Progress 02/01/09 to 01/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Junior and senior high school students from traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. Changes/Problems: 1. Recruiting capable students from the target audience into majors included in the project. 2. Low scholar grades. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Two current scholars have undergraduate research projects in progress. One scholar participated in an ISU summer internship in Uganda. Two scholars completed summer NSF-REU internships at ISU. Several scholars accepted invitations by faculty to attend evening meetings of the Iowa Section of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. One scholar presented a poster on wind energy systems at the American Geophysical Union meeting in 2011. Scholars were offered trips to annual meetings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, but none accepted. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? An overview presentation of this project took place at the March 28, 2014, meeting of the Engineering Curriculum Committee of the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Over the nine semesters of this project, 10 well-qualified students from traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic groups were recruited as MSP scholars and enrolled in majors in the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department. Among these students were four African Americans, three Hispanic students, two Asian American students, and one Native American. These scholars were awarded 23 student-semesters of scholarship support from this project. Two African American scholars transferred to less demanding majors -- one early in his first semester, a second after one semester. One African American scholar was dropped because of grades by the College of Engineering after four semesters. He is back in agricultural engineering and will likely graduate. He was not allowed to receive further scholarship support. One African American scholar did very well in his first semester and is continuing in agricultural engineering after termination of the project. One Hispanic scholar transferred to Spanish after four successful semesters. One Hispanic scholar left school to enter his family’s business after four successful semesters. A third Hispanic scholar completed seven successful semesters and is continuing in biosystems engineering after termination of the project. Two Asian American scholars switched to other rigorous majors -- one after a few weeks of the first semester, and one after completing one semester. One Native American scholar completed one semester prior to termination of the project, and is continuing in agricultural engineering.
Publications
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Progress 02/01/12 to 01/31/13
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The period covered by this report includes spring semester 2012 and fall semester 2012. These are the sixth and seventh semesters for our project. For spring semester 2012, we had three scholars in the project, including two Hispanic females , and one Hispanic male all majoring in biological systems engineering. Prior to fall semester 2012, one of the Hispanic females changed her major to Spanish and left the program. However, the African American male student who was dismissed by the College of Engineering due to grades was readmitted for fall semester 2012 after doing well in three required courses at a community college. We have petitioned the MSP program manager to allow us to continue his scholarship. He is majoring in agricultural engineering. Academic advisors Dr. LeQuetia Ancar and Ms. Lindsay Diers advise these students. Advisors and investigators keep in close contact with the scholars. Events include group lunches, a trip to a state engineering society meeting, and a Mardi Gras party given by Dr. Ancar on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who work on the project include PI Dr. Carl J. Bern (University Professor); Investigators Dr. Sunday Tim (Associate Professor), Dr. Ramesh Kanwar (Distinguished Professor), and Dr. LeQuetia Ancar (Program Coordinator). Student scholars now in the program include agricultural engineering student Catum Whitfield, and biological systems engineering students Alexandra Olivares and Cole Lopez. Since our project terminates on February 1, 2014 and we anticipate that some funding will be available, we are now recruiting about three students who will be given one or two semester scholarships for Fall 2013 and/or Spring 2014. We partner with the Science Bound project, which is headquartered at Iowa State University. This organization identifies and works with junior high students in Iowa who are members of racially and ethnically diverse groups and helps them prepare for science majors in college. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences are multicultural freshmen who are US citizens and who are interested in majoring in agricultural engineering, biological systems engineering, industrial technology, or agricultural systems technology, and want to work in the bioenergy workforce. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The three scholars in the program now have completed a total of 14 student semesters out of 32 student semesters required at a minimum for them to graduate and compete in the bioenergy workforce. One of the Hispanic BSE students has completed two REU internships at Iowa State. The African American AE student has completed one REU internship. In addition, he is working on a biorenewables storage research project which will be completed during 2014. He has also been accepted into an Iowa State service-learning trip to Uganda this summer.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 02/01/11 to 01/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The period covered in this report includes spring semester 2011, and fall semester 2011. These are the fourth and fifth semesters for our project. For fall semester 2011, we had four scholars in the project. One African American male majoring in agricultural engineering has completed five semesters. Two Hispanic females majoring in biological systems engineering have completed three semesters. One Hispanic male majoring in biological systems engineering was interviewed by our Multicultural Scholars Program Committee and admitted for fall semester 2011. He has completed one semester. Academic advisor Dr. LeQuetia Ancar advises the biological systems engineering students and academic advisor Mrs. Sue Ziegenbusch advises the agricultural engineering student. Unfortunately, the African American student was dismissed by the College of Engineering at the end of fall semester 2011 because of grades. We will be working with him to assist him in defining and solving the problems which led to this dismissal and in gaining reinstatement. Dr Ancar maintains close contact with all of the scholars and organizes events to build community among the scholars and the investigators. Events include catered dinners each semester and a Mardi Gras party on the Tuesday evening before Ash Wednesday. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who work on the project include PI Dr. Carl J. Bern (University Professor), Investigators Dr. Ramesh Kanwar (Distinguished Professor) and Dr Sunday Tim (Associate Professor), and Collaborator Dr. LeQuetia Ancar (Academic Advisor). Student scholars during the period covered include agricultural engineering student Catum Whitfield, and biological systems engineering students Alexandra Olivares, Kelley Zieser and Cole Lopez. We partner with the Science Bound project which is headquartered at Iowa State University. Science Bound identifies junior high students in Des Moines schools, and in schools in several other Iowa cities, who are members of racially and ethnically diverse groups and are interested in studying science subjects. These students are tracked and encouraged to take courses which prepare them for science majors in college. Delise Lockett was our first Science-Bound scholar. Cole Lopez is our second. TARGET AUDIENCES: Multicultural freshmen students who are US citizens and who are interested in majoring in agricultural engineering, biological systems engineering, industrial technology, or agricultural systems technology as a way to prepare them to work as professionals in the bioenergy workforce. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The four scholars have completed a total of 12 student-semesters out of 32 student-semesters needed to prepare them for positions in the bioenergy workforce, which is the project goal. Another outcome of note is the successful completion of an advanced degree by a former MSP scholar. Delise Lockett, an African American student from Des Moines, completed her bachelor of science degree in agricultural engineering in December, 2008, after four years as an MSP scholar. She completed her master of science degree in agricultural engineering in December 2011. MSP scholars are encouraged to apply for one of two NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates programs currently operating in the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department. So far, 2 MSP scholars have completed an REU internship.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 02/01/10 to 01/31/11
Outputs
After one semester (fall 2009), two scholars changed majors and withdrew from the program. Subsequently, two additional applications were received. These applicants were interviewed and admitted as freshmen scholars in fall 2010. They are both Hispanic American females majoring in biological systems engineering. Dr LeQuetia Ancar is the academic advisor for all the scholars in the program. She maintains close contact with each of them and organizes events to build community among the scholars and the committee. Events include catered dinners twice per semester and a Marti Gras party on the Tuesday evening before Ash Wednesday. For spring semester 2011, three scholars (one African American male and two Hispanic American females) are thriving as engineering students in the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department at Iowa State University. PRODUCTS: We have filled three four-year scholarship positions for students from underrepresented groups training for engineering positions in the Iowa biofuels industry. OUTCOMES: One male African American student has successfully completed two years in agricultural engineering and two female Hispanic students have successfully completed one year in biological systems engineering. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The only dissemination carried out is the project information and application materials posted on the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering website. FUTURE INITIATIVES: After this project ends, we will use the expertise and momentum gained to further expand numbers of underrepresented in our Departmental majors by aggressive recruitment and additional proposals for funding.
Impacts
One male African American student has successfully completed two years in agricultural engineering and two female Hispanic students have successfully completed one year in biological systems engineering.In addition, enthusiasm and awareness for increasing minority enrollment in our four Departmental majors have increased during the year due to the MSP program
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 02/01/09 to 01/31/10
Outputs
To meet project objectives, we began a scholar recruitment effort in February, 2009. We advertised the program by placing information and application information on the Ag and Biosystems Engineering website, by making presentations to selected groups on campus and in Des Moines, and by email announcements to schools in Iowa. We received eight applications, interviewed six students and selected four for entry in the fall of 2009. Two students moved to other majors early in the semester and received no funding. One student moved to another major after one semester. One student, majoring in agricultural engineering, has successfully completed two semesters and will continue to his second year. Our recruitment efforts have continued and we have admitted two additional students who will enter as freshmen in fall 2010. PRODUCTS: We have produced three four-year scholarship slots for students from underrepresented groups majoring in agricultural systems technology, industrial technology, agricultural engineering, or biological systems engineering at Iowa state University. OUTCOMES: One male student has successfully completed two semesters in agricultural engineering. Two female students majoring in biological systems engineering have been admitted to the program and will begin in fall 2010 as freshmen. All are underrepresented minority students with excellent highschool records. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The only dissemination carried out so far is the project information and application posted on the Ag and Biosystems Department website. FUTURE INITIATIVES: After this project has ended, we will use the expertise and momentem gained to further expand numbers of underrepresented groups in our majors by aggressive recruitment, and by submission of additional proposals to the MSP program.
Impacts
One African American student has successfully completed two semesters as an MSP scholar majoring in agricultural engineering. In addition, awareness and enthusiasm for increasing minority enrollment in our four departmental majors have increased doring the year due to the presence of this MSP program.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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