Recipient Organization
ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY
4900 MERIDIAN STREET
NORMAL,AL 35762
Performing Department
SMALL FARMS RESEARCH CENTER
Non Technical Summary
Alabama A&M University (AAMU), a historically black land grant institution, is a leader in the production of minority African-American, science and agricultural science graduates in the nation. AAMU has the only doctoral granting program among Historically Black Colleges and Universities [HBCUs] in food science, and plant and soil science concentrations. Although the field of agriculture is now a high tech science with such specialties as bio-systems engineering, plant pathology, and animal science, the problem of recruiting minority students centers around stigma and legacy (Talbert, Larke, and Jones, 1999), as well as students' lack of information (Morgan, 2000). Yet, the food, agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences in the United States are experiencing a shortage of qualified labor. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (Horn, 2006), 45% of African American students on average, leave 4-year institutions within six years without earning degrees, compared with 33% of white students and 26% of Asian-Americans. In addition, students from low-income backgrounds are less likely than students from high income backgrounds to go on to earn a bachelor's degree. These factors are significantly related to this project since 85% of the students at AAMU are dependent on financial aid. According to AAMU's Office of Institutional Research and Planning, the main reason studentsdrop out at AAMU is financial hardship. To ensure the matriculation of many academically promising students, scholarships must be provided to recruit and retain these students. This project seeks increase enrollment/retention and reduce attrition of underrepresented students at AAMU. It seeks to increase output of qualified minority graduates to meet the growing workforce demand in food and agriculture (agribusiness). The project's specific objectives are to: (1) attract/recruit qualified underrepresented minority students for programs in agribusiness; (2) graduate a larger number of future professionals to meet the increasing demand of the agribusiness sector and academia; (3) develop diverse, interdisciplinary, problem-based and experiential learning academic programs designed to increase the number of minority students in agribusiness; (4) support and strengthen a model urban agriculture network connecting the university to the community; and (5) conduct summer apprenticeships and internships for undeclared-major and junior college students to stimulate their interest in agriculture and agribusiness program. In each of the two years, the project will support 5 graduate and 9 undergraduate students in the agribusiness and agri-science programs. These advances will enhance student enrollment and retention of students from underrepresented minority populations in agribusiness programs. The project builds capacity which, in turn, assists in graduating a larger number of well-trained minority professionals to meet the increasing workforce demands of the agribusiness sector, food and agricultural industry and academia. The project employs urban agriculture as a strategy for academic enhancement, student retention and experiential learning to increase recruitment and enhance retention of underrepresented students in agribusiness and allied disciplines at AAMU. The urban agriculture concept is significant and innovative; it anchors the dynamics of an effective strategy for student recruitment, and a laboratory for experiential learning. The recruitment and education strategy involving the urban agriculture initiative is a significant undertaking which is likely to elevate AAMU to national prominence in terms of agricultural education, and graduation of individuals who are competent and ready to assume leadership roles in agribusiness professions.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
100%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
This project builds on the College of Agricultural, Life and Natural Science's previous success and ties in with the university's goal of making all programs conform to the highest standards. It affirms our commitment to reach, recruit, and develop the potential of all students, regardless of race, creed, color, gender, national origin or condition of advantage. Overall, the project's main purpose is to strengthen and improve effectiveness of underrepresentedstudents recruitment, and to train, educate and produce a larger number of well-prepared minorities in agribusiness and other agricultural-related fields. The focus is on the MBA in Agribusiness program, and supported by the agriscience program at the undergraduate level. The project's goal will be achieved through a set of specific objectives as follows:Attract and recruit well-qualified underrepresented minority students, especially African-American males, for both graduate and undergraduate programs in Agribusiness and Agriscience.Retain and graduate a larger number of well-trained future minority professionals to meet the increasing demands of the agribusiness sector, food and agricultural industry and academia. Develop diverse, interdisciplinary, problem-based and experiential learning academic programs designed to increase the number of minority students educated to envision, research and implement agriculture in urban settings to produce high quality food; address societal issues regarding food access, justice and security; pursue advanced academic degrees in agriculture and agribusiness.Support a model urban agriculture educational network connecting the university to community gardens and for- and non-profit farms in a variety of urban and suburban settings or communities.Conduct summer apprenticeships and internship programsfor undeclared-major students and for junior and community college students to enhance and stimulate their interest in agricultural sciences and to strengthen feeder link to the graduate program in agribusiness.
Project Methods
This project's student recruitment, retentionand training will be accomplished through the concerted efforts that amalgamate project personnel, senior student recruitment efforts with those of the university admissions activities locally, regionally and nationally.OBJECTIVE ONE: The project will focus on developing outreach strategies and resources which will allow prospective students to see first-hand some of the exciting career opportunities available to them. This should result in increasing the number and quality of students anxious to meet the challenge of professional training for rewarding careers in agribusiness and agricultural-related industries. Outreach strategies will involve students, alumni, teachers, parents and counselors as well as providing financial incentives or support during the two-year period. Our main focus is on the graduate program (MBA in Agribusiness). Activity 1: Develop Graduate Brochures and Pamphlets. Recruitment brochures and pamphlets will be developed to provide information about the graduate program in agribusiness, admissions requirements, financial assistance availability and career opportunities.Activity 2: Establish Communication Linkages Between the CALNS and Other Colleges and Universities. AAMU has initiated some communication links with other HBCUs in order to identify well-qualified candidates. These links will be expanded and enhanced to cover more institutions. During the visits, presentations will be given on various program opportunities, financial assistance and some major career opportunities for agribusiness graduates. Copies of various brochures describing these opportunities will be distributed to students, and follow-up contacts will be pursued with interested prospects. Activity 3: Providing Financial Assistance. In order to successfully attract underrepresented minority students to the agribusiness graduate program,theprogram will offer partial scholarships and graduate research assistantshipsto outstanding prospects. Activity 4: Enhance Summer Research Apprenticeship and Internship Programs.An annual Summer Research Apprenticeship Program with high school seniors has already been established within CALNS. We will award internships to support eighteen (9/year)students currently enrolled at AAMU and from high schools, cummunity and junior colleges.The internship program will emphasize opportunities and experiential learning forstudents emanating from Alabama's underservedcommunities.OBJECTIVE TWO:For the MBA in Agribusiness program, faculty mentors will play a major role in the training and retention of minority graduate students. The graduate advisement process will be strengthened to reflect closer contact between the major advisors and students. More extracurricular activities for students and faculty members will be developed to make the learning and training environment more enjoyable and promote closer working relationships among students and faculty members. More graduate students will be expected to participate in urban agriculture activities to enhance education and overall experiential learning. Opportunities for undergraduate summer interns through the USDA laboratories will be explored to enhance the program and improve student retention.Linkages with1862 institutions have been initiated, and we are currentlysolidifying these linkages.OBJECTIVES THREE ANDFOUR:These two objectives involve student recruitment and retention and curriculum enhancement and are anchored by the urban agriculture initiative. Activity 1. Curriculum Revision/Development and Training: AAMU will continue to enhance the MBA in Agribusiness program, and to develop an Urban Agriculture track within the current undergraduate degree in agriculture. Graduate core courses supporting the program will be revised in partnership with the College of Business and Public Affairs. Both graduate and undergraduate tracts will be grounded in a set of core courses oriented specifically around sustainable agriculture and global food systems. These courses will utilize AAMU's new Agribition Center, adjacent plots or grounds on and around campus that will be developed into an agricultural learning center and urban agriculture incubation site as teaching sites.This new curriculum is part of an overall effort to build AAMU as a nexus of study and expertise in urban agriculture. The project will help further connections between AAMU, community/junior colleges, youth programs, and the general community the university serves.Activity 2: Student Recruitment: The student recruitment plan will include activities designed to attract qualified students at the freshman year and provide partial scholarship to the selected students among the admitted students. Recruitment efforts will involve (a) conducting statewide recruiting trips to targeted high schools and community colleges, (b) arranging for in-depth appointments with students and parents who are interested in more information during recruiting visits, (c) collaborating and coordinating with the admissions office and participate in their recruiting activities, and (d) developing a summer bridge program structured specifically to address the issues that derail low-income, first-generation students in their transition from high school to higher education. Activity 3: Student Retention: Partial scholarships will be provided to five graduate students each year. Recruitment activities will be coordinated with the CALNS recruitment committee and AAMU admissions office. Only students with financial need and in good academic standing will be considered. Overall, multiple activities will be employed to enhance student retention and graduation in a timely manner. These activitieswill involve enhancement of mentoring program and student advisement, anchored by the urban agriculture initiative.OBJECTIVE FIVE: This objective anchors many of the educational and experiential learning activities with strong research component for graduate students. This objective is a multi-dimensional effort by SFRC, CALNS, COBPA and ACES (Auburn and Alabama A&M Universities) to structure youth development and urban community organizations around urban food production.Model urban demonstration farms in Huntsville, Montgomery, Birmingham and Mobile, AL, will be strengthened, reaching over 120 community gardens located in public and private schools, public housing sites, elderly care facilities, mental health centers and other institutional settings. The project will build successful adult leadership programs around its community gardens. Dmonstration farms in Alabama's metro areas will provide a "hands-on" component to compliment the curricula and content made available through theUrban Agriculture Initiative. The current urban farming program administered by ACES and SFRC focuses primarily on inner city youths and lower-income neighborhoods in Alabama's metro areas. With current, the program's reach will broaden to include urban, suburban and rural high schools throughout the state. The program's broadest reach, however, will be to the children and youth or young adults who represent future gardeners, future farmers, future students to CALNS and COBPA programs, future professionals and future community leaders.