Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The primary target audience during this reporting period were Mesa College Students and high school students from local feeder campuses. The following provides the demographic information and progress of Mesa college students in all three cohorts of the project. Cohort 1 (2015-16): 23 students began in the program and 17 students completed (73.9% Retention Rate). The gender balance was 15 males and 9 females. Represented ethnicities of those who stated are: Hispanic (11); White (4); Black (2), Asian (0), Other (1). Average GPA for all students for the First Fall they were in the program = 2.56; Ave. number of units during First Fall = 11.5 units. Average GPA for all students for the First Spring they were in the program = 2.82; Ave. number of units during First Spring = 9.2 units Average GPA for all students for the Second Fall they were in the program = 2.56; Ave.numberof units during Second Fall = 9.3 units. Average GPA for all students for the Second Spring they were in the program = 2.31; Ave. number of units during Second Spring = 9.4 units 16 of 23 students (70%) majored in STEM or Nutrition related fields Cohort 2 (2016-17):20 students began in the program and 17 students completed (85% Retention Rate). The gender balance was 5males and 15 females. Represented ethnicities of those who statedare:Hispanic (9); White (7); Black (3), Asian (1), Other (0). Average GPA for all students for the First Fall they were in the program = 3.12; Ave.numberof units during First Fall = 12.31 units. Average GPA for all students for the First Spring they were in the program = 3.27; Ave. number of units during First Spring = 12.53 units Average GPA for all students for the Second Fall they were in the program = 2.88; Ave.numberof units during Second Fall = 9.23 units. Average GPA for all students for the Second Spring they were in the program = 2.68; Ave. number of units during Second Spring = 9.96 units 11 of 17 students (65%) majored in STEM or Nutrition related fields Cohort 3 (2017-18):22 students began in the program and 22 students completed (100% Retention Rate). The gender balance was 6 males and 16females. Represented ethnicities of those who statedare:Hispanic (9); White (2); Black (1), Asian (5), Other (5). Average GPA for all students for the First Fall they were in the program = 3.28; Ave.numberof units during First Fall = 122.15units. Average GPA for all students for the First Spring they were in the program = 3.36; Ave. number of units during First Spring = 12.5 units 10 of 21 students (47.6%) majored in STEM or Nutrition related fields HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PARTICIPATION 170 High School Students participated in the Sustainability Summit on October 13, 2017. Changes/Problems:One major change in the grant was in relation to developing new curriculum and implementing new courses with themes of sustainability, food security and agriculture. While these courses were developed in anthropology and Spanish, they were not always taken by SEEDS Scholars due to limited units since all were preparing for transfer. So while the revised curriculum did raise awareness for other students who took the courses, they were not the foundational courses for SEEDS Scholars as originally envisioned. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?SEEDS Scholarshad extensive opportunities for training and professional development via attendance at twomajor conferences during 2017-18 as well as workshops throughout each of the project years as already reported in prior progress reports. HACU Conference: Fifteen SEEDS Scholars had the opportunity to attend the HACU Conference in October 2017.SEEDS Scholar, Bryan Le recounts his experience: "Prior to attending the HACU conference I was clueless on how to prepare myself for a professional career and internship. I didn't know what to expect. However, I was open-minded and hoped to soak in as much information as I could. After attending the conference this year, it is safe tosay that HACU did not disappoint! The conference showcased tons of successful and effective workshops. The workshops offered topics such as facilitating opportunities, expanding your professional network, and launching your career. HACU was a great tool to use to promote yourself and expand your partnerships with great institutions like the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Oracle, Deloitte, Proctor and Gamble and more. There were so many great assets within HACU that boosted my confidence in pursuing an internship. I highly encourage SEEDS Scholars to consider attending the conference. It was an enlightening experience and I owe a great debt to this conference!" AWIS Conference: Two SEEDS scholars, Katherine Solchaga andFlavia DePlachettattended the 2018 Association of Women in Science (AWIS)Conference that took place at San Diego State University on February 10, 2018. Flavia says "The AWIS Conference was a great opportunity to network with professional of many STEM areas and get information about the transferring process, admissions, internships and scholarships offered by the local universities. Also, the workshops were very informative and fun. The robotics workshop was the most interesting for me." Additionally, the various lecture series and individualized faculty mentoring also focus on training opportunities and professional development. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?An impactevaluation report is being prepared by the project's evaluator. It will provide a summation of all program activities to date and the impact it has had on the community, especially in building a strong foundation for STEM. The college was able to leverage the success of SEEDS to secure a large STEM grant (GAN P031C160227)from the US Dept of Ed and has been able to sustain additional efforts, particularly in relation to providing student support via institutional resources i.e. Equity Funding support to attend future HACU conferences. Another way SEEDS has been disseminated is through modeling. The STEM Community Scholars Program (photoshttps://flic.kr/s/aHskwXybjp), was designed using the SEEDS model. It's a one-year program that awarded 13 students $5000 stipends each for completing program requirements. Their profiles are listed here:http://www.sdmesa.edu/academics/stem/about-stem-scholars.shtml. STEM Scholars was funded by the San Diego Foundation Science & Technology Grant (total: $75,000 award; $65K in stipends, $10K in work-based learning field trips). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
USDA - HSI Goal 1.1. In prior years, the faculty project directors and SEEDS Scholars attended high school information sessions and did direct outreach to high school parents, teachers, principals and students. While this was critical in the early years of the project, the PIs realized that the Sustainability Summit could now serve as the primary outreach vehicle with the potential to bring hundreds of high school students, community organizations, university partners and Mesa faculty together, strategically leveraging, time and energy as well as harnessing excitement for sustainability and urban agriculture. In 2017-18, recruitment and education of high school students was primarily achieved through the annual Sustainability Summit. In 2017-18, 170 high school students attended the day long program listening to speakers and participating in a variety of activities. The Summit is organized by SEEDS Scholars providing expert speakers on the topics of Sustainability, Hunger and Food Security. Additionally, 13 booths were staffed by local organizations focusing on local habitat conservation, sustainable products, internships, volunteer opportunities and more. One of the workshops this year was about how to help reduce food waste. Speaker Brie, from "Closing the Loop" presented a demonstration on how to compost our food waste and turn it into nutrients and amendment to our soil. USDA - HSI 1.2. SEEDS Scholars had the opportunity to participate in 22 different activities in year 1, 20 unique activities in Year 2 and 23 unique activities in Year 3 of the grant. Intrusive advising, counseling and faculty mentoring continued to be the foundation for all activities. Because of the design of the program, peer mentoring occurs naturally where students expert in specific topics or privileged to participate in particular experiences, are able to share those experiences through formal and informal avenues. Year 1 Program Activities (Numbers in parentheses denote participant counts when available) Iron Chef 6/8/2015 (21) Summer CRUISE 8/3/2015 (5) SEEDS Orientation 8/7/2015 or 3/15/2016 (8) Food Forum at City College 8/15/2015 (2) SEEDS Photoshoot 10/2015 (3) HACU Conference 10/9-11/2015(4) Sustainability Summit 10/23/2015 (4) SEEDS Dinner @Sufi 12/7/2015 (3) Clairemont HS SEEDS Outreach 1/19/2016 (2) Madison HS Parent Outreach 1/20/2016 (3) Farm Tours 1/29/2016(8) Fellowship & Scholarship Workshop 2/8/2016 (2) SEEDS Day SDSU 2/19/2016 (4) SEEDS Day UCSD 2/26/2016 (4) Madison HS Classroom Outreach 3/8/2016 (2) USDA Forest Service Trip 4/8/2016 (3) Canyon Day @ Mesa College 4/16/2016 (2) Inclusive Communication Workshop 4/26/2016 (2) Mesa Scholarship Banquet 4/22/2016 (12) Terra Mesa Gardening(2) Fall Mentorship (11) Spring Mentorship (15) Year 2 Program Activities Summer Cruise (4) SEEDS Orientation 8/5/2016 (10) Sustainability Summit 9/30/2016 HACU Conference 10/8-10/2016 HACU Internship Presentation 10/11/2016 (3) Humane League Presentation 10/26/2016 USDA Internship Workshop 11/17/2016 Pathways Internship Workshop 12/20/2016 (1) Animals in Agriculture Presentation 10/26/2016 UCSD STARS Program Workshop 1/18/2016 (3) Farm Tours 1/27/2017 (2) USDA NIFA Conference 2/2017 (3) Explore SDSU Event 3/18/2017 (2) Forest Service 4/7/2018 (42 signed up; 20 attended) Earth Day Fair 4/19/2017 Canyon Day 4/22/2017 Mesa Scholarship Banquet 4/28/2017 (10) UCSD Symposium 5/19/2017 (46 students signed up; 28 attended) Fall Mentorship Spring Mentorship Year 3 Program Activities Summer Cruise (5) SEEDS Orientation 8/4/2017 (14) Nutrition and Health Community Event 9/1/2017 (5) Living Coast Marina Clean-Up 9/16/2017 (4) Food Waste Solution Summit III 9/26/2017 (2) Sustainability Summit 10/13/2017 (6) HACU Preparation Workshop 10/18 or 10/20 2017(2) HSI/HACU Video 10/20/2017(3) HACU Conference 10/28-30/2017 (2) HACU Internship Workshop 11/2/017(6) AWIS San Diego STEM 2/8/2018 ( 1) UCSD STARS Presentation 2/20/2018(10 students attended) SDSU Explore 3/17/2018 (6 students attended) Forest Service Field Trip 4/6/2018 (66 students signed up to attend; 9 SEEDS Scholars) Canyon Day 4/14/2018 Earth Day Celebration 4/18/2018 (1) Mesa Scholarship Banquet 4/20/2018 (13) SEEDS Celebration 5/11/2018 (13) STEM Lecture Series(2) Terra Mesa Gardening(7) STEM Conexiones Field Trips (6) Fall Mentorship (19) Spring Mentorship(19)? In total, across the three cohorts, 24 (42.9%) students continued at Mesa, 21 (37.5%) transferred to a 4 year institution, and 11 (19.6%) dropped from college. Of the 61 SEEDS Scholars, 37 (60.7%) majored in STEM fields. An interesting findingis that many of the students who successfully transferred to 4-year institutions had actually attended Mesa for a significant amount of time prior to transfer; some as long as 10 years! One of the students, who had been at Mesa 9 years prior to transferring directly credited SEEDs for his successful transfer in a follow-up interview, stating that SEEDs helped him to reenergize his studies and that the mentoring and guidance from the two faculty members were integral to his success. The following data are transfers after X# of years at Mesa. # of Years at Mesa(# of SEEDS Scholars) 2 years (4) 3 years (6) 5 years (1) 6 years (1) 7 years (1) 8 years (2) 9 years (1) 10 years (1) USDA HSI Goal 2.1: All activities identified above are connected to this objective. Students had significant exposure to these topics and benefited greatly from the experience as evidenced by the graduation rates and numbers who became or stayed STEM majors. USDA HSI Goal 3.1: SEEDS Scholars had extensive opportunity to engage with industry, USDA and university faculty in the food sciences, sustainable agriculture and STEM fields as evidenced by the activities listed above. The following internships were secured by SEEDS Scholars as a direct result of this engagement. - USDA Summer Internship Program Summer 20018 - US Forest Service Summer 2017 Internship - Summer Research Program at UCSD 2017 - SDNI-REU Summer 2018 Internship at UCSD USDA-HSI Goal 4.1: As discussed previously, the Sustainability Summit is the primary venue for creating a pipeline of students majoring in STEM fields addressing food security, hunger and sustainability agriculture, from high school to college. UCSD and SDSU have also been instrumental in providing extensive opportunities to SEEDS Scholars via special workshops, research and internship opportunities as a result of this grant. The engagement with community via the annual Canyon Day activities, visits to Terra Mesa Gardening and the Forest Service have been particularly exciting and have opened the eyes of students. On their most recent trip to the Forest Service, on April 6, 2018, SEEDS and STEM Scholars joined together to attend the third annual Forest Service Trip to the Cleveland National Forest in Mount Laguna. Students had the chance to meet with USDA forest rangers and question them of their backgrounds, experience, and career pathways for working for the U.S. Forest Service. Mesa Students then had the chance to hike around and explore the beauty of the forest and learn about soil, invasive species, Kumeyaay history and more. Afterwards, the students had a picnic lunch followed by mini-lectures on the surrounding Geology and Geography lead by Mesa Professors Don Barrie and Waverly Ray. Students then ended the trip by volunteering to clean up the surrounding area! Transfer rates to surrounding and other 4-year institutions are as follows: - San Diego State University - 10 SEEDS Scholars - Other California State University Campuses - 5 SEEDS Scholars - Private - 2 SEEDS Scholars - UC San Diego - 2 SEEDS Scholars - UC Riverside - 1 SEEDS Scholars - UC Irvine - 1 SEEDS Scholars
Publications
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Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Fall 2016 • Orientation -- August 2016, 10 of the 18 Scholars who originally registered for SEEDS attended. • Sustainability Summit -- September 30th, 2016 - 135 people attended. 65 High School Students; 55 Mesa volunteers, students, attendees (3 of these were SEEDS Scholars who presented at the summit); and 15 Community partner/exhibitors. • Animals in Agriculture Presentation - October 26, 2016, 14 Mesa Students Attended of which 1 of whom was a SEEDS Scholar • Internship Workshop (HACU Internship Workshop) -- November 17, 2016 - 13 of People attended of whom were 3 SEEDS Scholars. • Internship Workshop (Pathways Internship Workshop) -- December 20, 2016 - 5 of People attended of whom were 2SEEDS Scholar. • UCSD STARS Program -- January 18, 2017 @ 4pm in the career center - 13 of People attended of whom were 3 SEEDS Scholars. Spring 2017 • Farm Tour Field Trip (Jewish Coastal Roots Farm & Hydroponics Farm) - January 19, 2017 - 1 Faculty member and 6 Students attended, 2 of whom were SEEDS Scholars. • Mesa College Financial Literacy Workshop Series, February, 21, 2017 - 5+ SEEDS Scholars attended. • NIFA Conference - 4 SEEDS Scholars attended. 1 Faculty PI Attended. • STEM Lecture Series - February 9th, March 8th, March 15th, April 27th - 20+ people attended March 8th & March 15th. April 27th 50+ People attended. 1 SEEDS Scholar attended. • Explore SDSU Event - March 18th - 4 People attended. 3 of whom were SEEDS Scholars • USDA Forest Service Field Trip - April 7th - 41 Mesa Students attended of which 5 were SEEDS Scholars • Scholarship Banquet - 10 SEEDS Scholars attended. • Earth Day Fair at Mesa College - April 19, 2017 - +75 of People attended. 2 of SEEDS Scholars volunteered. • Canyon Day - April 22nd (Earth Day) - Day of service in collaboration, 78 people attended - 2 of faculty/staff & 2 of Scholars; 2 SEEDS Scholars attended. • CalFresh Webinar on Addressing Student Hunger - Wednesday, May 3, 2017 2 of SEEDS Scholars attended. • Astronomy Night at Mesa College - Wednesday, May 3, 2017 Approxiately 30 People attended 2 of whom were SEEDS Scholars • CC2U - UCSD Symposium, May 19, 2017 - 46 Mesa College students attended, 2 of whom were SEEDS Scholars attended Changes/Problems:SEEDS is now a well-known and well-regarded program at Mesa College and at their feeder high schools. While attending high school recruitment fairs and conducting presentations were beneficial for the PIs and SEEDS Scholars, the return on investment of time and energy to coordinate was not significant in recruiting SEEDS Scholars from the program. The PIs found it more beneficial to invest this time in increasing the attendance of the now annual Sustainability Summit by high school students. The PIs also found it to be more effective in recruiting SEEDS Scholars from MESA College general recruitment and information activities and thus invested more time in connecting to and supporting these activities. Canyon Day continues to be strong event attended by a broad spectrum of community members and serves as another opportunity to advertise the SEEDS program. Canyon Classrooms - This year the program was ready to bring over 60 elementary school kids to Mesa College but the schools cancelled last minute due to some unforseen situations. Lastly, as the SEEDS grant comes to an end, the leadership has already begun to transition in anticipation of this change to ensure sustainability and institutionalization of SEEDS activities. The project director, Dr. Leticia Lopez is now the Acting Program Manager of Mesa College's Title III HSI STEM Grant but will remain as the PI and Co-Coordinator of SEEDS. Her new responsibilities allows her to integrate SEEDS activities and elements within the overarching STEM program. She and her team are already movingtowards institutionalization using various institutional resources (e.g.,Student Success & Equity, HSI STEM, Mesa Foundation). Dr. Lopez and the new Director of Resource Development and are submitting a $90,000 San Diego Foundation proposal due10/1/17to fund a STEM Scholars program using the same program Completion model of the SEEDS Scholars program, for a cohort of 45 students. This is a clear example of the continuing legacy of SEEDS as a result of USDA funding and support. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Students have received: 1:1 mentoring Resume building workshops & activities Communication workshops Scholar development mindset focused workshops and programs Internship Application package development Talks on USDA career opportunities via USDA representative Research presentation opportunities at NIFA HACU conference - four SEEDS Scholars and Faculty PI attended the HACU conference in Fall 2016. NIFA conference - Two SEEDS Scholars and Faculty PI presented at the NIFA conference. The STEM Speaker Series - provided a broader spectrum of information on topics related to agriculture and STEM Sustainability Summit - SEEDS Scholars presented and helped organize this event. The most notable finding as a result of interviewing students who have graduated the program was the commentary about the impact of the informal - non workshop - based experiences in helping to broaden the students' network, increase their training and contribute to their professional development. The primary component that many noted was their sense of self-confidence and ability to seek out information and people to further their academic and professional careers. The following are a few quotes from the interviews: "I liked how the advisors check up on me regularly, keeping me on track, keeping me motivated. I feel more confident moving forward because I don't feel like I'm doing this alone anymore." "I don't feel like I'm just going to class, to work and that's it...I'm more involved in clubs...gives me more purpose for my studies...and has helped me network...I feel like I'm contributing to the school." "SEEDS helped me to figure out what I want to do in relation to my major. Gave me more ideas on how to use it, apply it." "Even now, I still talk with one of my professors and we continue to plan projects together...so yeah, I built lasting relationships." "I got the opportunity to share my abilities with others and I like the fact that it brought people together." "I learned how to work with others who were different...different majors and things...and I learned about local farms and forests...sustainable practices." "I'm more aware of the things around me, the community, the city." "Having someone who cares about you and is willing to introduce you to new opportunities is really important...it's a big change...helped me to not feel alone, especially as someone who is older and coming back to school." "SEEDs encouraged me more to pursue my major and career...I didn't feel alone...other students were struggling, too...it gave me the motivation to continue." A particular accomplishment is that Jessica Vallejo, SEEDS Fellowship winner, won a Gilman (all expenses paid) scholarship to study sustainable farming practices in Spain in August 2017. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Report to the President of the College Presentation to Accreditation Site Visit Team Member on March 14, 2017 by SEEDS Scholars Claudia Nieto, Alex Bahena, and Joe Avalos about the value of the SEEDS Program to one member of the accreditation team. Poster presentation at Mesa's Student Research Conference on May 12, 2017 by SEEDS Scholar, Cluadia Nieto on the value of the SEEDS Program. NIFA Conference presentation by SEEDS Scholars and faculty PI. Presentation at National Council for Geographic Education Annual Meeting: Developing the K-14 to Graduate School Pipeline for Underrepresented Students in the STEM Fileds, National Conference on Geography Education, Albuquerque, NM, July 27-30, 2017 by Co-PI Waverly Ray. Mesa Foundation Scholarship Banquet - 21 SEEDS Scholars presented with their stipends for completion of the program. "SEEDS Scholars were able to meet and dine with their mentors at the ceremony. Some Scholars brought their family members and or friends to the event." SEEDS Newsletter April/May 2017 Briefings to SEEDS Advisory Board Newsletters - All newsletters are available at http://sdmesa.edu/academics/academic-support-programs/seeds/news.shtml Newspaper articles - both in community as well as on campus Twitter (@seedsmesa and #MesaSeeds) feeds and shout outs, even from the President of Mesa. SEEDS Website www.sdmesa.edu/seeds SEEDS Facebook Page (closed community) https://www.facebook.com/seedsmesa What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The 2017-18 year is the final year of grant funding for MESA SEEDS. As a result of this inaugural grant, Mesa College has since secured two significant HSI grants - a Title V Developing Institutions Grant and a HSI STEM Grant. The PIs are using this final year to fully institutionalize SEEDS activities and leveraging the aforementioned grants to continue processes and programs as they align with the other grants. The PIs are discovering that the majority of the SEEDS program activities can be institutionalized with some continued support from the Title V and HSI STEM Grant.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
USDA - HSI Goal 1 -SEEDS Objective 1.1 The following activities met this objective. Sustainability Summit Canyon Day . SEEDS Objective 1.2 Orientation and On-Boarding process. As in previous years, the Orientation was a day-long affair and included both continuing and new SEEDS Scholars. Students completed their Scholar Contract delineating their responsibilities in completing the program. Monthly Faculty/SEEDS Scholar mentoring sessions either as 1:1 or small group were conducted with email follow-ups as needed. This year, peers who were in their second year of the program or had graduated also served as peer mentors guiding Scholars through various activities and serving as a resource. The Google Docs tracking system continued to be refined and was used to collect participation in SEEDS scholar activities as well as to conduct and collect evaluation/assessments on activities. Intrusive and just-in-time advising systems continued providing continuing support of SEEDS Scholars. The impact of this and the mentoring sessions were often talked about in interviews with graduates of the SEEDS program. Graduates expressed time and time again, the importance of the guidance they received via the advising and mentoring, the PIs provided. Workshops this year focused on preparing students for internships at USDA, HACU and other organizations. Four students secured internships and one student upon graduating from the program and successfully transferring to San Diego State University, applied for and was accepted to a Study Abroad program in Finland. In an interview with him, he extolled the values of the SEEDS program in helping him to articulate and effectively communicate what he wants to do. He credits SEEDS preparation for his success to date at SDSU and in helping him solidify his future plans in pursuing a master's degree in environmental psychology. Presentations by faculty members focused on deepening understanding the nexus between STEM and agriculture. These presentations were available to the broader Mesa College community to expand the knowledge base for all students interested in STEM and agriculture. STEM Lecture Series was another broad-based effort to increase exposure to agriculture and STEM fields. The lecture series also attracted a broader group of Mesa College students as well as SEEDS Scholars. USDA-HSI Goal 2. - SEEDS Objective 2.1 In 2016-17, Mesa continued to offer nine courses as part of its SEEDS Scholars Program. The courses are as follows: GEOL 104Earth Science, SPAN 215 Spanish for Spanish Speakers I,SPAN 216Spanish for Spanish Speakers II, ANTH 103Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, BIOL 100 Natural History - Environmental Biology, BIOL 120 The Environment of Man, PERG 120College Success and Lifelong Learning, NUTR 150Nutrition, and NUTR 153 Cultural Foods. SEEDS expanded its experiential opportunities significantly this year as a result of the foundational relationship building the PIs engaged in during the first two years of the program. The following are a list of the experiential opportunities: Sustainability Summit -This was the third year of the summit. SEEDS Scholars presented at and helped organize summit activities. Animals in Agriculture Presentation Internship Workshop (HACU Internship Workshop) Internship Workshop (Pathways Internship Workshop) CC2U trip to UCSD, May 19, 2017 UCSD STARS Program or Summer Training Academy for Research Success (STARS) is an eight week mentored summer research program at UC San Diego specifically for community college students. The program provides direct research experience with UCSD faculty, workshops on transfer preparation, and an opportunity to present at UCSD's Summer Research Conference. Earth Day Fair - "Mesa College celebrated Earth Day on April 19th, with its annual Earth Day Fair on campus. There were information booths, plant sales and lots of fun! The conservation and sustainability club; TerraMesa was a big lead in this event. Almost 30 new students signed up for the TerraMesa interest list." SEEDS Newsletter April/May 2017 Farm Tour Field Trip (Jewish Coastal Roots Farm & Hydroponics Farm) NIFA Conference - Four SEEDS Scholars and one of the faculty PIs presented at this conference. STEM Lecture Series - Guest lecturers from SDSU, Mesa and external organizations presented on topics such as impacts of earthquakes on natural resources and microbes and viruses unbalancing the ecosystem of coral reefs. Explore SDSU Event - opportunity for Mesa and SEEDS students to learn about and connect with San Diego State University programs and faculty. USDA Forest Service Field Trip - 35 students from Mesa College participated. "Mesa students were able to interact and talk one-on-one with the rangers and ask questions about their duties as USDA forest rangers and scientists. Students toured the mountain, learned about native plants, extinct species, history of Kumeyaay people and must more" SEEDS Newsletter April/May 2017. Volunteer Opportunities USDA-HSI Goal 3. - SEEDS Objective 3.1. The following activities were undertaken to meet this objective. Please see above for discriptions: Pathways Program Meeting Forest Service Field Trip Provided students assistance in preparing applications to the USDA and HACU internships. USDA-HSI Goal 4. -SEEDS Objective 4.1 The following activities were undertaken to meet this objective (Please see above for descriptions for all activities): Sustainability Summit - A total of 135 people participated in the Summit. High school students as well as community members and Mesa College faculty, staff and students attended. Mesa College Financial Literacy Workshop Series Canyon Day - volunteer day focused on learning about the Mesa Canyon Earth Day - see Objective 2.1 for description. STEM Lecture Series Farm Visits to better understand local agricultural issues. USDA Forest Service Field Trip UCSD STARS Program Explore SDSU Event A notable distinction this year in understanding the overarching impact of the SEEDS program was made apparent through the achievements of graduating students who are successfully transferring to four-year institutions including UC Riverside, San Diego State University, UC San Diego, and CSU Los Angeles. While students are majoring in a broad array of fields including chemical engineering, business administration, nutrition, psychology and film studies, all spoke about the impact of SEEDS in how they will look at future careers in their respective fields with an eye toward sustainability and agriculture. The following are some quotes from SEEDS program graduates and Mesa College graduates: "I don't feel like I'm just going to class, to work and that's it...I'm more involved in clubs...gives me more purpose for my studies...and has helped me network...I feel like I'm contributing to the school." "SEEDS helped me to figure out what I want to do in relation to my major. Gave me more ideas on how to use it, apply it." "Having someone who cares about you and is willing to introduce you to new opportunities is really important...it's a big change...helped me to not feel alone, especially as someone who is older and coming back to school." "SEEDs encouraged me more to pursue my major and career...I didn't feel alone...other students were struggling, too...it gave me the motivation to continue." "I was always interested in the environment but SEEDS deepened my understanding...especially about climate change and its effects...the fact that it's happening now. It encouraged me to be a strong advocate in the future...this is important as a person of color...there have to be more from all backgrounds advocating for the environment."
Publications
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Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Participation #s. These numbers were also reported via spreadsheet to IDRA Canyon Day (April 16, 2016), Day of service in collaboration with the City Parks and Rec Department - 17 faculty/staff & 112 Students Canyon Classroom, environmental education for local elementary school students - 8 faculty/staff & 55 Students Earth Day Festival (April 20, 2016) at Mesa College, on-campus outreach event - 5 faculty/staff & 250 students 150 High School Students via Sustainability Summit (October 23, 2015) 18 SEEDS Scholars - Mesa College Students for 2015-16 Demographics Gender: 8 Female; 10 Male Ethnicity: Black/African-American = 2 Hispanic = 11 Middle Eastern = 1 White = 4 Educationally Disadvantaged Math Assessment Level = 3 at Basic (below transfer or associate level) Reading Assessment Level = 1 at Basic (below transfer or associate level) Writing Assessment Level = 3 at Basic (below transfer or associate level) Changes/Problems:Co-PI Leticia Lopez is currently on sabbatical and will return in Spring 2017. A plan of operation was put into place prior to her departure and is being implemented by Waverly Ray, co-PI and Leslie Shimazaki, Dean, who provides administraive oversight of the grant. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Students have received: 1:1 mentoring Resume building workshops & activtiies Communication workshops Scholar development mindset focused workshops and programs Internship Application package development Talks on USDA career opportunities via USDA representative Research presentation opportunities at SCCUR Professional presentation via attendance at professional conferences, high schools, community panels How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Report to the President of the College Report to San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees by SEEDS Scholars (students presented) regarding the SEEDS program and the importance of the program to their educational goals. Mesa Foundation Scholarship Banquet - SEEDS Scholars presented with their stipends. SEEDS Fellow ($40k scholarship recipient) also gave a speech to all in attendance (125) regarding hunger, food security and sustainability. Briefings to SEEDS Advisory Board Newsletters - All newsletters are available at http://www.sdmesa.edu/academics/academic-support-programs/seeds/news.shtml Newspaper articles - both in community as well as on campus Twitter (@seedsmesa and #MesaSeeds) feeds and shout outs, even from the President of Mesa. Most recent was regarding Mesa being identified as a featured program by USDA. SEEDS Website www.sdmesa.edu/seeds SEEDS Facebook Page (closed community) https://www.facebook.com/seedsmesa What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue with program activities as delineated this last year. The program has established a strong process of recruitment, selection, and implementation to accomplish the stated goals and objectives of the program. Minor adjustments will be made to processes to help decrease dropouts from the program.* The Program Calendar of Activities will be similar to this past year and will be finalized by end of September 2016. No signifcant program changes are anticipated. *Note: Despite potential for higher attrition rates, because of the way the program has been managed and its ability to immediately fill vacancies from students who were waitlisted for the program, SEEDS has not experienced significant loss of participating students. As a result, cost of implementation per student continues to be steady and is a model for how a publicly funded program should operate to maximize public investment.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
All of the following Major Activities can be found on Mesa College's SEEDS Calendar of Events Website USDA-HSI Goal 1 SEEDS Objective 1.1. To meet this objective, SEEDS executed the following activities. The PIs presented on the SEEDS Program at the High School Cluster Meetings, a gathering of principals and other key administrators and teachers on October 18, 2015 to recruit students for the 2016-17 cohort. SEEDS Scholars presented in local high schools regarding the program on October 8 and 19, 2015 at the local high schools. Presentations regarding the SEEDS Program took place at the following High Schools to recruit future SEEDS Scholars: - Clairemont HS 1/19/2016 - Madison HS 1/20/2016 - Mission Bay HS 1/21/2016 Current SEEDS scholars along with a team of other students representing San Diego Mesa College participated in this event which was focused on recruiting students to San Diego Mesa College as a whole. The Acting Dean of Student Affairs presented to the President's Principal's Roundtable regarding the SEEDS Program in February 2016. SEEDS Objective 1.2. To meet this goal the PIs provided the following activities to all SEEDS Scholars: Complete Orientation & On-Boarding process once applicants are accepted into the program.Orientation is a day-long affair and this year included both continuing and new students. On-boarding includes executing of a SEEDS Scholar Contract delineating all responsibilities as a SEEDS scholar and the specific metrics (point-based system) to complete program elements to receive the SEEDS Scholar stipend at the end of each semester. Monthly Faculty/SEEDS Scholar mentoring sessions either as 1:1 or 1:2 were conducted with email follow-ups as needed. Tracking system utilizing Google Docs online submission was established to help students keep track of their program activities and earn the points necessary to maintain good status and make steady progress toward program completion. When students were not making adequate progress, PI/mentors contacted the student via email. Intrusive advising and just-in-time advising systems established. Program uses a form for students to collect progress reports during the semester from their respective course faculty so that PIs/mentors can provide just-in-time support services necessary to ensure student success. Workshops ranging from resume development, applying for USDA internships, to inclusive communication help to develop students as professionals. PIs have also focused on developing students as scholars and have encouraged the development of a "biosketch" based on the students' self reflection by answering the following 3 questions: How are you as - a student leader? an engaged learner? a volunteer? Students were provided information on establishing Weebly websites/e-portfolios to document their progress and accomplishments further increasing a sense of identity and belonging as a Mesa College student and SEEDS Scholar. USDA-HSI Goal 2. SEEDS Objective 2.1. To meet this objective, the PIs have created case studies to help students understand the complicated issues of agriculture, economy, and local impact so that students can understand the scope (domestic & international) and issues related to food insecurity in context of food abundance i.e. "Mali's Malô: Fortifying Rice and Farmer Salaries" Case Study. The case studies are used in a variety of different courses and examined using the lens of the particular course discipline. In 2015-16, Mesa offered nine courses as part of its SEEDS Scholars Program: Anthro 103, Biol 100, Biol 120, Geol 120, Nutrition 150 & 153, Personal Growth 120, Spanish 215 and 216. The following experiential opportunities were also provided: SEEDS Day at SDSU/UCSD - SEEDS Scholars were able to visit specific STEM and/or AG related research labs at these two institutions and have in-depth conversations with faculty operating those labs. Pathways Program Meeting - USDA representative provided overview of career opportunities available in USDA and how to access those programs. Sustainability Summit - SEEDS Scholars, high school students, and community members participated in this event providing information on sustainability efforts including sustainable agriculture, food insecurity, etc. Forest Service Field Trip - Visit to Laguna Forest to see and understand how Forest Service operates Farm Tours Field Trip - Visit local farms to understand agriculture sector in San Diego Mesa College Organic Garden - an organic garden was established at Mesa College by a collaborative effort led by SEEDS Scholars, the TerraMesa student club, Associated Student Government, Environmental Stewardship Committee, Facilities Services staff, faculty and San Diego Community College District staff. The proposal was submitted in spring 2015 and implemented during the 2015-16 program year. The garden yielded enough vegetables to create a true farm to table experience for Mesa students. The garden's products were then used by M Fusion (Mesa College dining) in their organic food dishes. (Menus are available). Volunteer Opportunities - SEEDS Scholars participate in volunteer opportunities at local food banks and K-12 settings to understand the full ecosystem of sustainability in context. Local food banks address the issue of food scarcity and food access especially for the socio-economically challenged. The k-12 teaching and modeling opportunities provide SEEDS scholars with the experience of teaching others what they are learning about sustainability and food insecurity; and maybe more importantly the opportunity to be the college role model and spokesperson for hundreds of future sustainability-minded community members. USDA-HSI Goal 3. SEEDS Objective 3.1. The following activities were undertaken to meet this objective: Pathways Program Meeting - USDA representative provided overview of career opportunities available in USDA and how to access those programs. Forest Service Field Trip - Visit to Laguna Forest to see and understand how Forest Service operates Provided students assistance in preparing applications to the USDA (4 sectors - AgDiscover, Ag Research Services, Forest Service, Water Resources) and HACU internships. USDA-HSI Goal 4. SEEDS Objective 4.1. The following activities were conducted to meet this objective: Educational Cultural Exchange with CETYS Universidad in Mexico via an introduction from the USDA representative. 8 students and faculty from CETYS visited Mesa College to learn about SEEDS Scholars. The intent was for Mesa College students and faculty to also visit CETYS but due to various complications this trip was postponed and is slated to be scheduled for AY 2016-17 with hopes of developing a future USDA-Collaboration grant. Sustainability Summit - 150 high school students as well as community members and Mesa College faculty, staff and students attended UCSD/SDSU SEEDS Days visiting ag researchers at the two institutions Canyon Day - volunteer day focused on learning about the Mesa Canyon Earth Day Sustainability Week activities included a film night this year focused on reviewing movies that focused on environmental and ag issues. Terra Mesa Garden Party Sustainability Dialogues SEEDS Scholars participated in the 2nd Annual Mesa College Research Conference which took place in Spring 2016. Farm Visits to better understand local ag issues. Program Sustainability Beyond Grant Funding It is important to note the PIs and Mesa College have been working diligently to institutionalize SEEDS beyond grant funding. To that end, the PIs have worked closely with the Foundation staff and have already established a donation pathway for those seeking to make monetary contributions to SEEDS. http://www.sdmesa.edu/academics/academic-support-programs/seeds/support-seeds.shtml
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
American Council of Teaching Foreign Languages
Annual Convention & World Languages Expo
Presented by: Leticia Lopez
PROJECT BASED LEARNING IN SPANISH FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS CLASSES
Presented During:
Project-based Learning in Spanish for Heritage Speakers Classes
Sunday, November 22, 2015: 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
San Diego Convention Center
Room: Room 7B
Proposal No:
4380
Type:
Session
Applicable Language:
Spanish
Language of Presentation:
English
Lead Presenter:
Dr. Leticia Lopez
San Diego Mesa College
Content and Purpose:
San Diego Mesa College was a recipient of a four-year USDA-NIFA grant to increase the number of Hispanic and underrepresented students studying STEM disciplines in higher education. As the Principal Investigator of the grant, Dr. Lopez (Spanish Professor) works in conjunction with STEM faculty to create project-based learning (PBL) opportunities for students to learn about global food security, food insecurity, and environmental sustainability. Attendees in this session will be inspired by these PBL projects, will learn how to leverage technology to help students publish electronic case studies, and will stimulate new knowledge in how to teach STEM-based content in Spanish language classes at the college level.
Outcomes:
Participants will be able to:
1. borrow examples from project-based learning projects that have been tried and tested;
2. review sources of online material where teachers and students can learn more about global sustainability, and see how it relates to the Spanish language classroom;
3. learn how students can publish their case studies on Kindle
Strategies for Engagement:
The audience will see a Prezi presentation on Project-Based Learning strategies based on themes of global food security and environmental sustainability in a Spanish for Heritage Speaker classroom. Embedded in the Prezi are YouTube videos, student blogs, Facebook links, and Instagram shots that will engage the audience in discussions. Next, randomly selected participants will pull an index card from under their chairs, read the case study to the audience, and we'll discuss how to turn that case study into a PBL activity. The session will end with a Q&A session, and an opportunity for the audience to network with other participants who are also actively working on PBL activities at their colleges and universities.
Description:
San Diego Mesa College was a recipient of a four-year USDA-NIFA grant to increase the number of Hispanic and underrepresented students studying STEM disciplines in higher education. As the Principal Investigator of the grant, Dr. Leticia P. Lopez (Spanish Professor) works in conjunction with STEM faculty to create project-based learning (PBL) opportunities for students to learn about global food security, food insecurity, and environmental sustainability. Attendees in this session will be inspired by these PBL projects, will learn how to leverage technology to help students publish electronic case studies in the target language, and will stimulate new knowledge in how to teach STEM-based content in Spanish language classes at the college level. PBL case studies range in topic and include "Savoring the Taste of Home: The Pervasiveness of Lead Poisoning in Oaxacan Ceramics" to "Migrant Workers and The Impact of Food Insecurity (Diabetes, Obesity, etc) on Them."
Focus Area:
Learning and Teaching
Audience Level:
Higher Education
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
STEM TECH Conference
Presented by: Leticia Lopez
Integration of STEM and the Liberal Arts
STEM Experiential Learning in Spanish for
Heritage Speaker Classes
Bougainvillea, 1st Floor #143
San Diego Mesa College received a USDA grant to
increase the number of Hispanic students graduating
with STEM degrees in global food security, hunger,
and sustainability. Attendees will learn how
experiential learning achieves this.
Leticia Lopez, Professor, Spanish, and Coordinator, SEEDS
Scholars, San Diego Mesa College, CA
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Association of American Geographers Conference (Spring 2016)
Presented by: Waverly Ray
The SEEDS (STEM Engagement for the Enrichment of Diverse Students) Scholars Program at San Diego Mesa College is designed to increase the number of Hispanic students pursuing future graduate degrees by providing a firm foundation of advanced knowledge and skills in STEM-related fields. The SEEDS Scholars Program includes a variety of initiatives such as: K-12 outreach; intensive student advising; community college coursework infused with content related to food security, hunger, and sustainability; experiential learning opportunities in the STEM fields; and networking with industry professionals. Within the context of Californias equity and student success initiatives, the SEEDS Scholars Program provides faculty members with strategies to support student engagement both inside and outside of the classroom. While approaching the midway point of a four-year grant funding by the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Institute for Food and Agriculture, preliminary research on the SEEDS Scholars Program suggests the importance of adaptability and relationship-building to achieve the objectives.
key words: community college, underrepresented students, STEM, equity
*Note: Due to illness, Dr. Ray was not able to present at the conference.
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Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The primary audiences are as follows: High School Students High School Teachers High School Administrators i.e. principals, assistant principals High School Student Parents Mesa College Students Local Community members via outreach and information activities Changes/Problems:One major change has been the shift in principal investigators for SEEDS due to faculty workload. Dr. Leticia Lopez, co-PI for the project has stepped into the PI role and recruited Dr. Waverly Ray, Geography,to serve as co-PI for the project. While this change in principal investigators has been positive, it has delayed implementation of some of the originally planned SEEDS courses. The PIs plan to work with the Dean of Math & Sciences and respective department chairs to ensure courses will be available for the 2015-16 program year. An additional challenge has been in utilizing the REEport process. The change in PIs required changes to the REEport project directors listing, but this required multiple changes which needed to be manually handled by the USDA IT. This significantly delayed our ability to begin and complete the report multiple times. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Project PIs have been working closely with the HSI Title V office and staff, leveraging resources from that grant program to provide additional training and development opportunities for staff. PIs from this project participated in a Change Management Workshop and other faculty development opportunities offered through the HSI Title V program. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The PI presented at two conferences on the SEEDSproject this program year. The first was at the Agri-Science Education Conference and the second was at the California Hispanic Serving Institutions Conference. Both of these conferences had national audiences. Local dissemination and publication activities included the SEEDSVideo Contest which was open to all Mesa College students and a variety of special events activities including Clairemont Day at the Bay and Earth Day programs. Broader distrbution and dissemination regarding the program and its benefits were via in-person meetings and presentations to high school principals, teachers, parents as well as students. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The project is on track to complete activities as planned and delineated in the proposal logic model with the exception of the following changes. The Greenbag Days - college visitation days will be refocused for participation by only the 20 SEEDS Scholars instead of the high school students. We found that while the high school students enjoyed their visits to UC San Diego and San Diego State, the majority volunteered to participate simply to be off their high school campuses. We believe a more targeted strategy of providing high quality, pre-transition visitations for the 20 SEEDS Scholars will be more beneficial and directly impact their comfort in transferring to UC San Diego or San Diego State upon completion of their program at Mesa. An additional change is in the implementation of the SEEDS courses. Due to scheduling conflicts, SEEDS Scholars found it difficult to schedule in the courses as offered. The project directors are currently identifying alternative methods and re-considering an out-of-classroom format to provide the SEEDS Scholars the foundational information on the NIFA themes of food security, hunger and sustainability. The following is a calendar of anticipated 2016 events: - Jan 29 (Fri) - Aquaponic Farm visits · Feb 19 (Fri) - SEEDS Day @ SDSU · Feb 26 (Fri) - SEEDS Day @ UCSD ·Mar 26 (Sat) - Honors Transfer Council of California (HTCC) Conference @ UC Irvine ·Apr 8 (Fri) - USDA Forest Service Tour @ Cleveland National Forest ·Apr 16 (Sat) - Canyon Day @ Mesa College ·Apr 20 (W) - Earth Day Celebration @ Mesa College ·Apr 22 (Fri) - Canyon Classroom @ Mesa College ·Apr 22 (Fri) - Mesa Scholarship Banquet ·May 6 (Fri) - Mesa College Research Conference @ Mesa College
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Project IMPACT: The primary outcome of SEEDS is to motivate students of Hispanic and other diverse backgrounds to seek degrees in areas related to sustainability, food security, and STEM fields associated with agriculture. In order to accomplish this mission, Project SEEDS has engaged in multiple outreach efforts beginning at the high school level with three key high school partners. The project directors provided information to school principals, teachers, parents and SEEDS Scholars served as spokespersons regarding the program and the future careers SEEDS would help prepare them for. The efforts were fruitful and SEEDS subsequently enrolled 20 students into the SEEDS Scholars Program. Project activities while focusing on preparing the SEEDS Scholars for future careers related to agriculture, food security and sustainability, is also intent on insitutionalizing its activities at Mesa College. As a result, key activities focus on developing, implementing and sustaining courses as well building connections and an infrastructure of support for SEEDS to be fully integrated into Mesa College. Lastly, to leverage campus and federal resources, SEEDS is partnering internally with faculty from across a variety of disciplines and with staff operating the U.S. Department of Education's Strengthening Hispanic Serving Institutions grantactivities. USDA-HSI Goal 1. Attract and support undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented groups to prepare them for careers related to food, agricultural, and natural resource systems of the U.S. SEEDS Objective 1.1. Develop and implement outreach strategies to three San Diego high schools with strong Hispanic enrollment to raise awareness and identify ways to mitigate the issues of global food security and hunger through sustainable agriculture and environmentally-friendly systems while exposing students to educational pathways and possible careers in this area. Accomplished, On-Going As previously mentioned, outreach activities have taken place including Greenbag Day university visitations, presentations at a variety of events to parents, teachers, prinicipals and students. SEEDS Objective 1.2. Provide a support system of peer navigators, faculty mentoring, intrusive advising and counseling for underrepresented students to stay on track to complete STEM degrees. Accomplished, On-Going Faculty directors have created a networked system of support for the SEEDS Scholars. Peers provide peer-to-peer support and standard university resources and supports i.e. advising, counseling, mentoring, etc. provide consistent support for the SEEDS Scholars. USDA-HSI Goal 2. Enhance the quality of postsecondary instruction within these disciplines SEEDS Objective 2.1. Provide food security, hunger, sustainable agriculture, and STEM related courses and experiential opportunities for students. Implement in Year 2 USDA-HSI Goal 3. Provide opportunities and access to food and agriculture careers in the civil service. SEEDS Objective 3.1. Provide exposure and connections to industry, USDA, and university faculty in the food sciences, sustainable agriculture and STEM fields. Implement in Year 2 USDA-HSI Goal 4. Align the efforts of HSIs and other nonprofit organizations in support of the academic development and career attainment of underrepresented groups. SEEDS Objective 4.1. Collaborate with elementary, middle and high schools, 4-year institutions and other nonprofit groups to create a pipeline of students majoring in STEM fields addressing food security, hunger and sustainable agriculture. Accomplished, On-Going
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
https://agroecology.fiu.edu/events/agri-science-conference/conference-agenda/agri-science-conference-agenda_updated2.pdf
Presentation was on SEEDS Scholars Program
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
CA HSI Conference
https://oru.research.ucsb.edu/hsi/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2014/10/HSI-Program-Download.pdf
Presentation was on SEEDS Scholars Program
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