Source: University of the Incarnate Word submitted to NRP
UIW MULTICULTURAL SCHOLARS IN NUTRITION PROGRAM
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
SERD GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0195807
Grant No.
2003-38413-13191
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
2003-03512
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Aug 15, 2003
Project End Date
Aug 14, 2008
Grant Year
2003
Program Code
[KF.N6]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
University of the Incarnate Word
(N/A)
San Antonio,TX 78209
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, is a Hispanic serving institution with 48% Hispanic student enrollment. The undergraduate Nutrition student enrollment is 77% Hispanic and African American. Many of these students are first generation college students. Many UIW students work more than 20 hours per week or work more than one job to meet the financial burdens of a college education. The UIW Multicultural Scholars in Nutrition Program is designed to reward academically successful high school students and community college students with scholarships. Students will be selected by faculty based on academic potential (GPA, test scores), leadership potential (extracurricular and community activities), and first-generation college student status. Students will be recruited from the South Texas/San Antonio area through brochures and admissions advisors sent to area high schools and community colleges. Scholars will be assigned to student mentors and to career mentors from the community. The scholars will be encouraged to form a support group. In addition, tutors will be available to assist with class work, study skills and time management. A manual for college success will be developed by the Project Director and first year tutors to orient the scholars to successful college strategies. The program meets the priority of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, acting through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, to meet national and international needs for training food and agricultural scientists and professionals.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
90360993020100%
Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
6099 - People and communities, general/other;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
The UIW Multicultural Scholars in Nutrition Program is designed to reward academically successful high school students and community college students with scholarships. Students will be selected by faculty based on academic potential (GPA, test scores), leadership potential (extracurricular and community activities), and first-generation college student status. Ethnicity (Hispanic, African American) also may be a factor. The objectives of the program are: 1) To recruit 6 students over 5 years to participate in and graduate from the undergraduate program, including 2 new Freshman Scholars and 4 new transfer-student Scholars; 2) To mentor, advise, and track these students as they experience and graduate from the program; and 3) To evaluate the program through surveys sent to the MSP Scholars every year for 5 years while in the program and every 5 years thereafter as alumni.
Project Methods
Recruitment will involve the development of a MSP brochure to send to high schools and community colleges in South Texas. A web page also will be developed. A total of 2 new freshman Scholars and 4 new junior transfer-student Scholars will be recruited. MSP participants will be selected on the basis of ACT/SAT test scores, GPA, potential for leadership and engagement, students from under represented groups, financial need, and status as a first-generation collegian. Participants will be encouraged to form an informal learning community to assist in their adjustment and engagement in the University. They will be assigned to the Program Director for academic advising. The director will schedule individual and group meetings to discuss student progress and concerns, for general advising, and to give information on other scholarship, educational and career opportunities. Students will be assigned a student Mentor-Tutor with junior or senior class standing. In addition, mentors from the faculty and community will be recruited. Professional mentors will meet with students at least 4 times per year. Each MSP student will go to the mentors place of work to learn more about the field. Possible mentors may come from school districts, WIC programs, San Antonio-based grocery company food and nutrition specialists, the Southwest Research Foundation, and the Bexar County Agricultural Extension Service. Critical and creative thinking will be learned by students through analyzing popular press nutrition articles for errors in logic and in scientific fact. Among other tasks, the students will develop nutrition education projects in groups for specific audiences, requiring the students to research nutrition topics and utilize and transform their knowledge to create a creative, engaging curriculum for an audience other than college students. Students will conduct this research in the areas of Experimental Foods and Clinical and Nutritional Assessment. Experiential learning will take place through: 1) meetings with the students' faculty advisors, who will guide and mentor the students; 2) participation in the campus-wide Right Bite program, which promotes good nutrition habits; 3) devoting their required community service hours to food and nutrition related agencies; 4) completing 60 practice hours in Nutrition Practicum; completing a senior-level project for their preceptors; and, 5) completing a career development portfolio. Evaluation will take place through surveys sent to the MSP scholars every year for five years. The Nutrition program also will send out an alumni survey to the MSP scholars every five years after graduation. The Alumni Survey includes questions about preparation for a career in food and nutrition, graduate education, and current job. These surveys will be collated and means and frequencies tabulated as appropriate. Other information about the Scholars will be summarized. The program director, Nutrition faculty, and Dean will review the analysis of the surveys and make suggestions for improvements to the program.

Progress 08/15/03 to 08/14/08

Outputs
Two students completed the 'Multicultural Scholars in Nutrition Program' at the University of the Incarnate Word. One student received a four -year scholarship the other was a transfer student who received a two-year scholarship. Scholars received a total of $27,000 in USDA scholarship funds and $61429.20 in schlarship funds from UIW. One scholar was female the other male. One scholar was Caucasian the other scholar was African-American. Both scholars have entered doctoral programs (physical therapy and naturopathic medicine). They both plan to use their food and nutrition background to aid them in their professional practice. Both scholars were leaders serving as examples to other students by serving as academic leader and in the student dietetic association serving as Student Government Representative, Student Dietetic Association President, and Student Dietetic Association Treasurer. Both scholars stated that the financial help was invaluable in helping them to achieve academic success while being more fully involved in campus life. Only one scholar wanted to have a mentor from the food and nutrition community. This student was placed with a male dietitian involved in a diabetes intervention research study who had an extensive culinary background which matched the scholar's culinary interests and training. This scholar talked to the mentor on the phone discussed the research project and the process for site clearance needed. The scholar expressed excitement; however, he was still working and did not follow through on visiting the mentor. The scholar then changed his career goals the next semester so did not want a food and nutrition mentor. The ability to fund a tutor through the program was invaluable to one scholar's success in Organic Chemistry I & II. The following experiential learning occurred: 1) Scholars were advised by the nutrition faculty. Scholars met with the program director as needed during the semester. These meetings would range from two to six times per semester depending on the concerns and needs of the scholar. Though both scholars chose not to pursue a career in food and nutrition they both chose to complete the didactic program in dietetics. 2) Unfortunately the campus-wide nutrition promotion program, Right Bite, was eliminated after 2003. Therefore, scholars were encouraged to become involved in the Student Dietetic Association. 3) Each scholar completed 60 community service hours. 4) One scholar completed 60 hours of experiential learningin Nutrition Practicum at a long-term care facility learning about clinical dietetics and food service management. The preceptor rated the scholar as outstanding. In addition the scholar completed a group project in nutrition/wellness promotion on campus. The other student chose to take the Food Recovery and Gleaning class in which laboratory hours are spent at the San Antonio Food Bank completing a variety of tasks and projects. 5) Each student started a career development portfolio in the Introduction to Dietetics course and completed it before graduation. PRODUCTS: Two students received USDA Multicultural Scholars scholarships in the amount of $27,000. Tutoring was provided in the amount of $481.97. Scholars received a total of $61429.20 in scholarships from UIW. A list of mentors for UIW nutrition students was developed. OUTCOMES: Two scholarships were awarded. One scholar received four-year scholarship; another scholar received a two-year scholarship. 100 % of scholars successfully complete academic requirements for professional schools. One is enrolled in a nauropathic doctoral program and the other is enrolled in a physical therapy program. 50 % of scholars took advantage of tutoring program to assist in chemistry classes. 100 % of scholars completed community service activities and experential practice at off-school locations. 100 % of scholars completed professional development portfolios. 100% of scholars were involved in campus activities. 100 % of scholars received at least one academic award while at UIW. Neither scholar established a ongoing relationship with a mentor as they both decided to pursue other health related careers. Unfortunately only two scholars were chosen to participate in the program. The program director thought that the program would be judged by students not successfully completing their degree and not entering a dietetic internship or graduate school so chose to be very selective. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: No disseminatation activities were conducted. FUTURE INITIATIVES: In the Introduction to Dietetics course students will be encouraged to volunteer with community agencies and seek mentors in dietetics outside of formal precepting. In addition, the importance of seeking help outside of class(if needed) from tutors will be emphasized. 'Multicultural Scholars' will be followed as part of ongoing evaluation of graduates.

Impacts
100% of scholars pursued professional doctorate degrees. This impact was unexpected as the scholars chose to pursue non food and nutrition practice doctoral programs. The scholarships allowed them to be more active in campus life. This resulted in one scholar providing continuous enthusiastic leadership that led to a revitalization of the Student Dietetic Association. There has been four years of strong leadership from students with a wide range of interests, backgrounds and strengths.

Publications

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