty and staff); hosting films with themes of race, culture, and equity; and co-sponsoring 'The Next Step: A Social Justice Journey.' This retreat, an
annual event at UVM, gives students a forum to further develop skills to become better change agents and activists in areas of racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, religious discrimination, classism.
OUTCOMES: These graduating senior multicultural scholars in 2008 are some of the most successful in the areas of academics, public service, and research. These MSP Scholars participated in the UVM Honors College and the Lola Aiken Scholars Program (Rubenstein School Honors); were touted for their academic achievement (Deans list, academic awards and honors thesis recipients); all four participated in the McNair Scholars Program (The McNair Scholars Program provides eligible UVM undergraduates with critical academic, research and professional experiences to enhance their competitiveness in gaining admission to doctoral programs. Students with majors in computer science, education, engineering, humanities, math, natural and social sciences, nursing & allied health sciences, and statistics are strongly encouraged to apply). One student is the recipient of the Udall Scholarship and the Truman Fellowship as well as a Rhodes Scholar finalist this past year; another is a URECA
(Undergraduate Research Endeavors Competitive Awards) recipient and Interdisciplinary Training in Mathematics & Biology grant recipient. The students published their research; received the Fellowship Grants with organizations like the Smithsonian Institute, National Science Foundation, and are the holders of a number of prestigious scholarships. Many of them participated in both service-learning courses abroad as well as exchange/abroad programs domestically (Washington D.C.) and internationally (China, Costa Rica, Mexico). They all have held significant leadership positions across the University at a variety of levels: 1st Multicultural President of the Student Government Associate at the University of Vermont; offices in almost all of the ALANA student associations, one was invited to participate on The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources Advisory Board; one scholar is a founder of the Honors College Diversity Task Force; all participated at some level in The
Rubenstein School Diversity Task Force and the School's Student Advisory Board and many other leadership experiences. When asked what impact the USDA Multicultural Scholars Program had on them, collectively they said that without this funding they would not have been able to be as successful as they have been. In addition, the School is continuing to forge and maintain relationships to further recruitment and retention efforts. We are fostering and supporting alumni and sustaining the dialog in the Rubenstein and greater UVM community with respect to issues of environmental justice and cultural diversity.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Over the duration of this grant, the University of Vermont Communications Office has worked to publicize the activities of our School's diversity efforts and particularly our USDA Multicultural Scholars. In the past (2006-2007), they have worked with an Associated Press reporter to write an article about our diversity efforts in The Rubenstein School and our outreach to our partnership high schools, the High School for Environmental Studies. This article was released on the AP wire and was picked up by several northeastern newspapers. The Communications Office also wrote and distributed an article about our success in receiving grant funding through the USDA CSREES Multicultural Scholars Program and the National Needs Fellowship Program and the establishment of the Donald H. DeHayes Multicultural Scholars Endowment Fund (that will add to the USDA funding and continue the work of the USDA Multicultural Scholars program should that funding ever be discontinued
in the future). Most recently, the Communications Office has pursued an article about our diversity efforts and the continued partnership with the High School for Environmental Studies particularly with a group of Rubenstein School students from a senior level capstone course visiting HSES to teach students about creating a 'green roof' for their school. This article is forthcoming this spring in The New York Times. We are currently working with the UVM Communications Office on a press release that promotes the receipt of another MSP grant and a NNF grant this past year along with The Rubenstein School's recent USDA Multicultural Scholars Grant awards that bumped the total of funds raised by the School for diversity to over $1.4 million. In an Alumni newsletter, we announced the establishment of the aforementioned endowed Multicultural Scholarship in honor of Donald H. DeHayes, the PD on this project. We hope that the announcement of this scholarship in our Alumni Newsletter will
generate support from our Multicultural Scholars alumni who are out in the workforce. In addition, forthcoming is our Alumni Newsletter that profiles an exemplary student from each of our six undergraduate majors;3 of the scholars funded from this grant are featured in that newsletter. Finally, presentations at conferences and meetings (on campus and nationally) are actively encouraged and all of these scholars have participated in this during their tenure here, with respect to their research and the Multicultural Scholars Program. Particularly, during the MSP/NNF National Workshop in Washington, DC, Dean DeHayes was one of the key note speakers, one Scholar did an oral presentation of her research, another Scholar did a poster presentation of his research, and Maria Erb, a co-PD, did a poster presentation of the Multicultural Scholars Program at the University of Vermont. There was great discussion about our program during the poster sessions.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: We will continue to monitor the Alumni Scholars' progress and assist them in counseling and appropriate resources to help them to reach their goals. We currently communicate at least yearly with our MSP graduates, actively seeking their support and mentorship for current Scholars. These alumni have continued to participate in the MSP program and most recently an alumni scholar will become a Multicultural Conservation Leadership Fellow (NNF funded grant) in fall 2008. Work will continue to strengthen the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANNRS) chapter at the University of Vermont. Thus far we have co-sponsored gatherings with the College of Agriculture and the College of Arts & Sciences Dean's Offices to try to build a cohort of students to establish a MANRRS chapter. One of the challenges that we have found in establishing a MANRRS is that because we have so few students of color at UVM, many of them are pulled in several
directions with academics, leadership and extra-curricular activities, and working part-time to earn money. There is not much time for the students to add another activity. We hope that we will be able to continue to convey the importance of MANRRS to our students and that it is an important organization to be part of for their professional and career development. Through two existing USDA Multicultural Scholars grants, The Rubenstein School Dean's Office will meet the Multicultural Scholars and the other students of color and their allies in The Rubenstein School to provide support and an opportunity for the students to get to know one another better. This year we have recruited 12 ALANA students only some of whom are a part of the USDA Program. As of this May, we have graduated 18 Multicultural Scholars from The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. With the support of 2 more USDA scholarship grants, we will have 15 multicultural scholars on campus in Fall 2008.
Along with retaining these students and other multicultural students, and advancing them toward successfully completing their degrees, e will also continue to educate The Rubenstein School and greater UVM community on issues of environmental justice and cultural equality. In addition, we will apply for a USDA Multicultural Scholars grant in 2008 to continue to further support students in our School and have already completed a 3rd NNF grant proposal in 2008. Hopefully we will continue to be seen across campus as a School that is proactively recruiting and supporting multicultural students across campus, regardless of academic affiliation.
Impacts
We hope that our Scholars will continue their education with graduate degrees in environmental fields. These future professors, researchers and environmental practitioners will serve as role models to encourage other multicultural students to pursue degrees, starting the cycle all over again. With students funded through this grant, we have seen this come true. After graduation, one scholar is pursuing a PhD, two scholars will be working with urban youth making connections with the environment, and the last is pursuing law school and a position of public service. Scholars participated in diverse internships, study abroad programs, thesis projects, research experiences, and community building initiatives. They actively assisted with recruitment and retention of students through leadership positions in a variety of campus organizations and mentoring programs. They participated in education and awareness building within The Rubenstein School as well. In short, they have
exceeded any expectations we had for them. This grant program has served as a catalyst for refining recruitment and retention efforts; raising awareness of issues of environmental justice and the under-represented within our community of faculty, staff, and students; leveraging funding resources for multicultural students (DeHayes Multicultural Scholarship and two funded NNF grant at M.S. and Ph.D. level); partnering with other multicultural students programs (McNair Scholars, National Science Foundation) and creating broader outreach and impact in the UVM community (recruitment and awareness) and beyond.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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