Progress 08/01/03 to 07/31/06
Outputs
Students funded: 175 were funded. Year 2006 The Pathways to Careers in Landscape Horticulture grant 2003-03766, was funded in 2003 as a partnership between Houston Community College, (a Hispanic Serving Institution), Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (COALS), Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD), Prairie View A&M, and the USDA Agriculture Research Service (ARS). The partnership was originally a two-year grant of $300,000 to create an extensive model program to attract, retain, and graduate underrepresented students in landscape horticulture. This grant was slated to end in July 2005, but was granted a one-year no-cost extension until June 2006. Pathways to Careers in Landscape Horticulture was a continuation of the work accomplished in the Bridges to Careers as Urban Environmentalists USDA grant no. 2001-38422-13332. This project addresses the recruitment and retention of low-income Hispanic and underrepresented students who have limited
educational goals and are primarily first-generation college students. By creating a pipeline for these students, the projects addresses the problem of a burgeoning Hispanic population and the needs of a primary industry in Texas. The primary target is (1) student recruitment and retention in higher education. By priority, the other targeted areas are (2) faculty/teaching enhancement, (3) student experiential learning, and (4) instructional delivery systems. Activities carried out during the life of the grant built on previous experiences as well as activities carried out during the Bridges to Careers grant. Students as SBISD were introduced to the field of agriculture and horticulture through visits to the HCC horticulture program, the Reliant Center, Minute Maid Park (turf grass), Moody Gardens, Texas A&M University Agriculture Center, Sam Houston State University, Mercer Arboretum, golf courses in the Houston area, the Merry Christmas Tree Farm, Nelson Water Gardens, and CAPS of
Houston. These field trips were carried out during the school as well as during the two-week summer agri-business carnival held each summer. During each summer carnival, students were educated and exposed to the numerous careers opportunities that are available to them with completion of a degree in agriculture science and horticulture. The grade range was 7th grade through 12th grade. Each student was instructed to pick a career or topic that interested them and create a PowerPoint presentation on the requirements of the job and what type of training and education was needed. There were approximately 45 students served each summer with Spring Branch ISD teachers and counselors providing the curriculum. There were also visitors from professionals in the industry on hand to share their experiences with the students. The visitors included professionals from John Deere Landscaping, Metro National, and a doctor of veterinary medicine. The most important accomplishment was solidifying the
bond between the four educational institutions, the continuation of articulation agreements, and the increased ability for students to transfer from one institution to another.
PRODUCTS: Spring Branch ISD students in the summer workshops produced their own computer CD that included their topic of choice from agriculture or horticulture. The CD contains the research each student conducted and it reflects the awareness and mastery of their topic. It also shows their computer competency and the new skills they achieved during the workshop. A successful product raised by the Spring Branch ISD agriculture students was a crop of 1,000 poinsettias for the Christmas holiday season. Houston Community College donated the poinsettia seedlings to the agriculture students as well as the supplies needed to grow and nurture them. The kids grew a beautiful crop of red, pink, and white poinsettias without the luxury of an irrigation system; all 1,000 were watered by hand. This was a first experience for the students. When the crop was ready for the holidays, the students were able to have a plant sale to benefit the agriculture science department. One of the HCC students
who has grown poinsettias with the college was on hand to assist the teacher and the students with proper care and treatment of the crop. She also supervised with chemical applications because she is a licensed applicator. A third product of the grant was the creation of a color brochure. Previously the brochures were in black and white and did not show the Green Industry appeal. We succeeded in producing a beautiful color brochure and color posters that are attractive to young people.
OUTCOMES: We are pleased with the multiple outcomes of this grant. In particular, student enrollment in horticulture and agriculture at HCC has increased by 25 percent. Due to industry and faculty involvement coupled with on site activities and field trips, student awareness and interest has increased significantly. Students from SBISD and HCC were personally introduced to TAMU and SHSU faculty and students. They observed student projects and toured the campuses. Another successful outcome was the internship with ARS(Agricultural Research Services) and HCC student Bryan Deak. Bryan was selected to represent HCC in Lane, Oklahoma. He worked with scientists Chuck Webber and Angela Davis in their studies of vinegar and weed control, and mildew growth on watermelons. Bryan spent the summer (12 weeks) of 2005 working in the lab assisting the scientists. His experience convinced him that he wanted to complete his bachelors degree and pursue a career in horticulture. At the end of the
summer, Bryan presented his research at a special workshop in College Station honoring all the interns in the state of Texas. There was a continuation of aligning the curricula with partnering schools so that students are able to benefit from a smooth transition from one school to another. Faculty at HCC, TAMU, SBISD, and SHSU have found the activities engaging and worthwhile. We successfully created a model for student involvement and believe there is an increased perception that partnering schools are more accessible and available.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Each grant activity was announced through school flyers. In February 2004, we presented the grant results at the USDA grant workshop in Houston, Texas. Charlotte Christopher participated in the USDA Fellows program during the summer of 2004 and shared the grant activities with her colleagues. The project director and co-director became members of the newly formed Texas Consortium of HSI (Hispanic Serving Institutions).We traveled to Laredo in March of 2005 for the first workshop with our partners.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: Houston Community College, Northwest has applied for a new USDA grant that will continue and expand on the progress of this grant. The objectives will be to develop a cohort group of students that begin and move through their agriculture and horticulture programs at a consistent and parallel level. With this objective, we feel we can get more students to completion and on to a baccalaureate program more successfully.
Impacts
This project has significantly impacted the relationship between HCC and TAMU, SBISD, and SHSU. The relationships have continued to strengthen and solidify. Student awareness of agriculture and horticulture has increased from the high school level to increased enrollment at HCC by 25%. Parental involvement has increased by 30%. 175 students and many parents were reached because of this grant. Curricula were aligned.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/03 to 08/30/04
Outputs
09/01/2003 - 08/30/2004 The Bridges to Careers as Urban Environmentalists grant 2003-38422-13332, was funded in 2001 as a partnership between Houston Community College System (HCCS), Texas A & M University (TAMU), Sam Houston State University (SHSU), the Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) and members of the Texas Association of Nurserymen. The grant was designed to prepare under served youth in higher education studies through a model education program that introduces and prepares students for professional careers in food, agriculture, horticulture and natural resources in urban settings. It was developed during the fall of 2000 and approved in September of 2001. The grant had a late start up date and thus needed an additional year to complete the activities. A no cost extension was requested and received from August 2003 through July, 2004 and again from July 2004 through December 2004. This report covers the third year, September 1, 2003 to August 31,
2004. The goal of the grant is to recruit students; create faculty, counselor and parental involvement; provide laboratory instrumentation; disseminate training information; align curricula with partnering schools; increase Hispanic student enrollment in agriculture, increase transfer of students from two-year associate to four-year baccalaureate programs; and build a strong relationship between the grant partners: HCCS, TAMU, SHSU and SBISD and local agriculture-related businesses and industries. Activities carried out during this reporting period built on the experience of the previous year and lead to a further strengthening of the relationship between HCCS, TAMU, SHSU and SBISD. Students at SBISD and HCCS were introduced to the field of agriculture through a variety of interesting activities that increased student awareness of horticulture and agriculture. Students were taken on tours of TAMU, HCCS and SHSU, the Christmas Tree Farm, Reliant Center (for Turf grass), and a Lilly
Pond. At SBISD, students participated in a two-week summer enrichment course on agriculture and horticulture and submitted Power Point presentations as final projects. These presentations were outstanding, and will be submitted to the USDA as part of the final report. The most important accomplishment this year was solidifying the bond between all four institutions, the creation of articulation agreements, and the increased ability for students to transfer from one institution to another. This partnership has led to the study of a new TAMU project entitled, Knowledge and Perceptions of Agriculture Held by Selected Hispanic High School Students.
PRODUCTS: 09/01/2003 - 08/30/2004 This grant produced several creative and innovative products that increased student awareness. For example, SBISD students produced their own CD Rom of their work. The CD is the research each student conducted and reflects students' awareness of the field of agriculture. Each student has a copy of his/her work that also confirms computer competency. A delightful side note on this activity is that students requested even more time next year for projects like this! This project also welcomed parents to participate, and we found that this fostered a very positive atmosphere. Raquel Leal, a SBISD counselor, was instrumental in engaging parents to participate in this activity. We found that one on one interaction with parents was critical to the success of this activity. A second product of this grant was a 9-minute video produced by HCCS with local members of the Texas Society of Nurseryman speaking on the various careers in agriculture and horticulture.
This video is an excellent recruitment vehicle for future viewing with high school and college students. A third product of this grant was the production of a beautiful poster and brochure that will also be used in the future. Two greenhouses were purchased in the first year of the grant, and only installed during the second and third year because of electrical and location changes. At this time, both greenhouses are fully operational and enable students to work on various projects. Plants that have been produced include: various flowers and greenery, poinsettias (currently in production), and peaches; next year we anticipate producing figs.
OUTCOMES: 09/01/2003 - 08/30/2004 We have been pleased with the multiple outcomes of this grant. In particular, student enrollment in horticulture and agriculture at HCCS has almost doubled. Due to industry and faculty involvement coupled with on-site activities, student awareness and interest has increased significantly. Students from SBISD and HCCS were personally introduced to TAMU and were able to meet and interact with both faculty and students. They also observed student projects and toured the campus. The relationship between HCCS and TAMU, SBISD and SHSU has been substantially strengthened and solidified. Several friendships were born through this process. The facilities at SBISD and HCCS were significantly improved because of the greenhouses. Both greenhouses are fully operational and are full of beautiful plants and student projects. The curricula have been aligned between the partnering schools. Counselors are now much better able to guide students so that the students
enroll in the correct classes so as not to lose time and credits as they transfer from one institution to another. Faculty at HCCS , TAMU, SBISD and SHSU have found the activities engaging and worthwhile. We successfully created a model for student involvement and believe that there's an increased perception that all the partner schools are more accessible and available to students.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: 09/01/2003 - 08/30/2004 Each grant activity was announced through school flyers. In February 2004, we presented the grant results at a USDA grant-making workshop in Houston, Texas. Charlotte Christopher, Project Director of Pathways to Careers in Horticulture and Agriculture grant, participated in the USDA Fellowship during the 2004 summer and eagerly shared the grant activities with her colleagues. Jan Melendez, USDA representative for Texas, spoke at a mini conference at SBISD about all the opportunities available with the USDA. Her audience was both students and parents.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: 09/01/2003 - 08/30/2004 A research study entitled, Knowledge and Perceptions of Agriculture Held by Selected Hispanic High School Students, will be conducted by a TAMU master's degree student. This study will give us further insight into how to recruit more Hispanic students into agriculture and related fields. We will also be incorporating more science and English as building blocks for agriculture careers.
Impacts
09/01/2003 - 08/30/2004 This project has significantly impacted the relationship between HCCS, TAMU, SBISD and SHSU. The relationship has been strengthened and solidified. Student awareness of agriculture has increased and enrollment at HCCS has doubled. Parental involvement has increased. Over 300 students and parents were reached because of this grant. Facilities at HCCS and SBISD were significantly improved. Curricula were aligned.
Publications
- 09/01/2003 - 08/30/2004 Publication included new articulation agreements between HCCS and TAMU that outline a way for students to transfer from HCCS to TAMU. The curricula have been aligned between these colleges as well as with Prairie View A & M University.
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