Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The primary beneficiaries were undergraduate and graduate nutrition science students who identified as Hispanic/Latino. The secondary beneficiaries were high school students from underrepresented ethnicities, primarily those who identified as Hispanic/Latino. Changes/Problems:One of our biggest obstacles has been coordinating outreach efforts at local high schools and junior colleges, which experienced massive infrastructure changes due to the COVID-19 crisis, as well as in-person lactation experiential learning opportunity, training, and professional development and research workshop. Creative outreach efforts and opportunities were developed to include social media engagement, video presentations, and live Q&A sessions. Despite obvious limitations imposed because of COVID-19, we continued to make information available in a virtual format to high school, LAMC, and CSUN students regarding careers/academic programs and to students navigating the transfer process from LAMC. During March 2020 and May 2022, all previously in-person professional development, training, and research workshops for UDFs were converted and conducted virtually via the Zoom platform. Also, comprehensive academic advisement and orientations were held virtually by Dr. Torabian, CSUN DPD director. Lastly, due to decreased enrollment of Hispanic/Latino graduate students into the CSUN Dietetic Internship and master's in human nutrition program during the COVID-19 crisis, 32 graduate dietetic fellows were recruited to the USDA "Pathways to Success" program. Despite these challenges, 93% of the Undergraduate Dietetic Fellows supported by the grant graduate within 3 years. 84% of the Graduate Dietetic Fellows supported by the grant graduated within 3 years.The remaining 16% of the Graduate Dietetic Fellows will graduate with a master's in human nutrition and complete the CSUN Dietetic Internshipin Spring 2023. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As part of the Pathways to Success/Dietetics Fellowship program, a total of 40 Undergraduate Dietetics Fellows (UDFs) and 32 Graduate Dietetics Fellows were recruited. The Fellows continued to be provided with comprehensive support throughout their semesters at CSUN in between Fall 2017 and Spring 2022. The Fellowship program is composed of the following support: (i) Scholarship: Each UDF is awarded scholarships or tuition reimbursement (after completion of the first lactation course) to help enhance retention of low-income students. Between 2018-2022, fifty (50) undergraduate fellow and thirty (30) graduate fellow received the USDA Pathways scholarship upon completion of program requirements. (ii) Advisement Support: Students were provided with a comprehensive orientation facilitated by the Dietetic Internship Director, DPD Director, and Health Sciences faculty (Lactation Education). Each student was also provided with individual or group advisement and was asked to attend EOP transfer or new student orientation and advisement. Between September 2017 and May 2022, forty (40) UDFs also received academic support through faculty mentorship provided by the CSUN Didactic Program and Dietetic (DPD) director throughout each academic year to ensure students were on track for graduation. (iii) Research Mentorship: We have offered UDFs the opportunity to be mentored by a faculty in one of several nutrition-based research projects sponsored by the CSUN Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics. Each student has been provided with a list of possible research projects: Microbialtesting:Conventional, Hydroponic,Aquaponic FoodChemistry Lab research:NutrientAnalysis, Antioxidant content,otherminerals, iron, folicacid content in products. SensoryAnalysisresearch with food products using Compusense Software ProductDevelopmentresearch:Matador Marmaladeand Spicy Matador(sensory testing, microbial testing, customer discovery) Gardening Research: Evaluation and effectiveness of Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education EducationalTheater:MyPlateMusical & Eating Disorder AthleticsPartnership &Research:BodyCompositiontesting, Counseling,Fueling station CommunityBasedInterventions:Champions for Change, Sodium Reduction Initiative, WIConCampus, Let's Cook, Move & Grow, Let's Grow Healthy, Farmer'sMarket on Campus, Whole Body, Whole Health workshops (HealthyEating, Physical Activity,Cooking) School-Based Interventions:Children'sknowledge andbehavior, Parentand family behavior andknowledge, School Personnel, LetsCook,Move & GrowinSchools. Long-term follow up to determine effectiveness and sustainability of community and school-based programs to reduce childhood obesity. NutritionCounseling, Assessment and Wellnessworkshops:WeightManagement and Diabetes EducationClasses, DietAnalysis/ESHA/GENSIS, NutritionFocus PhysicalExam, Motivational Interviewing Nutrition Experts Website and Nutrition App: Costumer Discovery Research; App Updates; using VAR and AI to obtain solutions to nutrition assessment, evaluation, and planning Product Development: Matador Marmalade; Spicy Matador, Bee a Matador honey, FitJam, MatadorPRO, ProJel, etc. (customer discovery, product development, marketing, sensory analysis, sales, etc.) Each UDF was retained as a paid Research Assistant and assigned to a 10-hour semester-long research project. Support for the paid research assistants has consisted of funds from this grant as well as internal funds available from the Magaram Center. Thirty-six (36) underrepresented Undergraduate Dietetics Fellows received the opportunity to serve as a research assistant for the Magaram Center's research lab. As previously stated, between 2018-2020, Ten (10) graduate students and the Project Director attended the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) Annual Conference from and presented their research. In addition, one (1) of our Pathways graduates, Guadalupe Alfaro Cabrera, was selected and honored as a 2020 USDA-CAMINOS Fellow at the conference. Four (4) undergraduate fellows attended the 2021 California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (CAND) virtual conference. (iv) Peer Mentorship: Each UDF was assigned a Peer Mentor (PM) from the cohorts of CSUN Dietetic Interns. The PMs were provided with an orientation and training on being a mentor during the Fall 2017-2021 semesters and attended a 1-day orientation with their mentees, where they received a Peer Mentorship Handbook and developed a plan for goals and communication. Under the guidance of the PM Coordinator, PMs oriented the UDFs to the dietetics program at CSUN, introduced them to campus resources and networking opportunities, and coached them and helped prepare to apply for the DI program. PMs spend a minimum of 24 hours with their assigned UDF throughout their junior and senior years at CSUN and invited UDFs to at least 3 extra-curricular events or workshops. As previously stated, between September 2017 and May 2-2020, 1,272 hours of peer mentorship was facilitated, serving forty (40) Undergraduate Dietetic Fellows (UDF). (v) Faculty Mentorship: Each UDF was assigned a Faculty Mentor whose role is to provide assistance and guidance regarding academic requirements of the undergraduate nutrition science program at CSUN, research and internship opportunities, graduate programs, and professional networking. The Faculty Mentor met with each Fellow once during the semester individually and one time per semester as a group. Dr. Torabian, the Faculty Mentor, met with a total of 40 UDFs between Fall 2017-Spring 2022. (vi) Professional Competency Training Lactation Education Coursework and Experiential Learning: Comprehensive training in lactation education composed of two 3-unit fully paid Lactation Education courses was offered to the Dietetics Fellows. The first course is a Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee (LEAARC) Recognized Breastfeeding Course. Students completing this course earn a certificate of course completion enabling them to call themselves certificated lactation educators, consistent with national standards. Next, UDFs will enroll in an Advanced Lactation Education Experiential Learning Training course in the summer prior to the start of their senior year. This course included a bilingual (English/Spanish) component to promote cultural responsiveness and provided UDFs with knowledge and skills needed to serve as lactation educators in the diverse communities we serve. Lactation Education Experiential Learning Project Steering Committee created an operation plan for implementation of the CSUN/NEVHC experiential learning project and all modules were developed for the Advanced Lactation Education course. Lactation Professional Speakers Series was conducted (vi) Career Mentorship & Coaching: UDFs participated in a series of professional development workshops at CSUN on vital soft skills, including networking, resume development, mock interviews, oral communication skills, time management, leadership and conflict resolution skills between September 2017 and May 2022, totaling of 37 professional develop workshops. Workshop topics included: Succeeding in a Dietetic Internship Tips on Passing the RD Exam Resume and Interviewing Finances and Time Management Resume Writing Personal Statement Writing Application Skills Develop Your Personal Persona Presentation Skills Career Opportunities and Networking How to Create an e-portfolio DICAS Application Success Workshop with Live RDN Panel Q &A ServSafe food handlers training was provided to 20 Fellows in August 2019 and 11 Fellows in February 2020 and annually to 20 fellows during the grant period. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A website was developed in addition to the use of social media and email communication. An informational video presentation was also utilized to further expand outreach activities, which has been essential considering COVID-19 guidelines during the transition to distance learning instruction. Multiple articles were published in the CSUN Marilyn Magaram Center (MMC) newsletters during the grant period to acknowledge successes of the "Pathways to Success" students and activities. University Economic Development Association's (UEDA) conferences and several university wide events and research conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During the grant period and extension year between Fall 2017 and Spring 2022, to increase awareness of careers in food science, nutrition, dietetics, and lactation, 61 "Outreach Ambassadors" ("OAs") were training and conducted multiple outreach workshops and presentations to local high schools and undergraduates attending California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC). The OAs facilitated 104 outreach presentations on careers, specifically as Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDNs), to high school students at 34 local high schools with a Latino student population of 70% or higher, reaching approximately 3,516 high school students. Additionally, the OAs conducted 48 outreach presentations at Los Angeles Mission College and 31 outreach presentations at CSUN, reaching approximately 2,110 students enrolled in science pre-requisites for nutrition science majors at CSUN and LAMC. In total, 5,626 high school and undergraduate students were reached. The OAs shared information about career opportunities for RDNs, the nutrition science curricula at LAMC and CSUN, the Dietetic Fellowship Program, and the scholarships offered under this USDA project. Created in June 2019, an informational video presentation was utilized to further expand outreach efforts, logging a total of 993 views on CSUN Marilyn Magaram Center's (MMC) YouTube channel (as of 12/19/2022). During the distance learning period in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of virtual outreach efforts, such as the informational video, became essential. Between Spring 2020-Spring 2022, virtual presentations were coordinated in collaboration with Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Career Technology Education/Linked Learning Department as well as LAMC and CSUN to continue career outreach activities. Forty (40) undergraduate students and thirty-two (32) graduate students participated in the Dietetics Fellowship/Pathways to Success program as Dietetics Fellows and Mentors/Outreach Ambassadors, respectively. Thirty-nine (39) Graduate Dietetics Fellows and Mentors/Outreach Ambassadors from 2018-2022 successfully completed the credentialing examination and received Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) certification. Between 2018-2022, fifty (50) undergraduate fellow and thirty (30) graduate fellow received the USDA Pathways scholarship upon completion of program requirements. Between 2018-2020, Ten (10) graduate students and the Project Director attended the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) Annual Conference from and presented their research. In addition, one (1) of our Pathways graduates, Guadalupe Alfaro Cabrera, was selected and honored as a 2020 USDA-CAMINOS Fellow at the conference. Four (4) undergraduate fellows attended the 2021 California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (CAND) virtual conference. ServSafe training was provided to 20 Fellows in August 2019 and 11 Fellows in February 2020 Additionally, twenty-four (24) undergraduate fellows and forty-four graduate fellows and mentor/outreach ambassadors have completed Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) Research training, an educational program for the protection of human subjects in research. CITI training is approved by the National Institute of Health (NIH). Students were prepared to participate in research activities through the MMC's Research Lab. Forty (40) undergraduate fellows and sixty-one graduate fellows/mentors/outreach ambassadors participated in the MMC Research Lab's Journal Club, a research-focused workshop geared toward teaching students how to search for, understand, and interpret evidence-based research through discussion and activities. Between 2019-2022, seventy-eight (78) Undergraduate and Graduate Fellows and 21 mentor/outreach ambassadors have completed the Pathways Program and graduated from CSUN with a degree. Sixty-one (61) graduate Dietetics Fellows and mentors/Outreach Ambassadors completed the CSUN Dietetic internship in Spring 2018-2022. Among these students, thirty-nine (39) successfully passed the credentialing examination and received Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) certification. We achieved the following: Increased enrollment of Hispanic nutrition science students in the Dietetic Internship Program at CSUN to 12 over baseline of 6 Increased enrollment of Hispanic undergraduate nutrition science students at CSUN to 98 over baseline of 76. 93% of the Undergraduate Dietetic Fellows supported by the grant graduate within 3 years. Increase enrollment of full-time Hispanic graduate nutrition science students at CSUN to 17 over baseline of 10. Accomplishments for the Lactation Education component of project included the following: Thirty-five (35) Undergraduate Dietetics Fellows earned the designation of certificated lactation educators. Twenty-four (24) Graduate Dietetics Fellows earned the designation of certificated lactation educators. Twenty-one (21) Undergraduate Fellows completed the Lactation Education Experiential Learning Project at a Local Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) clinic Twenty-nine (29) Undergraduate Dietetics Fellows completed the advanced lactation education course Five (5) Graduate Dietetics Fellows completed the advanced lactation education course Supportive services provided by this grant have enabled CSUN and Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC) to provide targeted outreach and career pathway advising that have resulted in an increased number of Nutrition majors and concentrators. Between 2018-2022, accomplishments at LAMC include the following: Number of Students: 93 Nutrition & Dietetics majors (increased from a baseline of 25); 13 Foods & Nutrition majors Advising: Group:The STEM counselor has provided multiple presentations to Nutrition majors regarding careers and transfer; LAMC hired a full-time Nutrition instructor and all nutrition faculty have provided presentations in all classes regarding CSUN's program, transfer, and careers. A minimum of 12 presentations have occurred this past year, some with CSUN faculty/staff. One-on-One:All students have been advised of pathway, transfer and careers in group settings. It is estimated that 70% of students have had individual sessions with counselors, but the Counseling office has gone through a change in their method of tracking visits, so it is difficult to obtain exact numbers from LAMC at this time. In addition, due to the COVID-19's impact, it has taken longer to receive information. Tutoring: Chemistry 84 hours/week; Microbiology 66.5 hours/week Retained 93.3% of full-time Hispanic nutrition science students from freshman to sophomore year at LAMC (obtained from LAMC Institution-Set Standards Data 2021) Fifteen (15) Nutrition and Dietetics AS-T degree for transfer were award between Fall 2027 and Spring 2021.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
We developed the following to promote the Pathways to Success program: informational/recruitment fliers, presentation materials, and presentation script to facilitate information sessions to students about career opportunities and academic programs in nutrition and dietetics; brochure and other transfer resources to disseminate to prospective nutrition science students; curriculum proposal and informational flier about the Advanced Lactation Education course; promotional materials for the recruitment of Dietetic Fellows; presentation materials about the admission process for nutrition programs; and Peer Mentorship training.
|
Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The primary beneficiaries were undergraduate and graduate nutrition science students who identified as Hispanic/Latino. The secondary beneficiaries were high school students from underrepresented ethnicities, primarily those who identified as Hispanic/Latino. Changes/Problems:One of our biggest obstacles has been coordinating outreach efforts at local high schools and junior colleges, which experienced massive infrastructure changes due to the COVID-19 crisis, as well as in-person lactation experiential learning opportunity, training, and professional development and research workshop. Creative outreach efforts and opportunities were developed to include social media engagement, video presentations, and live Q&A sessions. Despite obvious limitations imposed because of COVID-19, we continued to make information available in a virtual format to high school, LAMC, and CSUN students regarding careers/academic programs and to students navigating the transfer process from LAMC. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As part of the Pathways to Success/Dietetics Fellowship program, a total of 40 Undergraduate Dietetics Fellows (UDFs) and 32 Graduate Dietetics Fellows were recruited. The Fellows continued to be provided with comprehensive support throughout their semesters at CSUN in between Fall and 2020 and Spring 2021. The Fellowship program is composed of the following support: (i) Scholarship: Each UDF is awarded scholarships or tuition reimbursement (after completion of the first lactation course) to help enhance retention of low-income students. (ii) Advisement Support: Students were provided with a comprehensive virtual and hybrid orientation facilitated by the Dietetic Internship Director, DPD Director, and Health Sciences faculty (Lactation Education). Each student was also provided with individual or group advisement and was asked to attend EOP transfer or new student orientation and advisement. (iii) Research Mentorship: We have offered UDFs the opportunity to be mentored by a faculty in one of several nutrition-based research projects sponsored by the CSUN Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics. Each student has been provided with a list of possible research projects: Microbialtesting:Conventional, Hydroponic,Aquaponic FoodChemistry Lab research:NutrientAnalysis, Antioxidant content,otherminerals, iron, folicacid content in products. SensoryAnalysisresearch with food products using Compusense Software ProductDevelopmentresearch:Matador Marmaladeand Spicy Matador(sensory testing, microbial testing, customer discovery) Gardening Research: Evaluation and effectiveness of Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education EducationalTheater:MyPlateMusical & Eating Disorder AthleticsPartnership &Research:BodyCompositiontesting, Counseling,Fueling station CommunityBasedInterventions:Champions for Change, Sodium Reduction Initiative, WIConCampus, Let's Cook, Move & Grow, Let's Grow Healthy, Farmer'sMarket on Campus, Whole Body, Whole Health workshops (HealthyEating, Physical Activity,Cooking) School-Based Interventions:Children'sknowledge andbehavior, Parentand family behavior andknowledge, School Personnel, LetsCook,Move & GrowinSchools. Long-term follow up to determine effectiveness and sustainability of community and school-based programs to reduce childhood obesity. NutritionCounseling, Assessment and Wellnessworkshops:WeightManagement and Diabetes EducationClasses, DietAnalysis/ESHA/GENSIS, NutritionFocus PhysicalExam, Motivational Interviewing Nutrition Experts Website and Nutrition App: Costumer Discovery Research; App Updates; using VAR and AI to obtain solutions to nutrition assessment, evaluation, and planning Product Development: Matador Marmalade; Spicy Matador, Bee a Matador honey, FitJam, MatadorPRO, ProJel, etc. (customer discovery, product development, marketing, sensory analysis, sales, etc.) Each UDF was retained as a paid Research Assistant and assigned to a 10-hour semester-long research project. Support for the paid research assistants has consisted of funds from this grant as well as internal funds available from the Magaram Center. (iv) Peer Mentorship: Each UDF was assigned a Peer Mentor (PM) from the cohorts of CSUN Dietetic Interns. The PMs were provided with an orientation and training on being a mentor during the Fall 2020-2021 semesters and attended a 1-day orientation with their mentees, where they received a Peer Mentorship Handbook and developed a plan for goals and communication. Under the guidance of the PM Coordinator, PMs oriented the UDFs to the dietetics program at CSUN, introduced them to campus resources and networking opportunities, and coached them and helped prepare to apply for the DI program. PMs spend a minimum of 24 hours with their assigned UDF throughout their junior and senior years at CSUN and invited UDFs to at least 3 extra-curricular events or workshops. (v) Faculty Mentorship: Each UDF was assigned a Faculty Mentor whose role is to provide assistance and guidance regarding academic requirements of the undergraduate nutrition science program at CSUN, research and internship opportunities, graduate programs, and professional networking. The Faculty Mentor met with each Fellow once during the semester individually and one time per semester as a group. (vi) Professional Competency Training Lactation Education Coursework and Experiential Learning: Comprehensive training in lactation education composed of two 3-unit fully paid Lactation Education courses was offered to the Dietetics Fellows. The first course is a Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee (LEAARC) Recognized Breastfeeding Course. Students completing this course earn a certificate of course completion enabling them to call themselves certificated lactation educators, consistent with national standards. Next, UDFs will enroll in an Advanced Lactation Education Experiential Learning Training course in the summer prior to the start of their senior year. This course included a bilingual (English/Spanish) component to promote cultural responsiveness and provided UDFs with knowledge and skills needed to serve as lactation educators in the diverse communities we serve. Lactation Education Experiential Learning Project Steering Committee created an operation plan for implementation of the CSUN/NEVHC experiential learning project and all modules were developed for the Advanced Lactation Education course. Lactation Professional Speakers Series was conducted (vi) Career Mentorship & Coaching: UDFs participated in a series of professional development workshops at CSUN on vital soft skills, including networking, resume development, mock interviews, oral communication skills, time management, leadership and conflict resolution skills.Workshop topics included: Succeeding in a Dietetic Internship Tips on Passing the RD Exam Resume and Interviewing Finances and Time Management Resume Writing Personal Statement Writing Application Skills Develop Your Personal Persona Presentation Skills Career Opportunities and Networking How to Create an e-portfolio DICAS Application Success Workshop with Live RDN Panel Q &A How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A website was developed in addition to the use of social media and email communication. An informational video presentation was also utilized to further expand outreach activities, which has been essential considering COVID-19 guidelines during the transition to distance learning instruction. Multiple articles were published in the CSUN Marilyn Magaram Center (MMC) newsletters during the grant period to acknowledge successes of the "Pathways to Success" students and activities. University Economic Development Association's (UEDA) conferences and several university wide events and research conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to implement comprehensive outreach to high school students in the surrounding areas, in addition to freshman and sophomore level students at LAMC and CSUN. As stated previously, coordinating outreach efforts at local high schools and junior colleges will be challenging as a result of the massive infrastructure changes due to the COVID-19 crisis. Creative outreach efforts and opportunities are currently being developed to include social media engagement, video presentations, and live Q&A sessions. In spite of obvious limitations imposed as a result of COVID-19, we will continue to make information available in a virtual format to high school students regarding careers/academic programs and to students navigating the transfer process from LAMC. We will also consider the possibility of inviting USDA representatives to serve as guest speakers virtually at future information sessions to offer guidance about career opportunities and emerging issues in the field. Training for research assistants will occur in Summer 2021 to prepare students to work on research projects. Paid research assistant opportunities will be provided by the students' senior year or sooner if funding is available. As part of continued advisement support, CSUN HHD college advisors will contact UDFs before arrival to campus and reach out to each one at least four times per year to ensure success in retention and meeting graduation requirements. Advisors will work in close collaboration with HHD's satellite office of CSUN's EOP (Educational Opportunity Program), which specializes in services to low-income and underrepresented students. UDFs will continue to receive certification in ServSafe food protection management through future trainings offered either on campus or online. Comprehensive advisement services will continue to be offered to students at LAMC. The Nutrition Science Transfer Specialist will provide guidance and advisement to freshman and sophomore students at LAMC regarding the transfer requirements to CSUN's (or other 4-year universities) nutrition science program. The Transfer Specialist will facilitate 4 group workshops each year on the transfer requirements and conduct one-on-one advisement sessions. To address a key barrier for retention and transfer to a 4-year university, we plan to provide tutoring for LAMC students targeting the top 2 high failure rate courses (Chemistry 102--69% failure rate & Microbiology 020--80% failure rate) that are pre-requisites for the undergraduate nutrition science program at CSUN. LAMC's Learning Resource Center will offer 20 hours of one-on-one peer tutoring per week for both courses throughout the fall and spring semesters (total 2,400 hours). Enrolled students will receive an email invitation for this tutoring before the semester begins, and students who earn below "C" on the first exam will receive a follow up email. As we continue to work with the LAMC Transfer Specialist, preference will be given to incoming underrepresented transfer students from LAMC. We will also facilitate the training of tutors to provide tutoring services at LAMC. The Counselor/Nutrition Science Transfer Specialist will conduct to outreach to freshman and sophomore students and publicize the program through group workshops and one-on-one advisement on the Nutrition transfer requirements.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, to increase awareness of careers in food science, nutrition, dietetics, and lactation, 20 "Outreach Ambassadors" ("OAs") were training and conducted multiple outreach workshops and presentations to local high schools and undergraduates attending California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC). The OAs facilitated outreach presentations on careers, specifically as Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDNs), to high school students at 10 local high schools with a Latino student population of 70% or higher, reaching approximately 2500 high school students. Additionally, the OAs conducted 12 outreach presentations at Los Angeles Mission College and outreach presentations at CSUN, reaching students enrolled in science pre-requisites for nutrition science majors at CSUN and LAMC. Approx. 2500 high school and undergraduate students were reached. The OAs shared information about career opportunities for RDNs, the nutrition science curricula at LAMC and CSUN, the Dietetic Fellowship Program, and the scholarships offered under this USDA project. Between 2020-2021, (20) undergraduate fellow and (10) graduate fellow received the USDA Pathways scholarship upon completion of program requirements. ServSafe training was provided to 20 Fellows in August 2019 and 11 Fellows in February 2020 Additionally, undergraduate fellows and graduate fellows and mentor/outreach ambassadors have completed Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) Research training, an educational program for the protection of human subjects in research. CITI training is approved by the National Institute of Health (NIH). Students were prepared to participate in research activities through the MMC's Research Lab. Forty (40) undergraduate fellows and sixty-one graduate fellows/mentors/outreach ambassadors participated in the MMC Research Lab's Journal Club, a research-focused workshop geared toward teaching students how to search for, understand, and interpret evidence-based research through discussion and activities. Other project accomplishments outcomes, evaluation and Lactation Education component of project are all on track. We are currently working on data collection and extension was requested and granted. Supportive services provided by this grant have enabled CSUN and Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC) to provide targeted outreach and career pathway advising that have resulted in an increased number of Nutrition majors and concentrators. Between 2018-2021, accomplishments at LAMC include the following: Number of Students: 64 Nutrition & Dietetics majors (increased from a baseline of 25) Advising: Group:The STEM counselor has provided multiple presentations to Nutrition majors regarding careers and transfer; LAMC hired a full-time Nutrition instructor and all nutrition faculty have provided presentations in all classes regarding CSUN's program, transfer, and careers. A minimum of 12 presentations have occurred this past year, some with CSUN faculty/staff. One-on-One:All students have been advised of pathway, transfer and careers in group settings. It is estimated that 70% of students have had individual sessions with counselors, but the Counseling office has gone through a change in their method of tracking visits, so it is difficult to obtain exact numbers from LAMC at this time. In addition, due to the COVID-19's impact, it has taken longer to receive information. Tutoring: Chemistry ~80hours/week; Microbiology ~60 hours/week
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:Target Audience The primary beneficiaries will be Hispanic undergraduate and graduate nutrition science students. The secondary beneficiaries will be Hispanic Communityi College students andhigh school students. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As part of the Pathways to Success/Dietetics Fellowship program, a total of 25 Undergraduate Dietetics Fellows (UDFs) and 19 Graduate Dietetics Fellows have been recruited. The Fellows continued to be provided with comprehensive support throughout their semesters at CSUN in Fall 2019 and Spring 2020. The Fellowship program is composed of the following support: (i) Scholarship: Each UDF is awarded scholarships or tuition reimbursement (after completion of the first lactation course) to help enhance retention of low-income students. We are continuing to process these awards for the undergraduate and graduate students who completed their Spring 2020 semester. (ii) Advisement Support: Students were provided with a comprehensive orientation in January of 2020 facilitated by the DI Director, DPD Director, and Health Sciences faculty (Lactation Education). Each student was also provided with individual or group advisement and will be asked to attend EOP transfer or new student orientation and advisement. (iii) Research Mentorship: We have offered UDFs the opportunity to be mentored by a faculty in one of several nutrition-based research projects sponsored by the CSUN Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics. Each student has been provided with a list of possible research projects: Microbialtesting:Conventional, Hydroponic,Aquaponic FoodChemistry Lab research:NutrientAnalysis, Antioxidant content,otherminerals, iron, folicacid content in products. SensoryAnalysisresearch with food products using Compusense Software ProductDevelopmentresearch:Matador Marmaladeand Spicy Matador(sensory testing, microbial testing, customer discovery) Gardening Research: Evaluation and effectiveness of Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education EducationalTheater:MyPlateMusical & Eating Disorder AthleticsPartnership &Research:BodyCompositiontesting, Counseling,Fueling station CommunityBasedInterventions:Champions for Change, Sodium Reduction Initiative, WIConCampus, Let's Cook, Move & Grow, Let's Grow Healthy, Farmer'sMarket on Campus, Whole Body, Whole Health workshops (HealthyEating, Physical Activity,Cooking) School-Based Interventions:Children'sknowledge andbehavior, Parentand family behavior andknowledge, School Personnel, LetsCook,Move & GrowinSchools. Long-term follow up to determine effectiveness and sustainability of community and school-based programs to reduce childhood obesity. NutritionCounseling, Assessment and Wellnessworkshops:WeightManagement and Diabetes EducationClasses, DietAnalysis/ESHA/GENSIS, NutritionFocus PhysicalExam, Motivational Interviewing Nutrition Experts Website and Nutrition App: Costumer Discovery Research; App Updates; using VAR and AI to obtain solutions to nutrition assessment, evaluation and planning Product Development: Matador Marmalade; Spicy Matador, Bee a Matador honey, FitJam, MatadorPRO, ProJel, etc. (customer discovery, product development, marketing, sensory analysis, sales, etc.) Each UDF will be retained as a paid Research Assistant and assigned to a 10-hour per week, semester-long research project during senior year. Support for the paid research assistants has consisted of funds from this grant as well as internal funds available from the Magaram Center. (iv) Peer Mentorship: Each UDF was assigned a Peer Mentor from the 2019-2020 cohort of CSUN Dietetic Interns. The PMs were provided with an orientation and training on being a mentor during the Fall 2019 semester and attended a 1-day orientation with their mentees, where they received a Peer Mentorship Handbook and developed a plan for goals and communication. Under the guidance of the PM Coordinator, PMs oriented the UDFs to the dietetics program at CSUN, introduced them to campus resources and networking opportunities, and coached them and helped prepare to apply for the DI program. PMs will spend at least 10 hours with their assigned UDF throughout their junior and senior years at CSUN and invited UDFs to at least 3 extra-curricular events or workshops. (v) Faculty Mentorship: Each UDF was assigned a Faculty Mentor whose role is to provide assistance and guidance regarding academic requirements of the undergraduate nutrition science program at CSUN, research and internship opportunities, graduate programs, and professional networking. The Faculty Mentor met with each Fellow once during the semester individually and one time per semester as a group. Dr. Torabian, the Faculty Mentor, met with a total of 25 UDFs during the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 semesters. (vi) Professional Competency Training (a)Lactation Education Coursework and Experiential Learning: Comprehensive training in lactation education composed of two 3-unit fully-paid Lactation Education courses continues to be offered to the Dietetics Fellows. Offered the summer before junior year, the first course is a Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee (LEAARC) Recognized Breastfeeding Course. Students completing this course earn a certificate of course completion enabling them to call themselves certificated lactation educators, consistent with national standards. Next, UDFs will enroll in an Advanced Lactation Education Experiential Learning Training course in the summer prior to the start of their senior year. This course will include a bilingual (English/Spanish) component to promote cultural responsiveness, and will provide UDFs with knowledge and skills needed to serve as lactation educators in the diverse communities we serve. Lactation Education Experiential Learning Project Steering Committee created an operation plan for implementation of the CSUN/NEVHC experiential learning project and all modules were developed for the Advanced Lactation Education course. Lactation Professional Speakers Series was conducted in Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 Carole Chacon, IBCLC (Common Breastfeeding Barriers) Byanka Melgar, MPH, IBCLC (Hospital Practices that support breastfeeding) Linda M. Hanna, RNC, MSN/Ed., IBCLC (My Career as a Lactation Consultant and Where Careers in Lactation are Headed) Hanna RNC, MSN/Ed., IBCLC (Founder of My Nursing Coach & Mahmee, Lactation Consultant) Ten (10) undergraduate students earned the designation of certificated lactation educators in Fall 2019 and Spring 2020. (vi) Career Mentorship & Coaching: UDFs participated in a series of professional development workshops at CSUN on vital soft skills, including networking, resume development, mock interviews, oral communication skills, time management, leadership and conflict resolution skills between September 2019 and May 2020. Workshop topics included: "Succeeding in a Dietetic Internship" "Tips on Passing the RD Exam" "Resume and Interviewing" "Finances and Time Management" "Resume Writing" "Personal Statement Writing" "Application Skills" "Develop Your Personal Persona" "Presentation Skills" "Career Opportunities and Networking" "Success Workshop with Live RDN Panel Q &A" (vii) Outreach: We facilitated 12 workshops (in addition to 27 make-up sessions) between September 2019 and May 2020 for upper division undergraduate nutrition science students at CSUN regarding the admission process for the Dietetic Internship program. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A website has been developed in addition to the use of social media and email communication. An informational video presentation is also being utilized to further expand outreach activities, which has been essential in light of recent COVID-19 guidelines and the transition to instruction through distance learning. Results have also been disseminated through university and Center newsletters, social media amd professional and local conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to implement comprehensive outreach to high school students in the surrounding areas, in addition to freshman and sophomore level students at LAMC and CSUN. As stated previously, coordinating outreach efforts at local high schools and junior colleges will be challenging as a result of the massive infrastructure changes due to the COVID-19 crisis. Creative outreach efforts and opportunities are currently being developed to include social media engagement, video presentations, and live Q&A sessions. In spite of obvious limitations imposed as a result of COVID-19, we will continue to make information available in a virtual format to high school students regarding careers/academic programs and to students navigating the transfer process from LAMC. We will also consider the possibility of inviting USDA representatives to serve as guest speakers at future information sessions to offer guidance about career opportunities and emerging issues in the field. Training for research assistants will occur in Summer 2020 to prepare students to work on research projects. Paid research assistant opportunities will be provided by the students' senior year or sooner if funding is available. As part of continued advisement support, CSUN HHD college advisors will contact UDFs before arrival to campus and reach out to each one at least four times per year to ensure success in retention and meeting graduation requirements. Advisors will work in close collaboration with HHD's satellite office of CSUN's EOP (Educational Opportunity Program), which specializes in services to low-income and underrepresented students. UDFs will continue to receive certification in ServSafe food protection management through future trainings offered either on campus or online. Comprehensive advisement services will continue to be offered to students at LAMC. The Nutrition Science Transfer Specialist will provide guidance and advisement to freshman and sophomore students at LAMC regarding the transfer requirements to CSUN's (or other 4-year universities) nutrition science program. The Transfer Specialist will facilitate 4 group workshops each year on the transfer requirements and conduct one-on-one advisement sessions. To address a key barrier for retention and transfer to a 4-year university, we plan to provide tutoring for LAMC students targeting the top 2 high failure rate courses (Chemistry 102--69% failure rate & Microbiology 020--80% failure rate) that are pre-requisites for the undergraduate nutrition science program at CSUN. LAMC's Learning Resource Center will offer 20 hours of one-on-one peer tutoring per week for both courses throughout the fall and spring semesters (total 2,400 hours). Enrolled students will receive an email invitation for this tutoring before the semester begins, and students who earn below "C" on the first exam will receive a follow up email. As we continue to work with the LAMC Transfer Specialist, preference will be given to incoming underrepresented transfer students from LAMC. We will also facilitate the training of tutors to provide tutoring services at LAMC. The Counselor/Nutrition Science Transfer Specialist will conduct to outreach to freshman and sophomore students and publicize the program through group workshops and one-on-one advisement on the Nutrition transfer requirements.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Between September 2019 and May 2020, the CSUN "Outreach Ambassadors" ("OAs") facilitated 42 information sessions about academic programs and careers as RDs to high school students at 9 local high schools with a Hispanic student population of 70% or higher, reaching approximately 1,142 high school students. The OAs also facilitated career presentations at LAMC and at CSUN, reaching approximately 583 students enrolled in science pre-requisites for nutrition science majors. To increase awareness of careers in food science, nutrition, dietetics, and lactation, OAs conducted multiple workshops and presentations at CSUN and local area high schools, along with career/job fairs at LAMC and PUC to reach approximately 1,725 individuals. The OAs shared information about career opportunities for RDs, the nutrition science curricula at LAMC and CSUN, the Dietetic Fellowship Program, and the scholarships offered under this USDA project. An informational video presentation is also being utilized to further expand outreach activities, which has been essential in light of recent COVID-19 guidelines and the transition to instruction through distance learning. Twenty-five (25) undergraduate students and nineteen (19) graduate students are participating in the Dietetics Fellowship/Pathways to Success program as Dietetics Fellows and Mentors/Outreach Ambassadors. Nineteen (19) trainings/workshops have been conducted for the program between September 2019 and May 2020. Ten (10) undergraduate Dietetics Fellows earned the designation of certificated lactation educators in Fall 2019 and Spring 2020. Five (5) graduate students and the Project Director attended the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) Annual Conference from March 5-7, 2020 and presented their research. In addition, one (1) of our Pathways graduates, Guadalupe Alfaro Cabrera, was selected and honored as a 2020 USDA-CAMINOS Fellow at the conference. ServSafe training was provided for 20 Fellows in August 2019 and 11 Fellows in February 2020. Three (3) graduate Dietetics Fellows from Year 2 successfully completed the credentialing examination and received Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) certification. Accomplishments for the Lactation Education component of project included the following: Seven (7) Graduate Fellows will earn the designation of certificated lactation educator in Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 Ten (10) Undergraduate Fellows earned the designation of certificated lactation educators in Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 Nine (9) Undergraduate Fellows completed the Lactation Education Experiential Learning Project Orientation in Fall 2019 Eight (8) Undergraduate Fellows completed the advanced lactation education course Nine (9) Undergraduate Fellows participated in service learning project at a local WIC clinic One of our biggest obstacles has been coordinating outreach efforts at local high schools and junior colleges, which have also experienced massive infrastructure changes due to the COVID-19 crisis. Creative outreach efforts and opportunities are currently being developed to include social media engagement, video presentations, and live Q&A sessions. In spite of obvious limitations imposed as a result of COVID-19, we will continue to make information available in a virtual format to high school students regarding careers/academic programs and to students navigating the transfer process from LAMC. Supportive services provided by this grant have enabled CSUN and LAMC to provide targeted outreach and career pathway advising that have resulted in an increased number of Nutrition majors and concentrators. Accomplishments at LAMC include the following: Number of Students: 43 Nutrition & Dietetics majors; 13 Foods & Nutrition majors Advising: Group: The STEM counselor has provided multiple presentations to Nutrition majors regarding careers and transfer; LAMC hired a full-time Nutrition instructor and all nutrition faculty have provided presentations in all classes regarding CSUN's program, transfer, and careers. A minimum of 12 presentations have occurred this past year, some with CSUN faculty/staff. One-on-One:All students have been advised of pathway, transfer and careers in group settings. It is estimated that 70% of students have had individual sessions with counselors, but the Counseling office has gone through a change in their method of tracking visits, so it is difficult to obtain exact numbers from LAMC at this time. In addition, due to the COVID-19 protocol and shut-down, it has taken longer to receive information. Tutoring: Chemistry 84 hours/week; Microbiology 66.5 hours/week
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
https://www.csun.edu/marilyn-magaram-center/usda-pathways
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Serrano, J., Endinjok, F., Low, R., Besnilian, A. (2020, March). Developing Culturally Specific Nutrition Education Materials for APECA Peru. Poster presentation at CSUNPosium. Northridge, CA.
Garcia, C., Bedrosian, N., Li, E., Endinjok, F., Macias, P., Besnilian, A., Boyns, D., Plunkett, S. (2020, March). CSUNs Champions for Change: A Qualitative Assessment for Healthy Communities Initiatives. Poster presentation at CSUNPosium. Northridge, CA.
Damji, K., Besnilian, A., Diederich, A., Ovsepyan, K. (2020, March). Development of a Food Composition Training Program. Poster presentation at CSUNPosium. Northridge, CA.
Hoeks, M., Ovsepyan, K., Besnilian, A. (2020, March). An ADA Recognized Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Program on a University Campus: Implementation and Evaluation. Poster presentation at CSUNPosium. Northridge, CA.
Elcott, S., Rosales, B., Ovsepyan, K., Besnilian, A. (2020, March). Eat To Be Fit: Hybrid Weight Management Program. Poster presentation at CSUNPosium. Northridge, CA.
York, B., Villicana, S., Garcia, C., Macias, P., Cruz, I., Besnilian, A., Butleroff-Leahy, H., Endinjok, F., Plunkett, S. (2020, March). MyPlate Musical: Qualitative Analysis. Poster presentation at CSUNPosium. Northridge, CA.
Macias, P., Garcia, C., Eclevia, E., Endinjok, F., Ovsepyan, K., Besnilian, A. (2020, March). Sodium Reduction Initiative (SRI) at California State University, Northridge. Poster presentation at CSUNPosium. Northridge, CA.
Besnilian, A., Ovsepyan, K., Hsieh, C., Vaspra, J. (2020, March). Whole Body, Whole Health Wellness Workshop. Poster presentation at CSUNPosium. Northridge, CA.
Ahrens, J., Aguilar, I., Besnilian, A., Cantrell, J., Gordillo, A, Ovsepian, K. (2020, March). Womens, Infant, and Children on a University Campus. Poster presentation at CSUNPosium. Northridge, CA.
|
Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The primary beneficiaries will be Hispanic undergraduate and graduate nutrition science students. The secondary beneficiaries will be Hispanic high school students. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As part of the Pathways to Success/Dietetics Fellowship program, a total of 19 Undergraduate Dietetics Fellows (UDFs) and 15 Graduate Dietetics Fellows have been recruited thus far. The Fellows continued to be provided with comprehensive support throughout their semesters at CSUN in Fall 2018 and Spring 2019. The Fellowship program is composed of the following support: (i) Scholarship: Each UDF is awarded scholarships or tuition reimbursement (after completion of the first lactation course) to help enhance retention of low-income students. We are continuing to process these awards for the undergraduate and graduate students who completed their Spring 2019 semester. (ii) Advisement Support: Students were provided with a comprehensive orientation in January of 2018 facilitated by the DI Director, DPD Director, and Health Sciences faculty (Lactation Education). Each student was also provided with individual or group advisement and will be asked to attend EOP transfer or new student orientation and advisement. (iii) Research Mentorship: We have offered UDFs the opportunity to be mentored by a faculty in one of several nutrition-based research projects sponsored by the CSUN Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics. Each student has been provided with a list of possible research projects: Microbialtesting:Conventional, Hydroponic,Aquaponic FoodChemistry Lab research:NutrientAnalysis, Antioxidant content,otherminerals, iron, folicacid content in products. SensoryAnalysisresearch with food products using Compusense Software ProductDevelopmentresearch:Matador Marmaladeand Spicy Matador(sensory testing, microbial testing, customer discovery) Gardening Research: Evaluation and effectiveness of Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education EducationalTheater:MyPlateMusical & Eating Disorder AthleticsPartnership &Research:BodyCompositiontesting, Counseling,Fueling station CommunityBasedInterventions:Champions for Change, Sodium Reduction Initiative, WIConCampus, Let's Cook, Move & Grow, Let's Grow Healthy, Farmer'sMarket on Campus, Whole Body, Whole Health workshops (HealthyEating, Physical Activity,Cooking) School-Based Interventions:Children'sknowledge andbehavior, Parentand family behavior andknowledge, School Personnel, LetsCook,Move & GrowinSchools. Long-term follow up to determine effectiveness and sustainability of community and school-based programs to reduce childhood obesity. NutritionCounseling, Assessment and Wellnessworkshops:WeightManagement and Diabetes EducationClasses, DietAnalysis/ESHA/GENSIS, NutritionFocus PhysicalExam, Motivational Interviewing Nutrition Experts Website and Nutrition App: Costumer Discovery Research; App Updates; using VAR and AI to obtain solutions to nutrition assessment, evaluation and planning Product Development: Matador Marmalade; Spicy Matador, Bee a Matador honey, FitJam, etc. (customer discovery, product development, marketing, sensory analysis, sales, etc.) Each UDF will be retained as a paid Research Assistant and assigned to a 10-hour per week, semester-long research project during senior year. Support for the paid research assistants has consisted of funds from this grant as well as internal funds available from the Magaram Center. (iv) Peer Mentorship: Each UDF was assigned a Peer Mentor from the 2018-2019 cohort of CSUN Dietetic Interns. The PMs were provided with an orientation and training on being a mentor during the Fall 2018 semester and attended a 1-day orientation with their mentees, where they received a Peer Mentorship Handbook and developed a plan for goals and communication. Under the guidance of the PM Coordinator, PMs oriented the UDFs to the dietetics program at CSUN, introduced them to campus resources and networking opportunities, and coached them and helped prepare to apply for the DI program. PMs will spend at least 10 hours with their assigned UDF throughout their junior and senior years at CSUN and invited UDFs to at least 3 extra-curricular events or workshops. (v) Faculty Mentorship: Each UDF was assigned a Faculty Mentor whose role is to provide assistance and guidance regarding academic requirements of the undergraduate nutrition science program at CSUN, research and internship opportunities, graduate programs, and professional networking. The Faculty Mentor met with each Fellow once during the semester individually and one time per semester as a group. Dr. Torabian, the Faculty Mentor, met with a total of 22 UDFs during the Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 semesters. (vi) Professional Competency Training Lactation Education Coursework and Experiential Learning: Comprehensive training in lactation education composed of two 3-unit fully-paid Lactation Education courses continues to be offered to the Dietetics Fellows. Offered the summer before junior year, the first course is a Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee (LEAARC) Recognized Breastfeeding Course. Students completing this course earn a certificate of course completion enabling them to call themselves certificated lactation educators, consistent with national standards. Next, UDFs will enroll in an Advanced Lactation Education Experiential Learning Training course in the summer prior to the start of their senior year. This course will include a bilingual (English/Spanish) component to promote cultural responsiveness, and will provide UDFs with knowledge and skills needed to serve as lactation educators in the diverse communities we serve. Lactation Education Experiential Learning Project Steering Committee created an operation plan for implementation of the CSUN/NEVHC experiential learning project and all modules were developed for the Advanced Lactation Education course. Lactation Professional Speakers Series was conducted in Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 Fran Jaffe, Lactation Consultant - September 26, 2018 Linda Kingsely, Lactation Consultant, Cedars-Sinai - September 26, 2018 Rebecca Agi, IBCLC, MS - Nutrition During Lactation - May 8, 2019 Six undergraduate students earned the designation of certificated lactation educators in Fall 2018 and Spring 2019. (vi) Career Mentorship & Coaching: UDFs participated in a series of professional development workshops at CSUN on vital soft skills, including networking, resume development, mock interviews, oral communication skills, time management, leadership and conflict resolution skills between September 2018 and May 2019. Workshop topics included: "Getting Started" - How to be successful in the field of nutrition, dietetics and lactation "Putting it on Paper" - Writing ideas to help students prepare successful resumes "DI Application Process" - How to apply to internship programs "The Interview/Mock Interviews" - How to prepare for a successful interview Exploring career opportunities and tips on networking Ideas on how to prepare financially for the Dietetic Internship How to efficiently manage your time (vii) Outreach: We facilitated 9 workshops (in addition to 3 make-up sessions) between September and April 2019 for upper division undergraduate nutrition science students at CSUN regarding the admission process for the Dietetic Internship program. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A website has been developed in addition to the use of social media and email communication. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to implement comprehensive outreach to high school students in the surrounding areas, in addition to freshman and sophomore level students at LAMC and CSUN. USDA representatives will also be invited to serve as guest speakers at future information sessions to offer guidance about career opportunities and emerging issues in the field. Training for research assistants will occur in Summer 2019 to prepare students to work on research projects. Paid research assistant opportunities will be provided by the students' senior year or sooner if funding is available. As part of continued advisement support, CSUN HHD college advisors will contact UDFs before arrival to campus and reach out to each one at least four times per year to ensure success in retention and meeting graduation requirements. Advisors will work in close collaboration with HHD's satellite office of CSUN's EOP (Educational Opportunity Program), which specializes in services to low-income and underrepresented students. As an added professional competency, UDFs will receive certification in ServSafe food protection management through future trainings offered on campus. We plan to offer comprehensive advisement services to students at LAMC. The Nutrition Science Transfer Specialist will provide guidance and advisement to freshman and sophomore students at LAMC regarding the transfer requirements to CSUN's (or other 4-year universities) nutrition science program. The Transfer Specialist will facilitate 4 group workshops each year on the transfer requirements and conduct one-on-one advisement sessions. To address a key barrier for retention and transfer to a 4-year university, we plan to provide tutoring for LAMC students targeting the top 2 high failure rate courses (Chemistry 102--69% failure rate & Microbiology 020--80% failure rate) that are pre-requisites for the undergraduate nutrition science program at CSUN. LAMC's Learning Resource Center will offer 20 hours of one-on-one peer tutoring per week for both courses throughout the fall and spring semesters (total 2,400 hours). Enrolled students will receive an email invitation for this tutoring before the semester begins, and students who earn below "C" on the first exam will receive a follow up email. As we work with the LAMC Transfer Specialist, preference will be given to incoming underrepresented transfer students from LAMC. We will also facilitate the training of tutors to provide tutoring services at LAMC. The Counselor/Nutrition Science Transfer Specialist will conduct to outreach to freshman and sophomore students and publicize the program through group workshops and one-on-one advisement on the Nutrition transfer requirements.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Between September 2018 and May 2019, the CSUN "Outreach Ambassadors" ("OAs") facilitated 12 information sessions about academic programs and careers as RDs to high school students at local high schools with a Hispanic student population of 70% or higher, reaching approximately 842 high school students so far. The OAs also facilitated career presentations at LAMC and at CSUN, reaching approximately 520 students enrolled in science pre-requisites for nutrition science majors. To increase awareness of careers in food science, nutrition, dietetics, and lactation, OAs conducted multiple workshops and presentations at CSUN and 12 local area high schools, along with career/job fairs at LAMC and PUC to reach approximately 1,439 individuals. The OAs shared information about career opportunities for RDs, the nutrition science curricula at LAMC and CSUN, the Dietetic Fellowship Program, and the scholarships offered under this USDA project. An informational video presentation was also developed to assist with and further expand outreach activities. Nineteen (19) undergraduate students and fifteen (15) graduate students are currently participating in the Dietetics Fellowship/Pathways to Success program. Multiple trainings/workshops have been conducted for the program between September 2018 and June 2019. Five undergraduate Dietetics Fellow earned the designation of certificated lactation educators in Fall 2018 and one undergraduate Dietetics Fellow earned the designation of certificated lactation educator in Spring 2019. Four graduate students and the Project Director attended the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) Annual Conference from February 28, 2019 to March 2, 2019 and presented their research. In addition, five graduate Dietetics Fellows from Year 1 successfully completed the credentialing examination and received Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) certification. Accomplishments for the Lactation Education component of project included the following: Five undergraduate Dietetics Fellows earned the designation of certificated lactation educators in Fall 2018 One undergraduate Dietetics Fellow earned the designation of certificated lactation educator in Spring 2019 Five undergraduate Dietetics Fellows attended lactation education experimental Learning project orientation in Fall 2018 Five undergraduate Dietetics Fellows completed the lactation education service learning experience at a local WIC clinic in Spring 2019 Five undergraduate Dietetics Fellows completed the advanced lactation course in Spring 2019 One undergraduate nutrition student and 3 graduate nutrition students (who were not Dietetics Fellows) earned the designation of certificated lactation educator in Spring 2019 We also participated in a career/job fair on the LAMC campus in May 2019 and are continuing to make information available regarding careers/academic programs and to help students successfully navigate the transfer process. Accomplishments for the Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC)included the following: The counseling department at Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC) identified 36 students during the 2018-2019 school year that have declared as Nutrition or Dietetic majors. In comparison the 2017-2018 year had 29 and the 2016-2017 year had 10. The counseling department has provided guidance and advisement to 35 (61 total mettings) students to educate them on the requirements to transfer to CSUN or other 4-year colleges. The counseling department provided one-on-one advisement sessions for the 29 students that have selected Nutrition or Dietetics majors. LAMC has provided tutoring for our students in the Learning Center and in the Center for Math and Science for the 2018-2019 year. Tutoring for Chemistry 101 was offered 32.5 hrs. per week and tutoring for Microbiology was offered 20 hrs. per week.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
https://www.csun.edu/marilyn-magaram-center/usda-pathways
|
Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The primary beneficiaries will be Hispanic undergraduate and graduate nutrition science students. The secondary beneficiaries will be Hispanic high school students. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?To achieve these objectives, we have designed the Undergraduate Dietetics Fellowship Program. As part of this program, 10 Undergraduate Dietetics Fellows (UDFs) were recruited between October and December 2017. The Fellows were provided with comprehensive support throughout their undergraduate semesters at CSUN in Fall 2017/Spring 2018. For this year we currently have 6 UDFs and will enroll 4 more by July/August of 2018. The Fellowship program is composed of the following support: (i) Scholarship: Each UDF will be awarded a scholarship or tuition reimbursement (after completion of the first lactation course) to help enhance retention of low-income students. We are currently processing these awards for students that completed their Spring 2018 semester. (ii) Advisement Support: Students were provided with a comprehensive orientation in January of 2018 facilitated by the DI Director, DPD Director, and Health Sciences faculty (Lactation Education). Each student was also provided with individual or group advisement and will be asked to attend EOP transfer or new student orientation and advisement. (iii) Research Mentorship: We have offered UDFs the opportunity to be mentored by a faculty in one of several nutrition-based research projects sponsored by the CSUN Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics. Each student has been provided with a list of possible research projects: Microbialtesting:Conventional, Hydroponic,Aquaponic FoodChemistry Lab research:NutrientAnalysis, Antioxidant content,otherminerals, iron, folicacid content in products. SensoryAnalysisresearch with food products using Compusense Software ProductDevelopmentresearch:Matador Marmaladeand Spicy Matador(sensory testing, microbial testing, customer discovery) Gardening Research: Evaluation and effectiveness of Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education EducationalTheater:MyPlateMusical & Eating Disorder AthleticsPartnership &Research:BodyCompositiontesting, Counseling,Fueling station CommunityBasedInterventions:HealthyEating, Physical Activity,Cooking, Lets Cook and Move, Let's Eat Healthy, WIConCampus, Farmer'sMarket on Campus SchoolBased Interventions:Children'sknowledge andbehavior, Parentand family behavior andknowledge, School Personnel, LetsCook,Move & GrowinSchools. Long-term follow up to determine effectiveness and sustainability of community and school-based programs. NutritionCounseling, Assessment and Wellnessworkshops:WeightManagement and Diabetes EducationClasses, DietAnalysis/ ESHA/GENSIS, NutritionFocus PhysicalExam, Motivational Interviewing Nutrition Experts Website and Nutrition App: Costumer Discovery Research; App Updates; using VAR and AI to obtain solutions to nutrition assessment, evaluation and planning Product Development: Matador Marmalade; Spicy Matador, Bee a Matador Wildflower Honey; FitJams (customer discovery, product development, marketing, sensory analysis, sales, etc.) Each UDF will be retained as a paid Research Assistant and assigned to a 10-hour per week, semester long research project during senior year. Support for the paid research assistants has consisted of funds from this grant as well as internal funds available from the Magaram Center. (iv) Peer Mentorship: Each UDF was assigned a Peer Mentor, between October 2017 and January 2018 to the CSUN Dietetic Interns. The PMs were provided with an orientation and training on being a mentor during the Fall 2017 semester and attended a 1-day orientation in January 2018 with their mentees, where they received a Peer Mentorship Handbook and developed a plan for goals and communication. Under the guidance of the PM Coordinator, PMs oriented the UDFs to the dietetics program at CSUN, introduced them to campus resources and networking opportunities, and coached them and helped prepare to apply for the DI program. PMs will spent at least 10 hours with their assigned UDF throughout their junior and senior years at CSUN and invited UDFs to at least 3 extra-curricular events or workshops. (v) Faculty Mentorship: Each UDF was assigned a Faculty Mentor whose role is to provide assistance and guidance regarding academic requirements of the undergraduate nutrition science program at CSUN, research and internship opportunities, graduate programs, and professional networking. The Faculty Mentor met with each Fellow once during the Spring 2018 semester individually and one time per semester as a group. Dr. Torabian, the Faculty Mentor, has met with 7 UDFs this semester. (vi) Professional Competency Training Lactation Education Coursework and Experiential Learning: This summer we will offer to all UDFs a comprehensive training in lactation education composed of two 3-unit fully-paid Lactation Education courses. Offered the summer before junior year, the first course is a Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee (LEAARC) Recognized Breastfeeding Course. Students completing this course earn a certificate of course completion enabling them to call themselves certificated lactation educators, consistent with national standards. Next, UDFs will enroll in an Advanced Lactation Education Experiential Learning Training course in the summer prior to the start of their senior year. This course will include a bilingual (English/Spanish) component to promote cultural responsiveness, and will provide UDFs with knowledge and skills needed to serve as lactation educators in the diverse communities we serve. In Fall 2017, developed all module for the Advanced Lactation Education course Lactation Education Experiential Learning Project Steering Committee held several meetings and to develop an operation plan for implementation of the CSUN/NEVHC experiential learning project. Six Graduate students earned the designation of certificated lactation educators in May 2018 (vi) Career Mentorship & Coaching: 10 UDFs participated in a series of professional development workshops at CSUN on vital soft skills, including networking, resume development, mock interviews, oral communication skills, time management, leadership and conflict resolution skills between January and April 2018. Workshop topics included: "Getting Started" - How to be successful in the field of nutrition, dietetics and lactation "Putting it on Paper" - Writing ideas to help students prepare successful resumes "DI Application Process" - How to apply to internship programs "The Interview/Mock Interviews" - How to prepare for a successful interview (vii) Outreach: We facilitated 5 outreach workshops between January and April 2018 this year for upper division undergraduate nutrition science students at CSUN regarding the admission process for the Dietetic Internship Program. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A website has been developed in addition to the use of social media and email communication. Through Community Outreach, training and presentations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to implement comprehensive outreach to high school students in the surrounding areas, in addition to freshman and sophomore level students at LAMC and CSUN. USDA representatives will also be invited to serve as guest speakers at future information sessions to offer guidance about career opportunities and emerging issues in the field. As we work with the LAMC Transfer Specialist during the Fall 2018 semester, preference will be given to incoming underrepresented transfer students from LAMC. We will also facilitate the training of tutors to provide tutoring services at LAMC. Training for research assistants will occur in August of 2018 and Fall students will work on research. Paid research assistant opportunities will be provided by the students' senior year or sooner if funding is available. As part of continued advisement support, CSUN HHD college advisors will contact UDFs before arrival to campus and reach out to each one at least four times per year. By offering knowledge, concern, and availability, advisers will be able to establish the trust crucial to success in retention and graduation. Advisors will work in close collaboration with HHD's satellite office of CSUN's EOP (Educational Opportunity Program), which specializes in services to low-income and underrepresented students. We expect 5 undergraduate students to earn the designation of certificated lactation educators by 8/29/18. We expect 5 undergraduate students and 3 graduate students to earn the designation of certificated lactation educators by 12/15/18. As an added professional competency, UDFs will receive certification in ServSafe food protection management, and we intend to offer an initial training in July/August of 2018. The Counselor/Nutrition Science Transfer Specialist at LAMC will continue to outreach to freshman and sophomore students and publicize the program through group workshops and one-on-one advisement on the Nutrition transfer requirements in the Fall of 2018.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We implemented comprehensive outreach to high school students and freshman and sophomore level students at LAMC and CSUN. Under our plan, between January and May 2018, 13 Dietetic Internship students at CSUN served as "Outreach Ambassadors" ("OAs") and facilitated 22 information sessions about academic programs and careers as RDs to high school students at six local high schools with a Hispanic student population of 70% or higher, reaching 450 high school students so far. The OAs have also facilitated 13 career presentations at LAMC and at CSUN, reaching 185 freshman and sophomore students enrolled in science pre-requisites for nutrition science majors. The OAs shared information about career opportunities for RDs, the nutrition science curricula at LAMC and CSUN, the Dietetic Fellowship Program, and the scholarships offered under this USDA project. Ten undergraduate students and six graduate students were recruited for the Dietetics Fellowship/Pathways to Success program and we conducted multiple trainings/workshops between January and April of 2018. Six graduate students earned the designation of certificated lactation educators in May of 2018. A meeting was held with Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC) and the sub-award was processed. A schedule of classes at LAMC for Spring 2018 was provided and presentations were conducted on campus to provide information regarding careers/academic programs and to help students successfully navigate the transfer process. We also participated in outreach events for transfer students held in April and May 2018 at both LAMC and CSUN. A full-time Title V Counselor has assumed the role of co-coordinator alongside the Kinesiology Division Chair/Faculty member and has also taken on the responsibilities of the Nutrition Science Transfer Specialist for year 1. Through one-on-one appointments, the counselor has offered comprehensive advisement services and guidance to freshman and sophomore students at LAMC who have expressed an interest in transferring to CSUN's nutrition science program through the Associate Degree for Transfer. The counselor has created a document outlining the Pathway to Nutrition program features, contact information, as well as the course sequence articulated between CSUN and LAMC, which has been distributed to prospective students. Thus far, two students have been identified as interested in pursuing the Associate Degree for Transfer in Nutrition route and have worked closely with the counselor to develop comprehensive educational plans reflective of that goal. In addition, one graduate student and project staff traveled to USDA in Washington, D.C. for the Project Director's Meeting which was held in March 2018.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
https://www.csun.edu/marilyn-magaram-center/usda-nifa
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