Recipient Organization
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIV. FRESNO FOUNDATION
4910 N CHESTNUT AVE
FRESNO,CA 93726-1852
Performing Department
FOOD SCIENCE & NUTRITION
Non Technical Summary
The San Joaquin Valley residents are unable to take advantage of the employment opportunity created by the growth of the dairy industry due to lack of knowledge and skills. This project will allow us to acquire state-of-the-art dairy processing equipment for our program, and enable faculty to maximize student learning by integrating theory with experimentation. The hands-on experience will prepare Hispanic and other students for the modern industrial world.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The overall objective is to improve instructional capability of the new interdisciplinary program in Dairy Science and Technology. The specific objectives are: a) To acquire state-of-the-art dairy processing and testing equipment; b) To deliver scientific training in dairy processing using a state-of- the-art pilot-plant. The project will impact both undergraduate and graduate education in Dairy Science and Technology. Successful implementation of the project will result in a dairy processing facility with state-of-the-art equipment. Such a facility will a) Bring about significant improvement in the instructional capability for the interdisciplinary Dairy Science and Technology program; b) Enable the faculty to deliver adequate training that emphasizes application of scientific and engineering principles to dairy processing; c) Make it possible to provide small scale in-plant training to students prior to industrial internships in dairy manufacturing; d) Attract
students to the new interdisciplinary program; e) Enhance the potential of grant funding for graduate thesis research; f) Improve student skills and abilities that will enable them to secure employment upon graduation and contribute to the growth of the dairy industry in the San Joaquin Valley, California, and the United States.
Project Methods
1. Acquisition of the dairy processing and testing equipment: Sealed quotations will be sought from companies that design and fabricate dairy processing and testing equipment. All purchases will follow standard government procedures used by the university. The equipment will be installed in our dairy processing facility and tested to produce dairy products using milk from the dairy farm at California State University, Fresno. 2. Scientific training in dairy processing using the state-of-the-art pilot-plant: To maximize student learning, our facility with the new state-of-the-art equipment will be utilized for laboratory exercises, individual student projects, in-plant training and graduate student research. The Dairy Processing Technician will be responsible for the day to day operation of the equipment for laboratory exercises, student projects, summer in-plant training, and graduate research. The Dairy Processing course (FSC 142) will be redesigned to maximize the
use of the state-of-the-art equipment. This course will focus on unit operations used in the dairy industry and will integrate theory with experimentation. The course syllabus will reflect this change. The project director will plan and execute laboratory experiments. As part of the course (FSC 142), students will carry out a semester-long project on product and/or process development. Students will design their individual projects in consultation with the project director. They will be required to explain the theory being tested in each of the projects. Initially, students will receive training in use of equipment from Mr. Avila, Dairy Processing Technician. They will be responsible for coordinating procurement of milk from the dairy farm, and executing the project. Students will analyze and present research findings, discuss their experience in the dairy processing pilot-plant, and submit a project report. The summer in-plant training will be organized in phases so that the
graduating students receive training in all aspects of dairy processing. Students will work on various process lines in the pilot-plant during summer months under the supervision of Mr. Avila. They will assume responsibility for meeting a production target using the equipment in the pilot-plant. Each student will assemble a process line for a particular dairy product, run the equipment, manufacture the product, and clean and sanitize it at the end of a shift. This exercise will enable students to use pieces of equipment repeatedly, build confidence and prepare them for industrial training (internship) in a dairy processing company. Graduate students will identify pieces of equipment needed for a particular project and coordinate research activities and equipment use with the project director. Students working on industry-sponsored projects will be expected to document the usefulness of the equipment and application of the research results in the dairy industry. All graduate students
are expected to present their findings at state, regional and/or national meetings and publish in peer-reviewed journals.