Progress 08/01/03 to 10/31/06
Outputs
Termination Report - the Southeast Colorado Agriculture Initiative listed six main objectives to be accomplished over the thirty six month term of the project. The following lists the final results on these objectives. (a) Otero Junior College will develop the first two years of curriculum in the majors of soil conservation and food sciences (dietetics) which will lead to transfer to Colorado State University. This goal has been accomplished as curriculum is in place and an articulation transfer arrangement has been worked out with CSU whereby OJC graduates will transfer directly into these two programs and receive Junior level status. (b) Otero Junior College will upgrade its scientific laboratories in order to teach several lab science courses needed for transfer to Colorado State University. This goal has been accomplished as new equipment was ordered and is currently being used in the laboratory. OJC added an additional $105,000 in lab upgrades to the project and
totally revamped two laboratories on campus. (c) Otero Junior College will work with Colorado State University to double the number of online classes available by CSU for transfer into soil sciences and food science. This goal will not be needed as CSU has added sufficient online classes and has agreed to accept additional OJC transfer courses. OJC has also developed some online curriculum to meet this need. Also, as part of this goal Micro-Biology was added in Spring 2006. (d) Otero Junior College will identify and select 10 scholarship recipients per year (20 total) who have indicated they are interested in transferring to Colorado State University with either soil conservation or food science majors. They will take their first two years of undergraduate credits from Otero Junior College and transfer to CSU for their sophomore year. This goal was accomplished by the receiving of a 9 month extention on the project. 13 scholarships were awarded for Fall/Spring 2004, 11 scholarships
for Fall/Spring 2005, and three were awarded in Fall 2006. (e) 80% of scholarship recipients will complete their freshman year of college and be retained for the sophomore year. The two cohorts of students had fall to fall retention rate of 61%. This was a very aggressive goal given that our overall retention rate for all students is around 60%. The retention rate in this program is excellent given the academic rigor expected in the first two years. (f) 70% of the original cohort of 20 students will complete the two year program at Otero Junior College and transfer on to Colorado State University. This statistic will not be available until after grant funding period is over. However, preliminary data suggests we were too aggressive in this goal. Our current data indicates a transfer rate to CSU of 30% to 35% and an overall transfer to all colleges of 50% to 55%.
PRODUCTS: Scholarships - 23 scholarships were made to students attending Otero Junior College in Academic Years of 2004, 2005, 2006. The awards were made based upon need and given to some of our most promising students. 43% of the awards were made to Hispanic Students. This is much greater than our 32% Hispanic service area population. Lab Upgrade - Two scientific laboratories on campus received a significant upgrade of equipment through grant funds. Otero Junior College far exceeded the required matching. During the grant period OJC matched grant dollars with another $115,000 to completely revamp these two laboratories. OJC dollars funded all new laboratory tables, furniture, seating, sinks, water supply, and laboratory hoods. USDA grant funds paid for various pieces of equipment as outlined in the grant document. This was the first major renovation to science laboratories in 30 years. Current and future students will see the benefits of these laboratories for many years to come.
OUTCOMES: 1. New curriculum has been developed for soil conservation and food science and an articulation transfer arrangement has been worked out with Colorado State University. 2. Several students in financial need have been able to begin college careers with the assistance of grant dollars. 3. Students throughout the science department have been able to take advantage of the new scientific equipment. 4. A closer working relationship with Colorado State University has been developed and several new contacts have been made. 5. Students and faculty advisors are more aware of the agriculture transfer opportunities available at Colorado State University.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Several press releases have been sent out and picked up by media outlets as well as broadcast over our webpage. Announcements about the availability of scholarship dollars have went out in several forms including, newsletters, webpage and press releases. CSU Fort Collins as disseminated information to potential students in our service area as well as state-wide.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: We are currently looking at other opportunities to partner with Colorado State University to enhance agriculture offerings on our campus. CSU Fort Collins Soils Science Department Chair, Dr. Jack Fenwik, has kept in constant contact with our instructional office. As recently as early October 2006, he initiated contact with us about future initiatives and reported back that several of our students are doing well academically in his department. We met with representatives of CSU's distance education department in Sept 2005 to talk about further development of distance education between schools. These conversations have been on-going and there is interest from both parties to pursue further development.
Impacts
The major impact of the project is the availability of agriculture education at a local venue. This project allows students to pursue to first two years of education without leaving the area. This is a major issue for many of our local students who do not have the time or financial means to relocate for four or five years to pursue a degree in agriculture. This project has provided a foundation for students to build upon for the first two years at a local level and then affords them "Junior Level" transfer status to an elite agriculture school. The positive feedback from students and CSU is helping to pave the way for more joint ventures between the two schools.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
The Southeast Colorado Agriculture Initiative listed six main objectives to be accomplished over the thirty six month term of the project. Significant progress has been made on all goals and the project is right on track with the timetable listed in the original grant proposal. The following lists current progress on these objectives. (a) Otero Junior College will develop the first two years of curriculum in the majors of soil conservation and food sciences (dietetics) which will lead to transfer to Colorado State University. This goal has been accomplished as curriculum is in place and an articulation transfer arrangement has been worked out with CSU whereby OJC graduates will transfer directly into these two programs and receive Junior level status. (b) Otero Junior College will upgrade its scientific laboratories in order to teach several lab science courses needed for transfer to Colorado State University. This goal has been accomplished as new equipment was
ordered and is currently being used in the laboratory. (c) Otero Junior College will work with Colorado State University to double the number of online classes available by CSU for transfer into soil sciences and food science. This goal will not be needed as CSU has added sufficient online classes and has agreed to accept additional OJC transfer courses. However, as part of this goal Micro-Biology will be added in Spring 2006. (d) Otero Junior College will identify and select 10 scholarship recipients per year (20 total) who have indicated they are interested in transferring to Colorado State University with either soil conservation or food science majors. They will take their first two years of undergraduate credits from Otero Junior College and transfer to CSU for their sophomore year. This goal is currently a little behind as we have awarded 13 scholarships to students for Fall 2004 and 11 scholarships for Fall 2005. We asked for and received a one year extension. This will enable
us a Fall 2006 award offering to complete the scholarship budget. (e) 80% of scholarship recipients will complete their freshman year of college and be retained for the sophomore year. The first cohort of students had fall to fall retention rate of 63%. This is a little under our goal, however, we knew our goal was high and are still seeking to improve the rate for the second cohort. (f) 70% of the original cohort of 20 students will complete the two year program at Otero Junior College and transfer on to Colorado State University. This statistic will not be available until after grant funding period is over.
PRODUCTS: Scholarships - 20 scholarships were made to students attending Otero Junior College in the fall of 2004 and 2005. Lab Upgrade - The scientific laboratory on campus received a significant upgrade of equipment through grant funds.
OUTCOMES: 1. New curriculum has been developed for soil conservation and food science and an articulation transfer arrangement has been worked out with Colorado State University. 2. Several students in financial need have been able to begin college careers with the assistance of grant dollars. 3. Students throughout the science department have been able to take advantage of the new scientific equipment. 4. A closer working relationship with Colorado State University has been developed and several new contacts have been made. 5. Students and faculty advisors are more aware of the agriculture transfer opportunities available at Colorado State University.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Several press releases have been sent out and picked up by media outlets as well as broadcast over our webpage. Announcements about the availability of scholarship dollars have went out in several forms including, newsletters, webpage and press releases.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: We are currently looking at other opportunities to partner with Colorado State University to enhance agriculture offerings on our campus. We met with representatives of CSU distance education department in Sept 2005 to talk about further development of distance education between schools.
Impacts
The major impact of the project is the availability of agriculture education at a local venue. This project allows students to pursue their education without leaving the area. This is a major issue for many of our local students who do not have the time or means to relocate to pursue a degree in agriculture. This project provides a foundation for students to build upon for the first two years and then affords them transfer to an elite agriculture school.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
The Southeast Colorado Agriculture Initiative listed six main objectives to be accomplished over the thirty six month term of the project. Significant progress has been made on all goals and the project is right on track with the timetable listed in the original grant proposal. The following lists current progress on these objectives. (a) Otero Junior College will develop the first two years of curriculum in the majors of soil conservation and food sciences (dietetics) which will lead to transfer to Colorado State University. This goal has been accomplished as curriculum is in place and an articulation transfer arrangement has been worked out with CSU whereby OJC graduates will transfer directly into these two programs and receive Junior level status. (b) Otero Junior College will upgrade its scientific laboratories in order to teach several lab science courses needed for transfer to Colorado State University. This goal has been accomplished as new equipment was
ordered and is currently being used in the laboratory. (c) Otero Junior College will work with Colorado State University to double the number of online classes available by CSU for transfer into soil sciences and food science. This goal will not be needed as CSU has added sufficient online classes and has agreed to accept additional OJC transfer courses. (d) Otero Junior College will identify and select 10 scholarship recipients per year (20 total) who have indicated they are interested in transferring to Colorado State University with either soil conservation or food science majors. They will take their first two years of undergraduate credits from Otero Junior College and transfer to CSU for their sophomore year. This goal is currently on track has we have identified and awarded 13 scholarships to students for Fall 2004. We anticipate we will pick up the additional seven students next semester. (e) 80% of scholarship recipients will complete their freshman year of college and be
retained for the sophomore year. Since our first cohort of student started Fall 2004 this statistic will not be available until next fall. (f) 70% of the original cohort of 20 students will complete the two year program at Otero Junior College and transfer on to Colorado State University. This statistic will not be available until after grant funding period is over.
PRODUCTS: Scholarships - 20 scholarships were made available to students attending Otero Junior College. Lab Upgrade - The scientific laboratory on campus received a significant upgrade of equipment through grant funds.
OUTCOMES: 1. New curriculum has been developed for soil conservation and food science and an articulation transfer arrangement has been worked out with Colorado State University. 2. Several students in financial need have been able to begin college careers with the assistance of grant dollars. 3. Students throughout the science department have been able to take advantage of the new scientific equipment. 4. A closer working relationship with Colorado State University has been developed and several new contacts have been made. 5. Students and faculty advisors are more aware of the agriculture transfer opportunities available at Colorado State University.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Several press releases have been sent out and picked up by media outlets as well as broadcast over our webpage. Announcements about the availability of scholarship dollars have went out in several forms including, newsletters, webpage and press releases.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: We are currently looking at other opportunities to partner with Colorado State University to enhance agriculture offerings on our campus.
Impacts
The major impact of the project is the availability of agriculture education at a local venue. This project allows students to pursue their education without leaving the area. This is a major issue for many of our local students who do not have the time or means to relocate to pursue a degree in agriculture. This project provides a foundation for students to build upon for the first two years and then affords them transfer to an elite agriculture school.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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