Progress 07/15/08 to 11/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Project La Cena completed it's programming on 11/30/2012. The project was very successful and we were pleased with the results. Below is the summative information from the grant. Objective 1 of the grant was to increase the number of underrepresented students who declare nutrition as a major to 15 in year 3. This objective has been surpassed as we had a total of 67 students verbally declare nutrition as a major, and 43/67 (64%) officially completed paper work to declare nutrition as their major. Of the 67 total, 29 (43%) were underrepresented (male and/or Hispanic). Objective 2 was to increase the year-to-year retention rate of underrepresented students majoring in nutrition to 64.5% in year 3. The results indicate a year-to-year retention rate for students at the community college of 82%. Objective 3 was to increase the number of underrepresented nutrition majors who transfer from Northeast Lakeview College (NLC) or San Antonio College (SAC) to the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) or Texas State University (TSU) to 10 for each University in year 3. We met and exceeded this goal for UIW during the life of the grant with a total of 34 transfers, and almost met the goal with 18 transfers to TSU. There are several additional students eligible to transfer to these universities over the next 18 months. Objective 4 was to increase the annual retention rates of underrepresented nutrition majors who transferred to one of our partner universities to 89% (UIW) and 78% (TSU). That objective was met for both universities. During the course of the grant, several type of activities took place. Presentations were made to 239 high school students, and 590 college stduents about nutrition careers as a form of recruitment. Twenty-eight students participated in university campus tours and "hands-on" workshops. Seventy-nine students became members of the San Antonio Dietetic Association, and forty-five students attended state (Texas Dietetic Association) and/or National (American Dietetic Association, MANNRS) conferences. Fifteen students toured the USDA Children's Nutrition Research Center in Houston and met with professionals to discuss careers and nutrition research at the center. Forty-six juniors and seniors from the two universities served as mentors to the community college students. The grant awarded $84,700 in scholarships to community college and university nutrition majors. Twenty-two of our majors volunteered at the San Antonio Food Bank, 124 students attended 9 meetings of the Nutrition Lecture Series, presented by nutrition professionals in the San Antonio area, and we partnered with the San Antonio Dietetic Association to offer a presentation on nutrition and sustainable agriculture to the dietitians and nutritionists in the San Antonio area. We had over 3000 hits to the La Cena Website. Finally, we have had one graduate from an underrepresented group in nutrition so far, and will have 9 more graduates in May 2013, 5 of which are from underrepresented groups (male and/or Hispanic). PARTICIPANTS: This project was a partnership with four institutions of higher education in the San Antonio, TX area: two community colleges (Northeast Lakeview College and San Antonio College), and two universities (University of the Incarnate Word, and Texas State University). The following individuals were instrumental in the project and received some compensation during the the life of the project: Susan Kazen, Northeast Lakeview College, co-PI; Ellen Brennan, San Antonio College, co-PI; Stephanie Lozano Burns, Northeast Lakeview College, Project Manager. Individuals from collaborating institutions include: Dr. BJ Friedman, Texas State University; Dr. Sylvia Crixell, Texas State University; Dr. Joseph Bonilla, University of the Incarnate Word; Dr. Neeta Singh, University of the Incarnate Word. Other contacts include: Rayna Wooten, President, San Antonio Dietetic Association and members of the San Antonio and Texas Dietetic Associations. Opportunities for training: Project La Cena and the San Antonio Dietetic Association partnered to provide a seminar on nutrition and sustainable agriculture for dietitians and nutritionists in the San Antonio area. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The grant allowed us to greatly increase the number of nutrition majors from underrepresented groups in the San Antonio area who begin at the community college, then successfully transfer to a university to complete their program of study. The main ways this was accomplished was through recruiting activities such as making presentations to community college students in science and kinesiology classes, and through interaction with colleagues across disciplines who understood the goals of the grant and who were instrumental in referring interested students to the project manager. We found that recruitment at the community college level was more successful than trying to recruit from the high schools because high school students did not seem ready to declare a major or make career decisions. The mentor program that paired university students with community college students was also successful, and gave the mentors a chance to hone their leadership skills, and the mentees a chance to learn more about the university setting from a student who was already immersed in that environment. The website served as a recruiting tool, and the social media accounts (facebook and twitter) allowed for greater interaction among students and was also useful for recruiting new, interested students into the program. The Nutrition Lecture Series and attendance at workshops, the CNRC, and conferences provided an opportunity for students to meet and network with professionals in the field from all over the U.S., and also to interract with other students across related disciplines. Finally, the success of the project was due to the communication and organizational skills of the project manager, the collaboration among the two community colleges (SAC and NLC) and the two universities (UIW and TSU), and the scholarship programs.
Publications
- Kazen, SG, Brennan, E, Burns, SL (2010) Project La Cena Progress Report. Texas Dietetic Asociation Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo, Dallas, TX.
- Kazen, SG, Burns, SL (2010) Project La Cena 2010 Evaluation. Texas Dietetic Association Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo, Houston, TX.
- Kazen SG, Burns, SL (2011) La Cena: A Model for Attracting & Retaining Students. National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development, Austin, TX.
- Kazen SG, Burns, SL (2011) Evaluation of Project La Cena (Central Texas Education for Nutrition Advancement). North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Conference, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
- San Antonio Express-News Article, October 2010. Belasco, J. Taking Nutrition to the Next Level.
- Hispanic Outlook Magazine, June 2012. Gilroy, M. La Cena Boosting the Number of Hispanic Nutrition Majors.
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Progress 07/15/08 to 01/31/12
Outputs
Target Audience:nullChanges/Problems:nullWhat opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?OUTPUTS: Project La Cena completed its programming on 11/30/2012. The project was very successful and we were pleased with the results. Below is the summative information from the grant. Objective 1 of the grant was to increase the number of underrepresented students who declare nutrition as a major to 15 in year 3. This objective has been surpassed as we had a total of 67 students verbally declare nutrition as a major, and 43/67 (64%) officially completed paper work to declare nutrition as their major. Of the 67 total, 29 (43%) were underrepresented (male and/or Hispanic). Objective 2 was to increase the year-to-year retention rate of underrepresented students majoring in nutrition to 64.5% in year 3. The results indicate a year-to-year retention rate for students at the community college of 82%. Objective 3 was to increase the number of underrepresented nutrition majors who transfer from Northeast Lakeview College (NLC) or San Antonio College (SAC) to the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) or Texas State University (TSU) to 10 for each University in year 3. We met and exceeded this goal for UIW during the life of the grant with a total of 34 transfers, and almost met the goal with 18 transfers to TSU. There are several additional students eligible to transfer to these universities over the next 18 months. Objective 4 was to increase the annual retention rates of underrepresented nutrition majors who transferred to one of our partner universities to 89% (UIW) and 78% (TSU). That objective was met for both universities. During the course of the grant, several type of activities took place. Presentations were made to 239 high school students, and 590 college stduents about nutrition careers as a form of recruitment. Twenty-eight students participated in university campus tours and "hands-on" workshops. Seventy-nine students became members of the San Antonio Dietetic Association, and forty-five students attended state (Texas Dietetic Association) and/or National (American Dietetic Association, MANNRS) conferences. Fifteen students toured the USDA Childrens Nutrition Research Center in Houston and met with professionals to discuss careers and nutrition research at the center. Forty-six juniors and seniors from the two universities served as mentors to the community college students. The grant awarded $84,700 in scholarships to community college and university nutrition majors. Twenty-two of our majors volunteered at the San Antonio Food Bank, 124 students attended 9 meetings of the Nutrition Lecture Series, presented by nutrition professionals in the San Antonio area, and we partnered with the San Antonio Dietetic Association to offer a presentation on nutrition and sustainable agriculture to the dietitians and nutritionists in the San Antonio area. We had over 3000 hits to the La Cena Website. Finally, we have had one graduate from an underrepresented group in nutrition so far, and will have 9 more graduates in May 2013, 5 of which are from underrepresented groups (male and/or Hispanic). PARTICIPANTS: This project was a partnership with four institutions of higher education in the San Antonio, TX area: two community colleges (Northeast Lakeview College and San Antonio College), and two universities (University of the Incarnate Word, and Texas State University). The following individuals were instrumental in the project and received some compensation during the the life of the project: Susan Kazen, Northeast Lakeview College, co-PI; Ellen Brennan, San Antonio College, co-PI; Stephanie Lozano Burns, Northeast Lakeview College, Project Manager. Individuals from collaborating institutions include: Dr. BJ Friedman, Texas State University; Dr. Sylvia Crixell, Texas State University; Dr. Joseph Bonilla, University of the Incarnate Word; Dr. Neeta Singh, University of the Incarnate Word. Other contacts include: Rayna Wooten, President, San Antonio Dietetic Association and members of the San Antonio and Texas Dietetic Associations. Opportunities for training: Project La Cena and the San Antonio Dietetic Association partnered to provide a seminar on nutrition and sustainable agriculture for dietitians and nutritionists in the San Antonio area. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?nullWhat do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?null
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The grant allowed us to greatly increase the number of nutrition majors from underrepresented groups in the San Antonio area who begin at the community college, then successfully transfer to a university to complete their program of study. The main ways this was accomplished was through recruiting activities such as making presentations to community college students in science and kinesiology classes, and through interaction with colleagues across disciplines who understood the goals of the grant and who were instrumental in referring interested students to the project manager. We found that recruitment at the community college level was more successful than trying to recruit from the high schools because high school students did not seem ready to declare a major or make career decisions. The mentor program that paired university students with community college students was also successful, and gave the mentors a chance to hone their leadership skills, and the mentees a chance to learn more about the university setting from a student who was already immersed in that environment. The website served as a recruiting tool, and the social media accounts (facebook and twitter) allowed for greater interaction among students and was also useful for recruiting new, interested students into the program. The Nutrition Lecture Series and attendance at workshops, the CNRC, and conferences provided an opportunity for students to meet and network with professionals in the field from all over the U.S., and also to interract with other students across related disciplines. Finally, the success of the project was due to the communication and organizational skills of the project manager, the collaboration among the two community colleges (SAC and NLC) and the two universities (UIW and TSU), and the scholarship programs.
Publications
- Citation:
Kazen, SG, Brennan, E, Burns, SL (2010) Project La Cena Progress Report. Texas Dietetic Asociation Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo, Dallas, TX.
- Citation:
Kazen, SG, Brennan, E, Burns, SL (2010) Project La Cena Progress Report. Texas Dietetic Asociation Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo, Dallas, TX.
Citation:
Kazen, SG, Burns, SL (2010) Project La Cena 2010 Evaluation. Texas Dietetic Association Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo, Houston, TX.
- Citation:
Kazen, SG, Brennan, E, Burns, SL (2010) Project La Cena Progress Report. Texas Dietetic Asociation Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo, Dallas, TX.
Citation:
Kazen, SG, Burns, SL (2010) Project La Cena 2010 Evaluation. Texas Dietetic Association Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo, Houston, TX.
Citation:
Kazen SG, Burns, SL (2011) La Cena: A Model for Attracting & Retaining Students. National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development, Austin, TX.
- Citation:
Kazen, SG, Brennan, E, Burns, SL (2010) Project La Cena Progress Report. Texas Dietetic Asociation Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo, Dallas, TX.
Citation:
Kazen, SG, Burns, SL (2010) Project La Cena 2010 Evaluation. Texas Dietetic Association Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo, Houston, TX.
Citation:
Kazen SG, Burns, SL (2011) La Cena: A Model for Attracting & Retaining Students. National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development, Austin, TX.
Citation:
Kazen SG, Burns, SL (2011) Evaluation of Project La Cena (Central Texas Education for Nutrition Advancement). North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Conference, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
- Citation:
Kazen, SG, Brennan, E, Burns, SL (2010) Project La Cena Progress Report. Texas Dietetic Asociation Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo, Dallas, TX.
Citation:
Kazen, SG, Burns, SL (2010) Project La Cena 2010 Evaluation. Texas Dietetic Association Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo, Houston, TX.
Citation:
Kazen SG, Burns, SL (2011) La Cena: A Model for Attracting & Retaining Students. National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development, Austin, TX.
Citation:
Kazen SG, Burns, SL (2011) Evaluation of Project La Cena (Central Texas Education for Nutrition Advancement). North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Conference, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Citation:
San Antonio Express-News Article, October 2010. Belasco, J. Taking Nutrition to the Next Level.
- Citation:
Kazen, SG, Brennan, E, Burns, SL (2010) Project La Cena Progress Report. Texas Dietetic Asociation Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo, Dallas, TX.
Citation:
Kazen, SG, Burns, SL (2010) Project La Cena 2010 Evaluation. Texas Dietetic Association Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo, Houston, TX.
Citation:
Kazen SG, Burns, SL (2011) La Cena: A Model for Attracting & Retaining Students. National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development, Austin, TX.
Citation:
Kazen SG, Burns, SL (2011) Evaluation of Project La Cena (Central Texas Education for Nutrition Advancement). North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Conference, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Citation:
San Antonio Express-News Article, October 2010. Belasco, J. Taking Nutrition to the Next Level.
Citation:
Hispanic Outlook Magazine, June 2012. Gilroy, M. La Cena Boosting the Number of Hispanic Nutrition Majors.
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Progress 07/15/10 to 07/14/11
Outputs
Objective 1: Increase the number of underrepresented students who declare nutrition as a major to 15 in year 3, has been met and surpassed. La Cena had a total of 63 students at Northeast Lakeview College (NLC) and San Antonio College (SAC) for Academic Year (AY) 2010-2011. Of that total, 27 (43%) of those students are underrepresented (male-12 and/or Hispanic-17). Starting November 2010, our students now have the opportunity to officially declare nutrition as their major (previously the students were self-declared); this was made possible by the addition of an Associate of Science with a concentration in Biology Nutrition now offered at SAC. Since November, 39 students have officially declared themselves nutrition majors and 20 (51%) of these students are underrepresented. Objective 2: Increase the year-to-year retention rate of underrepresented students majoring in nutrition to 64.5% in year 3, has been met and surpassed at 82%. Objective 3: Increase the number of underrepresented nutrition majors who transfer from NLC/SAC to the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) or Texas State University to 10 for each University in year three, was not met for Texas State (8), and was met and exceeded for UIW (14). Several students will be transferring to Texas State for Fall 2011 and Texas State will quickly obtain their goal. Objective 4: Increase the annual retention rate (Fall 2010-Spring 2011) of underrepresented nutrition majors who transferred to Texas State or UIW to 89% and 78% respectively, in year 3, has been met and surpassed for both Texas State (100%) and UIW (85%). The La Cena website has been maintained and has received a total of 2837 hits as of June 2011. Academic support is continually provided for each La Cena student in the form of degree plans and individual advisement. The Project Manager (PM) presented to 244 college students (12 classes) during 2010-2011 in an effort to continue recruiting nutrition majors. 24 scholarships totaling $57,500 were awarded to La Cena students AY 10-11. Over the three years, 35 students have received scholarships totaling $65,500. Furthermore, La Cena was able to coordinate mentoring with 26 UIW and Texas State students 2010-2011 totaling $5,200 in mentor stipends. La Cena was also able to host 7 presentations by Nutrition professionals (aka Nutrition Lecture Series) and 117 plus students attended. 51 students were sponsored to join the San Antonio Dietetic Association, and 17 attended conferences for the American Dietetic Association, Texas Dietetic Association, and Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences during 2010-11. 24 students attended Hands on Nutrition Workshops and campus tours at Texas State and UIW, and 9 students were able to tour the USDA Children's Nutritional Research Center in Houston, TX. PRODUCTS: Project A: The La Cena website (www.projectlacena.com) is maintained to provide students, instructors, and anyone who is interested, a quick and easy way to read about why La Cena exists and what the program does to assist students in their academic endeavors. The website also outlines all of the services and opportunities available for students including scholarships, mentors, free professional memberships, conferences, campus tours, Nutrition Lecture Series, and advising. Furthermore, the website has a section on career guidance including interviews with nutrition professionals. Our website also includes related nutrition links, contact information, and a blog to inform students of upcoming activities and nutrition tips. Project B: La Cena brochures and flyers are provided to high schools, NLC/SAC instructors, and students to provide information about La Cena. The brochures and flyers include a brief summary of our grant, our objectives, information about our services, possible careers available with a degree in nutrition, and contact information. The flyers, along with posters, are posted throughout NLC and SAC. Project C: For the AY 10-11, seven Nutrition Lecture Series (NLS) were held. The NLS serve as a way for experienced nutrition professionals to come and speak to our students about how they got into the field, their experiences, and what they are doing now with their degree(s). NLS covered topics such as gluten free diets, the benefits of having a degree in nutrition, owning a healthy restaurant, eating locally, information about the American Dietetic Association, how to become a registered dietitian, and the importance of eating locally by a Go Texan representative. Project D: The PM provides personal individual advising to nutrition majors at NLC/SAC to inform them of the classes needed to take at the community college level to prepare them to transfer to a university to obtain a degree in nutrition. Sample 2+2 degree plans are available on the La Cena website. "2+2 degree plans" denote degree plans that reflect 2 years attending the community college and 2 years attending the university to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition. Project E: Twenty-six mentors from Texas State and UIW were paired with NLC and SAC La Cena students to discuss issues related to transferring, course selection and description, transition into the university, encouragement to attend La Cena events, and encouragement to remain in the nutrition program. Project F: The PM has continued to visit with NLC/SAC students and instructors in related fields, to educate them about the career opportunities available with a nutrition degree and how La Cena can assist students with obtaining a degree in Nutrition. OUTCOMES: Project A: The website serves as a resource to allow students and instructors who are interested in our program to learn more about it at their convenience. Students who are unable to meet with the PM are directed to the website, where the student may access general degree plans, application links for memberships and scholarships, and information on what programs are available to them post NLC/SAC, as well as career opportunities. Students are more likely to join and participate in a program when information is easily accessible. Project B: According to our surveys, flyers have been one of the most effective means of recruiting students for La Cena; brochures also allow a more detailed explanation of the project. Posters, being larger and simpler, also catch the attention of students and instructors, which lead them to inquire further about the program. Effective recruitment measures are vital for a successful program. Project C: The outcome of the Nutrition Lecture Series (NLS) is that students will have a vision of the different careers that are available with a nutrition degree and Q & A with someone who knows about that career first hand. Project D: The PM outlines 2+2 degree plans for students so that they have a clear path of courses that they need to complete to transition into a university. The PM makes sure students are taking the right courses, so that when they are pipelined to UIW and Texas State, they have taken the correct prerequisites. Project E: Mentors provide the outcome of students being comfortable with transferring into the university. Students are more familiar with the university once they know someone who is currently attending. Mentors also provide these students with information related to the university's current nutrition program. Project F: Recruitment of high school seniors and college students exists as a necessity of our project. Recruiting students allows us to have a growing foundation of students interested in nutrition, to meet our objectives of the grant, and to have these students transfer to a university and graduate with a degree in nutrition. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Project La Cena's dissemination activities include posts on Facebook, the website blog, and Twitter (to target young, college, and high school aged audiences), a monthly newsletter, our website, brochures, flyers, posters, and visiting high school and college level classrooms in order to distribute information to the public and discuss Project La Cena's achievements, activities, impacts, and more. Project La Cena has also made presentations at the Texas Dietetic Association Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo, National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Conference, and the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Conference. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Project La Cena exerts confidence that this grant has set a foundation for continued success among nutrition students. Activities that Project La Cena will continue to participate in include promoting participation in federal internship opportunities, continuation of the Project La Cena Student Organization at Northeast Lakeview College (NLC) which will continue to hold meetings, campus tours, volunteering opportunities, and other engaging activities for nutrition majors. Also, the PM has educated advisors about the courses students need to take at NLC/SAC to transfer to a university to obtain a degree in nutrition. Project La Cena will also be participating in a one year no cost extension (7/11-7/12) that will include Transfer and Post Transfer Scholarships, PR and marketing efforts, student travel to conferences, a nutrition seminar in conjunction with the San Antonio Dietetic Association, and new equipment for the nutrition lab at NLC.
Impacts
Project A: The website enables students to learn about the program and career opportunities in nutrition and in effect increases the number of underrepresented students who declare nutrition as a major. Project B: Brochures, flyers, and posters also attract and enable underrepresented students to learn about the project, join, and be immersed into the field of nutrition to promote healthier eating habits and lifestyles. Project C: The Nutrition Lecture Series further motivates and informs students to decide on and obtain a career where they can improve health in Texas as well-trained nutrition professionals. Project D: Advising provides students with a clear understanding of the 2+2 process of obtaining a degree in nutrition, leading to an increased number of underrepresented nutrition majors who transfer to UIW or Texas State. Project E: Mentoring also increases the retention rate of students; retained students are more likely to transfer to a university to complete their degree, providing students of diverse backgrounds access to higher education. Project F: Recruiting underrepresented students and providing them with access to our services, assists in the need to increase Hispanic education levels. Furthermore, childhood obesity is most common in blacks and Hispanics. Obesity is "more prevalent among older and non-Hispanic black and Mexican American women" (Healthy People 2020). Therefore, educating Hispanics is essential to the success of ameliorating the high incidence of obesity in South Central Texas.
Publications
- Conference Presentation Posters: Brennan E, Kazen SG, Lozano SA (2010) Project: La Cena Progress Report. Texas Dietetic Association Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo, Dallas, TX.
- Brennan E, Kazen SG, Burns SL (2011) Project: La Cena 2010 Evaluation. Texas Dietetic Association Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo, Houston, TX.
- Kazen SG, Burns SL (2011) La Cena: A Model for Attracting & Retaining Students. National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development, Austin, TX.
- Kazen SG, Burns SL (2011) Evaluation of Project La Cena (Central Texas Education for Nutrition Advancement). North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Conference, Edmonton, Alberta Canada.
- Half-page Sunday newspaper article: Belasco, Jessica. Taking Nutrition to the Next Level. San Antonio Express News, October 2010.
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Progress 07/15/09 to 07/14/10
Outputs
Objective 1: Increase the number of underrepresented students who declare a nutrition major to 11 in year 2, has been met and surpassed. La Cena had a total of 23 self-identified nutrition majors at the Northeast Lakeview College (NLC) and San Antonio College (SAC) for Academic Year (AY) 09-10. Objective 2: Increase the year-to-year retention rate of underrepresented students majoring in nutrition to 64% in year 2, has been met and surpassed to 100%! Objective 3: Increase the number of underrepresented nutrition majors who transfer from NLC/SAC to the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) or Texas State University (Texas State) to 7 for each University, in year two, was not met for Texas State (3), and was met and exceeded for UIW (14). Please note: The figure (3) for Texas State is an estimate due to the inability of Texas State to release the information due to FERPA regulations. Objective 4: Increase the annual retention rate of underrepresented nutrition majors who transferred to UIW or Texas State to 76% and 87% respectively, in year 2, has not been met for Texas State (67%), and was met and surpassed by UIW (80%). Please note: The figure (67%) for Texas State represents AY 08-09 due to lag involved with retention rate data. The La Cena website has been maintained and has received a total of 1737 hits as of July 2010. Academic support has been provided for each La Cena student in the form of degree plans and individual counseling. Recruiting high school seniors and college students was done successfully. The PM was able to speak to more than 239 high school students (11 classes), as well as 234 college students (12 classes). 10 scholarships (totaling $8,000) were awarded to La Cena students AY 09-10. Furthermore, La Cena was able to coordinate mentoring with 20 UIW and Texas State students, and provide $140 in stipends. La Cena was also able to host 5 presentations by Nutrition professionals (aka Nutrition Lecture Series). 28 students were able to join a professional association (San Antonio Dietetic Association), 13 attended conferences (Texas Dietetic Association and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences) and 6 visited the USDA-ARS in Houston, TX. The Hands-on Nutrition Workshop did not occur at UIW due to interference with students schedules, and did occur at Texas State (4 students attended) with success. Students were also able to tour both Universities. Please contact slozano62@alamo.edu for any questions regarding this report. PRODUCTS: Project A: The La Cena website (www.projectlacena.com) is maintained to provide students, teachers, and anyone else who is interested, a quick and easy way to read about why La Cena exists and what the program does to assist students in their academic endeavors. The website also outlines all of the services and opportunities available for students including scholarships, mentors, free professional memberships, conferences, fieldtrips, Nutrition Lecture Series, and advising. Furthermore, the website has a section on career guidance including interviews with professionals in Nutrition and Food Science. Our website also includes related nutrition links, contact information, and a blog to inform students of upcoming activities and nutrition tips. Project B: La Cena brochures and flyers are provided to high schools and NLC/SAC teachers and students to inform them about La Cena. The brochures and flyers include a brief summary of our grant, our objectives, information about our services, possible careers available with a degree in nutrition, and contact information. The flyers, along with posters, are posted throughout NLC and SAC. Project C: For the AY 09-10, five Nutrition Lecture Series (NLS) were held. The NLS serve as a way for experienced nutrition professionals to come and speak to our students about how they got into the field, their experiences, and what they are doing now with their degree(s). NLS covered topics such as autism and gluten free diets, the benefits of having a degree in nutrition, eating locally, information about the American Dietetic Association, and the importance of eating "green". Project D: The PM provides personal individual advising to nutrition majors at NLC/SAC to inform them of the classes needed to take at the community college level to prepare them to transfer to a university to obtain a degree in nutrition. Sample 2+2 degree plans are available on the La Cena website. "2+2 degree plans" denote degree plans that reflect 2 years spent at the community college and 2 years spent at the university to obtain a BS in Nutrition. Project E: twenty mentors from Texas State and UIW were able to be paired with NLC and SAC La Cena students to discuss issues related to transferring, course selection and description, transition into the university, encouragement to attend La Cena events, and encouragement to remain in the nutrition program. Project F: The PM has and will continue to visit with high school and NLC/SAC students and teachers, in related fields, to educate them about the career opportunities available with a nutrition degree and how La Cena can assist students with obtaining a degree in Nutrition. OUTCOMES: Project A: The website exists as an resourceful instrument to allow students and teachers who are interested in our program to learn more about it at their convenience. Students who are unable to meet with the PM are directed to the website, where the student may access general degree plans, application links for memberships and scholarships, and information on what programs are available to them post NLC/SAC, as well as career opportunities. The website also exists as a useful tool to post upcoming Nutrition Lecture Series speakers and other upcoming events. Students are more likely to join and participate in a program when information is easily accessible. Project B: According to our surveys, flyers have been one of the most effective means of recruiting students for La Cena; brochures also allow a more detailed explanation of the project. Posters, being larger and simpler, also catch the attention of students and teachers, which lead them to inquire further about the program. Effective recruitment measures are vital for a successful program. Project C: The outcome of the Nutrition Lecture Series (NLS) is that students will have a vision of the different careers that are available with a nutrition degree and get to Q & A with someone who knows about that career first hand. Project D: The project manager (PM) outlines 2+2 degree plans for students so that they have a clear path of courses that they need to take to transition into a university. There is no point in taking courses at a community college that are not going to transfer to the degree that the student aspires; so the PM makes sure students are on the right track, and taking the right courses, so that when they are pipelined to UIW and Texas State, they are caught up on required courses. Project E: Mentors provide the outcome of students being comfortable with transferring into the university. Students will be able to be more familiar with the university once they know someone who is currently there. Mentors also provide them with information related to the university's current nutrition program. Project F: Recruitment of high school seniors and college students exists as a necessity of our project. Recruiting students allows us to have a growing foundation of students interested in nutrition, to meet our objectives of the grant, and have these students transfer to a university and graduate with a degree in nutrition. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Project La Cena's dissemination activities include posts on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter (to target young, college, and high school aged audiences), a monthly newsletter, our website, brochures, flyers, posters, and visiting high school and college level classrooms in order to distribute information to the public and discuss Project La Cena's achievements, activities, impacts, and more. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Activities planned to occur beyond the funding period include prospective similar grants and a continuation of the Project La Cena student organization at Northeast Lakeview College (NLC), started by Project La Cena. Also, the PM will educate the advisors at San Antonio College (SAC) and NLC about the courses students need to take at NLC/SAC to transfer to a university to obtain a degree in nutrition, so that post the funding period, students will still have a resource for that information.
Impacts
Project A The website enables students to learn about the program and career opportunities in nutrition, and in effect, assisted in increasing the number of underrepresented students who declare nutrition as a major to 23 in year 2. Project B Brochures, flyers, and posters also attract and enable underrepresented students to learn about the project, join, and be immersed into the field of nutrition to promote healthier eating habits and lifestyles. Project C The Nutrition Lecture Series further motivates and informs students to decide on and obtain a career where they can improve health in Texas as well-trained nutritionists. Project D Advising provides students with a clear understanding of the 2+2 process of obtaining a degree in nutrition, leading to an increased number of underrepresented nutrition majors who transfer to UIW or Texas State to 10 and 10, respectively, by Spring 2011. Project E Mentoring also increases the retention rate of students, as reflected by our 100% retention rate in underrepresented nutrition majors at NLC/SAC (for AY 09-10). Retained students are more likely to transfer to a university to complete their degree, providing students of diverse backgrounds access to higher education. Project F Recruiting underrepresented students and providing them with access to our services, assists in the need to increase Hispanic education levels. Furthermore, approximately 70% of Hispanic adults are categorized as overweight or obese; if we recruit this population into a field where they are educated about nutrition, we can significantly lower this percentage.
Publications
- Kazen SG, Brennan E, Lozano SA. "Project: La Cena" Progress Report (Central Education for Nutrition Advancement), Texas Dietetic Association Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo, 2010.
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Progress 07/15/08 to 07/14/09
Outputs
Objective 1: Increase the number of under-represented students who declare a Nutrition major to 8 in year 1, has been met and surpassed. La Cena had 13 self-identified Nutrition majors at the Alamo Colleges (AC) for Academic Year 08-09. Objective 2: Increase the year-to-year retention rate of under-represented students majoring in Nutrition to 63% in year 1, has been met and surpassed to 69.1%. Currently, we are using the overall San Antonio College retention rate, because historical data is not yet available for Nutrition majors. Objective 3: Increase the number of under-represented Nutrition majors who transfer from the AC to the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) or Texas State University (Texas State) to 5 for each University, in year one, was not met for Texas State (3), and was met and exceeded for the UIW (6). Objective 4: Increase the annual retention rate of under-represented Nutrition majors who transferred to UIW or Texas State to 74% and 85% respectively, in year 1, has not been met for Texas State (66.7%) or UIW (50%). The project was scheduled to start-up in Fall 08; the foundation was laid, but the PM was not hired until March 09 (Spring). In Fall 08, the La Cena website was to be developed and maintained; however, this did not occur until after the PM was hired. Also, academic support was to be provided in Fall 08; this was also not possible until organized by the PM in Spring 09. Recruiting high school seniors and college students was done successfully. The PM was able to speak to approximately 137 high school students and 11 teachers, as well as 160 college students and 3 instructors. Scholarships were not awarded in Spring 09; even though this activity was on the timetable, there was not money in the budget to provide scholarships in year one. As of Spring 09, the La Cena website was developed, maintained, and accrued over 200 hits. Furthermore, La Cena was able to provide consistent academic support, and coordinate mentoring with UIW and Texas State students (which will take effect in Fall 09). La Cena was not able to host monthly presentations by Nutrition professionals (aka Nutrition Lecture Series) at this time due to the professionals not being scheduled until the PM was on staff. The Nutrition Lecture Series (NLS) will also start promptly in Fall 09. Students were not able to join a professional association, attend conferences, or visit the USDA-ARS, because these were activities not able to be planned out, due to late hiring of a PM. However, all of these activities are now scheduled and planned to be implemented Fall 09. The Hands-on Nutrition Workshop at UIW and Texas State and touring the Universities, was not possible for the same reason and has the same expectations for Fall 09. The activities for the Summer 09 timetable included continued development and maintenance of the website and providing academic support, which were both accomplished successfully. The timetable also included NLS and students joining a professional association / attending state conference, which was not carried out for reasons stated previously. Please contact slozano62@alamo.edu for any questions regarding this report. PRODUCTS: Project A: The La Cena website (www.projectlacena.com) was developed to provide students, teachers, and anyone else who is interested, a quick and easy way to read about what La Cena is and what it does. The website also outlines all of the services and opportunities available for students including scholarships, mentors, free professional memberships, fieldtrips, and advising. Furthermore, the website has a section on career guidance including interviews with Professionals in Nutrition and Food Science. Our website also includes related links, contact information, and a blog to inform students of upcoming activities and weekly Nutrition tips. Project B: La Cena brochures and flyers were created, handed-out and mailed to high school teachers in related fields to inform them about La Cena. The brochures and flyers include a brief summary of our grant, our objectives, and information about our services, and possible careers available with a degree in Nutrition and contact information. The flyers, along with posters are posted throughout Northeast Lakeview College. As of Fall 2009, the flyers will be posted throughout San Antonio College as well. Project C: Nine Interviews with professionals in various areas of the Nutrition and Food Science field have been conducted. These interviews include a variety of questions related to the Nutrition field, education, and work experience, as well as pictures of the professionals. Some of the interviews include short video clips and curriculum vitae. Project D: The PM provides personal individual advising to Nutrition Majors at the Alamo Colleges to inform them of the classes needed to take at the community college level to prepare them to transfer to a University to obtain a degree in Nutrition. Sample 2+2 degree plans are available on the La Cena website. "2+2 degree plans" denote degree plans that reflect 2 years spent at the community college and 2 years spent at the University to obtain a degree. Project E: The Alamo Colleges each have an academic success center that La Cena can refer them to, in order to provide tutoring in subjects that students are struggling with. Furthermore, the PM has personally tutored a student who wanted to retake the Accuplacer, to be placed into a higher Math course. Project F: The PM has and will continue to visit with high school students, teachers, and Alamo College students and teachers in related fields to educate them about the career opportunities available with a Nutrition Degree and how La Cena can assist students with obtaining a degree in Nutrition. OUTCOMES: Project A: The website is an efficient tool to allow students and teachers who are interested in our Program to learn about it. If a student is unable to meet with the PM, they can be directed to the website, where the student will be able to get a briefing of what their degree plan will look like, application links for memberships and scholarships, and information on what programs are available to them post Alamo Colleges, as well as career opportunities. The website will also be a useful tool to post upcoming Nutrition Lecture Series Speakers and other upcoming events. Students are more likely to join and participate in a program when information is easily accessible. Project B: According to our surveys, flyers have been the most effective means of recruiting students for La Cena. Brochures allow a more detailed explanation of the project to be handed out once students express interest. Brochures are also given to high school teachers in order to provide a convenient way for them to have contact information of the PM. Posters, being larger and simpler, catch the attention of more students and teachers so that they can inquire further. Project C: Interviews of Professionals in Nutrition and Food Science allow students an easy and interactive way to learn about the different career opportunities available with a degree in Nutrition. Knowing what careers are available and what they consist of, will influence students to feel more secure about obtaining a degree and a job in the Nutrition Field. Students knowing what to do with their degree once they get it, is almost as vital as obtaining the degree. Project D: The project manager (PM) outlines 2+2 degree plans for students so that they have a clear path of courses that they need to take to transition into a University. There is no point in taking courses at a community college, if your courses are not going to transfer into the degree that you want; so the PM makes sure students are on the right track so that when they are pipelined to UIW and Texas State, they are caught up on required courses. Project E: As you may or may not know, a degree in Nutrition is significantly heavy in the area of required science courses. This is the area that most students, seeking a degree in Nutrition, struggle with. Therefore, having a resource to direct students to receive academic support and pass their classes is imperative to a successful retention rate. Furthermore, students who place poorly in the Math section of the Accuplacer could be required to take up to four remedial Math courses before they are eligible for a college algebra course. College algebra is a prerequisite for chemistry courses. Therefore, academic support is needed for these students so that they are able to test into and be prepared for high level math courses and take required chemistry courses successfully. Project F: Recruitment of high school seniors and college students is a necessity of our project. Recruiting students allows us to have a growing foundation of students interested in Nutrition to meet our objectives of the Grant, and have these students transfer to a university and graduate with a degree in Nutrition. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Project La Cena's dissemination activities include a Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter account, a monthly newsletter, our website, brochures, flyers, posters, and visiting high school and college level classrooms in order to distribute information to the public and discuss Project La Cena's achievements, activities, impacts, and more. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Activities planned to occur beyond the funding period include applications for similar grants and a continuation of the Project La Cena Student Organization at Northeast Lakeview College (NLC), started by Project La Cena. Also, the PM will be sure to educate the advisors at San Antonio College (SAC) and NLC about the courses students need to take to transfer to a university to obtain a degree in Nutrition, so that post the funding period, students will still have a resource for that information.
Impacts
Project A The website enables students to learn about the program and career opportunities in Nutrition, and in effect, increases the number of underrepresented students who declare a Nutrition as a major to 13 in year one. Project B Brochures, flyers, and posters also attract and enable underrepresented students to learn about the project, join, and be immersed into the field of nutrition to promote healthier eating habits and lifestyles. Project C Interviews with Nutrition Professionals further motivate and inform students to decide on and obtain a career in the field where they can improve health in Central /South Texas as well-trained nutritionists. Project D Advising provides La Cena students with a clear understanding of the process of becoming a nutritionist and completing their education, leading to an increased number of underrepresented nutrition majors who transfer to UIW or Texas State to 10 and 10, respectively, by Spring 2011. Project E Academic support also increases the retention rate of underrepresented Nutrition majors to 64.5% by Spring 2011. Retained nutrition majors are more likely to complete their degree, providing students of diverse backgrounds access to higher education. Project F Recruiting from targeted high schools (minority enrollments: 44-98%), and allowing them access to our services, assists in the need to increase Hispanic education levels. Furthermore, 70% of Hispanic adults are categorized as overweight or obese; if we recruit this population into a field where they are educated about Nutrition, we can significantly lower this percentage.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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