Progress 06/01/20 to 05/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The scholarship recipients for the SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship (AIS) program are students from the United States of America who have excelled academically and who have an interest in agriculture and food production related careers. Potential scholars for the AIS program must meet the following selection criteria: (1) Must be a citizen or national of the United States; (2) Accepted for admission to SC State; (3) Begin school at SC State no later than the first fall semester following their high school or community college graduation; (4) Agree to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree within an accepted food and agricultural sciences and related fields within the College of Agriculture and Family & Consumer Sciences departments; (5) Intend to pursue a career in the food and agricultural sciences or other related disciplines; (6) Have a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) or higher at the time of application (either from high school if entering as a freshman or community college if entering as a transfer student), and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA or higher on a semester and cumulative basis while receiving scholarship support from the program; (7) Be enrolled in at least 15 credits in the food and agricultural sciences and related fields degree program leading to an undergraduate degree during each semester he/she receives 1890 AIS support. Hence, the scholarship award is good for a maximum of 8 consecutive fall/spring semesters (excluding summers) at SC State, provided the 1890 scholars maintain the required minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Scholars who wish to be reconsidered as a scholar, must first regain admission to the university and reapply for the scholarship program; funding will be awarded based upon availability. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The SC State 1890 AIS Program is committed to the professional development of its scholars. The AIS program hosts monthly academic, professional, and personal development workshops. The sessions encouraged scholars to form a winning mindset in every endeavor in their life and to introduce and teach practical skills that will prepare them for the workforce and life after graduation. Topics have included: connecting to campus life, civic responsibility, resume and cover letter writing, how to dress for a professional interview, financial management, and meet the Deans. Each of the topics and speakers were specifically chosen to advance the scholar's knowledge so they can become productive students, leaders, and members of society. The AIS program also encourages practical career related experiences. The monthly Ag Speakers Series has provided a space where scholars could hear directly from professionals in various agriculture related occupations. The speakers provided a general overview of their occupation and detailed their journey into their current job. Scholars also had the opportunity to engage with the speakers and ask questions. It is believed the experience will connect the scholars to an array of job possibilities and open their minds to jobs they typically were not aware of. In addition, it is expected that each scholar obtains a summer internship during their matriculation at SC State. The AIS program introduced the scholars to USDA and the internship application process this year. Partnering with the SC State USDA liaison, the scholars had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the USDA website and the process of obtaining an internship. Scholars could also e-mail their resumes to be reviewed by the USDA liaison. Trainings and professional development opportunities helped the scholars come one step closer to mastering leadership and professionalism. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship (AIS) Program has impacted communities of interest. First, the AIS program recruitment plan is to engage underserved communities South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The goal of the AIS program was to recruit a diverse student population who desire to pursue a professional career in agriculture related professions. This was accomplished by an aggressive marketing campaign utilizing social media, print media, radio, streaming services, connecting with education leaders, and like mission community organizations and agencies. Secondly, the AIS program seeks to assist scholars with internships with USDA around the country. Through the professional development workshops, scholars are positioned to excel as young professionals adhering to learned workforce norms and expectations. Twenty (20) Ag Scholars obtained an internship for summer 2024. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The SC State 1890 AIS program identified three major goals to guide the direction of the program for the four-year scholarship period. In summary, the three goals are: (1) increase student enrollment in agriculture fields, (2) increase the number of graduates in agriculture fields, and (3) expand experimental learning opportunities. To meet these goals by the end of the four-year period, the AIS program created a plan of action. The AIS program has had many accomplishments along the way. Recruitment - During Year 1, 2020-2021 academic year, 26 scholars were recruited to be a part of the inaugural cohort of the SC State 1890 AIS Program. For Year 2, 2021-2022 academic year, 25 scholars were recruited for the 2nd cohort. Fifteen scholars were male, and 10 scholars were female. Twenty-two of the scholars were South Carolina natives, while 3 of the scholars are out-of-state students representing Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. The average GPA of the 2nd cohort was 3.63. For Year 3, 2022 - 2023 academic year, 27 scholars were recruited to be a part of the 3rd cohort. 5 out of the 27 students are classified as out-of-state students. Thirteen scholars are female while fourteen scholars are male. For the 4th cohort the average GPA was above a 3.25. 9 were males and 5 females.7 were in state and 7 were out-of-state all from Georgia. In July, the 5th cohort (2024-2028) was established. The cohort includes 26 students including 18 Agribusiness Majors, 2 Family Consumer Sciences - Child Development, 2 Family Consumer Sciences - Nutrition, 3 Family Consumer Sciences- Fashion Merchandising. The cohort consist of 12 in-state students and 14 out-of-state students. During the recruitment periods, AIS program was able to make meaningful and lasting connections with school districts, high schools, principals, and counselors across the State of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The connections allowed 1890 Research and Extension to be a gateway to opportunities to coordinate organizational initiatives and help with the publicity and promotion of the SC State 1890 AIS in the future. To cumulate the recruitment period, the AIS program hosted a one in-person Welcome Orientations during the summer to welcome the new scholars and their families to the SC State. Scholars were allowed to bring up to 2 parental guests. During the orientation, participates were able to meet their cohort, tour the campus, meet with executive director of 1890 Research and Extension, meet their academic deans and faculty, and first year academic advisors. The program was a major success and a great introduction to campus life. During this time the students were able to break out into small groups according to their majors and receive their syllabus and curriculum from their academic advisors. Due to the increase interest of out-of-state students to the university, the AIS had to organize a second welcome orientation for those who could not attend the first in-person orientation. Connection to resources - The SC State 1890 AIS Program strives to meet the relevant academic needs of its scholars. The AIS program remains continuously connected to its scholars to ensure the scholars remain successful in their academic and college journey. All scholars received a complimentary laptop to assist with their assignment. Many of the scholars did not have a personal laptop so this helped ease anxieties to focus more on their class assignments. The AIS program has connected with the Office of Student Success to provide extra assistance with class registration, FAFSA completion, and tutoring assistance. The AIS program has connected with the USDA liaison to assist scholars with providing information about USDA internships, applying for internships, reviewing resumes and cover letters, and hosting USDA and NIFA representatives on campus. To meet the needs of our scholars AIS program opened the AG Scholars Study Lab in Spring 2022 to provide a dedicated workspace for scholars to focus on their class work and to receive tutoring. A tutor was hired to oversee the operations of the lab and to provide 'intrusive' advising/coaching to the students whose GPA is on the verge of 3.0 cumulative minimum. One student assistant was hired to work the receptionist desk and provide onsite tutoring. In Fall of 2023 seeing the need for the students we hired a full-time Tutor for the study lab.
Publications
|
Progress 06/01/23 to 05/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The scholarship recipients for the SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship (AIS) program are students from South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina who have excelled academically and who have an interest in agriculture and food production related careers. Potential scholars for the AIS program must meet the following selection criteria: (1) Must be a citizen or national of the United States; (2) Accepted for admission to SC State; (3) Begin school at SC State no later than the first fall semester following their high school or community college graduation; (4) Agree to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree within an accepted food and agricultural sciences and related fields within the College of Agriculture and Family & Consumer Sciences departments; (5) Intend to pursue a career in the food and agricultural sciences or other related disciplines; (6) Have a minimum cumulative 2.8 grade point average (GPA) or higher at the time of application (either from high school if entering as a freshman or community college if entering as a transfer student), and maintain at least a 2.8 GPA or higher on a semester and cumulative basis while receiving scholarship support from the program; (7) Be enrolled in at least 15 credits in the food and agricultural sciences and related fields degree program leading to an undergraduate degree during each semester he/she receives 1890 AIS support. Hence, the scholarship award is good for a maximum of 8 consecutive fall/spring semesters (excluding summers) at SC State, provided the 1890 scholars maintain the required minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Scholars who wish to be reconsidered as a scholar, must first regain admission to the university and reapply for the scholarship program; funding will be awarded based uponavailability. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The SC State 1890 AIS Program is committed to the professional development of its scholars. The AIS program hosts monthly academic, professional, and personal development workshops. The sessions encouraged scholars to form a winning mindset in every endeavor in their life and to introduce and teach practical skills that will prepare them for the workforce and life after graduation. Topics have included: connecting to campus life, civic responsibility, resume and cover letter writing, how to dress for a professional interview, financial management, and meet the Deans. Each of the topics and speakers were specifically chosen to advance the scholar's knowledge so they can become productive students, leaders, and members of society. The AIS program also encourages practical career related experiences. The monthly Ag Speakers Series has provided a space where scholars could hear directly from professionals in various agriculture related occupations. The speakers provided a general overview of their occupation and detailed their journey into their current job. Scholars also had the opportunity to engage with the speakers and ask questions. It is believed the experience will connect the scholars to an array of job possibilities and open their minds to jobs they typically were not aware of. In addition, it is expected that each scholar obtains a summer internship during their matriculation at SC State. The AIS program introduced the scholars to USDA and the internship application process this year. Partnering with the SC State USDA liaison, the scholars had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the USDA website and the process of obtaining an internship. Scholars could also e-mail their resumes to be reviewed by the USDA liaison. Trainings and professional development opportunities helped the scholars come one step closer to mastering leadership and professionalism. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship (AIS) Program has impacted communities of interest. First, the AIS program recruitment plan is to engage underserved communities South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The goal of the AIS program was to recruit a diverse student population who desire to pursue a professional career in agriculture related professions. This was accomplished by an aggressive marketing campaign utilizing social media, print media, radio, streaming services, connecting with education leaders, and like mission community organizations and agencies. Secondly, the AIS program seeks to assist scholars with internships with USDA around the country. Through the professional development workshopsscholars are positioned to excel as young professionals adhering to learned workforce norms and expectations. Twenty (20) Ag Scholars obtained an internship for summer 2024. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The SC State 1890 AIS program identified three major goals to guide the direction of the program for the four-year scholarship period. In summary, the three goals are: (1) increase student enrollment in agriculture fields, (2) increase the number of graduates in agriculture fields, and (3) expand experimental learning opportunities. To meet these goals by the end of the four-year period, the AIS program created a plan of action. The AIS program has had many accomplishments along the way. Recruitment - During Year 1, 2020-2021 academic year, 26 scholars were recruited to be a part of the inaugural cohort of the SC State 1890 AIS Program. For Year 2, 2021-2022 academic year, 25 scholars were recruited for the 2nd cohort. Fifteen scholars were male, and 10 scholars were female. Twenty-two of the scholars were South Carolina natives, while 3 of the scholars are out-of-state students representing Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. The average GPA of the 2nd cohort was 3.63. For Year 3, 2022 - 2023 academic year, 27 scholars were recruited to be a part of the 3rd cohort. 5 out of the 27 students are classified as out-of-state students. Thirteen scholars are female while fourteen scholars are male. For the 4th cohort the average GPA was above a 3.25. 9 were males and 5 females.7 were in state and 7 were out-of-state all from Georgia. During the recruitment periods, AIS program was able to make meaningful and lasting connections with school districts, high schools, principals, and counselors across the State of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The connections allowed 1890 Research and Extension to be a gateway to opportunities to coordinate organizational initiatives and help with the publicity and promotion of the SC State 1890 AIS in the future. During this time AIS also had a both at the Battle of the Bands in Atlanta, GA where we were able to share information concerning the program. To cumulate the recruitment period, the AIS program hosted a one in-person Welcome Orientations during the summer to welcome the new scholars and their families to the SC State. Scholars were allowed to bring up to 2 parental guests. During the orientation, participates were able to meet their cohort, tour the campus, meet with executive director of 1890 Research and Extension, meet their academic deans and faculty, and first year academic advisors. The program was a major success and a great introduction to campus life. During this time we also assigned roommates and the students were able to break out into small groups according to major. Professional Development - In addition to orientation, the AIS program also hosted monthly professional development workshop (Win Wednesday in the Fall 2023 and Ag Mondays in Spring 2024) and the Ag Speaker Series virtually. These opportunities kept the scholars connected and engaged with the program and with their peers while providing meaningful, relevant, and consistent programming is also part of the retention plan for the scholars. AIS Program sponsored 30 AG Scholars to attend different professional development conferences such as MANRRS Regional and National Conferences, 1890 Career Development Conference, Men of Color National Summit, Association of Research Administrators and the USDA Agriculture Outlook Forum. AIS Program encourages internship attainment. All AG Scholars are expected to obtain an internship in their desired career field. Connection to resources - The SC State 1890 AIS Program strives to meet the relevant academic needs of its scholars. The AIS program remain continuously connected to its scholars to ensure the scholars remain successful in their academic and college journey. All scholars received a complimentary laptop to assist with their assignment. Many of the scholars did not have a personal laptop so this helped ease anxieties to focus more on their class assignments. The AIS program has connected with the Office of Student Success and Retention (SSRP) to provide extra assistance with class registration, FAFSA completion, and tutoringassistance. The AIS program has connected with the USDA liaison to assist scholars with providing information about USDA internships, applying for internships, reviewing resumes and cover letters, and hosting USDA and NIFA representatives on campus. To meet the needs of our scholars AIS program opened the AG Scholars Study Lab in Spring 2022 to provide a dedicated workspace for scholars to focus on their class work and to receive tutoring. A graduate assistant was hired to oversee the operations of the lab and to provide 'intrusive' advising/coaching to the students whose GPA is on the verge of 3.0 cumulative minimum. One student assistant was hired to work the receptionist desk and provide onsite tutoring. In Fall of 2023 seeing the need for the students we hired a full-time Tutor for the study lab.
Publications
|
Progress 06/01/22 to 05/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The scholarship recipients for the SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship (AIS) program are students from South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina who have excelled academically and who have an interest in agriculture and food production related careers. Potential scholars for the AIS program must meet the following selection criteria: (1) Must be a citizen or national of the United States; (2) Accepted for admission to SC State; (3) Begin school at SC State no later than the first fall semester following their high school or community college graduation; (4) Agree to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree within an accepted food and agricultural sciences and related fields within the College of Agriculture and Family & Consumer Sciences departments; (5) Intend to pursue a career in the food and agricultural sciences or other related disciplines; (6) Have a minimum cumulative 2.8 grade point average (GPA) or higher at the time of application (either from high school if entering as a freshman or community college if entering as a transfer student), and maintain at least a 2.8 GPA or higher on a semester and cumulative basis while receiving scholarship support from the program; (7) Be enrolled in at least 15 credits in the food and agricultural sciences and related fields degree program leading to an undergraduate degree during each semester he/shereceives 1890 AIS support. Hence, the scholarship award is good for a maximum of 8 consecutive fall/spring semesters (excluding summers) at SC State, provided the 1890 scholars maintain the required minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Scholars who wish to be reconsidered as a scholar, must first regain admission to the university and reapply for the scholarship program; funding will be awarded based upon availability. Changes/Problems:SC State University has experienced computer network outages throughout the academic year, a result of being hacked in 2021. This has caused several random internet outages which prevents scholars from having internet access to their on-line classes, class assignments, blackboard, etc. The university has been working diligently to rectify this situation but in the interim, has caused much anxiety among students. The AIS program has access to hotspots which students can use in the AG Study Lab. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The SC State 1890 AIS Program is committed to the professional development of its scholars. The AIS program hosts monthly academic, professional, and personal development workshops. The sessions encouraged scholars to form a winning mindset in every endeavor in their life and to introduce and teach practical skills that will prepare them for the workforce and life after graduation. Topics have included: connecting to campus life, civic responsibility, resume and cover letter writing, how to dress for a professional interview, financial management, and meet the Deans. Each of the topics and speakers were specifically chosen to advance the scholar's knowledge so they can become productive students, leaders, and members of society. The AIS program also encourages practical career related experiences. The monthly Ag Speakers Series has provided a space where scholars could hear directly from professionals in various agriculture related occupations. The speakers provided a general overview of their occupation and detailed their journey into their current job. Scholars also had the opportunity to engage with the speakers and ask questions. It is believed the experience will connect the scholars to an array of job possibilities and open their minds to jobs they typically were not aware of. In addition, it is expected that each scholar obtains a summer internship during their matriculation at SC State. The AIS program introduced the scholars to USDA and the internship application process this year. Partnering with the SC State USDA liaison, the scholars had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the USDA website and the process of obtaining an internship. Scholars could also e-mail their resumes to be reviewed by the USDA liaison. Trainings and professional development opportunities helped the scholars come one step closer to mastering leadership and professionalism. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship (AIS) Program has impacted communities of interest. First, the AIS program recruitment plan is to engage underserved communities South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The goal of the AIS program was to recruit a diverse student population who desire to pursue a professional career in agriculture related professions. This was accomplished by an aggressive marketing campaign utilizing social media, print media, radio, streaming services, connecting with education leaders, and like mission community organizations and agencies. Secondly, the AIS program seeks to assist scholars with internships with USDA around the country. Through the professional development workshops, scholars are positioned to excel as young professionals adhering to learned workforce norms and expectations. Fifteen (15) Ag Scholars obtained an internship for summer 2023. Thirdly, several scholars participated inagriculture day at the South Carolina state fair. This was an opportunity for scholars to highlight SC State University and it's College of Agriculture and Family and Consumer Sciences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?To accomplish the goals of the SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship (AIS) Program, the scholarship team will continue to recruit and enroll, provide leadership of the program, and evaluate the program to ensure effectiveness. Every month during the academic year, the scholarship team, along with the Vice President and Executive Director of 1890 Research and Extension, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Evaluation, and Engagement, USDA liaison, and 1890 fiscal managers meets to discuss the progress, challenges, and direction of the scholarship program. These meetings are very helpful for the sustainability of the program because it brings all concerned parties to the table on a regular basis to ensure that the program remains in compliance and that the program is meeting the needs of the scholars. At the end of each semester, scholars complete an evaluation where they can provide feedback concerning the program. Their collective responses are instrumental for making meaningful changes. Utilizing the survey responses and learned experiences from coordinating the AIS program, the following are additional plans to help meet the AIS program goals: Goal 1 - Increase student enrollment in agriculture related fields: The AIS program will continue to coordinate with the SC State Office of Admissions to recruit outstanding incoming freshmen and transfer students into the program. Partnering with SC State Admissions office allows the AIS program to coordinate more targeted student populations to increase the capacity of the program. To ensure the program reach our targeted enrollment numbers, the plan is to expand the recruiting timeline from November 2023 through April 2024. This will allow the AIS program more time to recruit students and to capture top-tier scholars earlier. The AIS program will be more aggressive in the advertising and marketing of the AIS program, utilizing social media, printed media, radio, and streaming services. SC State has a renown educational leadership program where many of South Carolina's school counselors, principals, and superintendents are alumni. The AIS program will utilize its alumni connections to assist in the publicity and recommend outstanding students for the scholarship. These collective efforts in concert with each will help the program meet its four-year goal of increasing student enrollment in agriculture related fields by 15%. Goal 2 - Increase number of graduates in agriculture related fields: The AIS Program will continue to be innovative in ensuring that the scholars excel as productive students at SC State and persist to graduation, which is the ultimate goal. The AIS program has coordinated with the SC State University Office Institutional Effectiveness (data manager) to receive mid-terms grades and final semester grades. This adjustment will ensure that the AIS program is regularly tracking the scholars along their academic journey and allow the AIS program to provide early interventions, if needed. The AIS program will continue to consult with faculty advisors and the Office of Student Success and Retention to keep the scholars informed about university academic resources and opportunities. Lastly, the AIS program will remain diligent in offering holistic student development opportunities, including attending and presenting at regional and national conferences, to ensure that the scholar's spiritual, mental, and social needs are being met. Student development research has proven that these types of opportunities can have a major effect on matriculation. Goal 3 - Increase experimental learning opportunities: The SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship (AIS) Program plans to provide various experimental learning opportunities to broaden the scholar's knowledge. Three signature programs that the scholars will participate in are Ag Mondays, Ag Speakers Series, and MANRRS. AG Mondays will offer academic, leadership, professional, and personal development opportunities. The Ag Speaker Series will offer the opportunity for scholars to engage with current professionals in agriculture related careers. MANRRS is a national student organization that promotes academic and professional achievement and offer leadership and national agriculture opportunities. In addition to the three programs, scholars are expected to obtain an agriculture related internship during their matriculation at SC State. Scholars who are seeking employment and/or a work-study position will be encouraged to apply for student positions within the 1890 Research and Extension Department. Lastly, AIS program will continue to seek regional and national conferences and opportunities for engagement and learning that will enhance the scholars professional skillset in the filed in agriculture and nutrition.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The SC State 1890 AIS program identified three major goals to guide the direction of the program for the four-year scholarship period. In summary, the three goals are: (1) increase student enrollment in agriculture fields, (2) increase the number of graduates in agriculture fields, and (3) expand experimental learning opportunities. To meet these goals by the end of the four-year period, the AIS program created a plan of action. The AIS program has had many accomplishments along the way. Recruitment - During Year 1, 2020-2021 academic year, 26 scholars were recruited to be a part of the inaugural cohort of the SC State 1890 AIS Program. For Year 2, 2021-2022 academic year, 25 scholars were recruited for the 2nd cohort. Fifteen scholars were male, and 10 scholars were female. Twenty-two of the scholars were South Carolina natives, while 3 of the scholars are out-of-state students representing Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. The average GPA of the 2nd cohort was 3.63. For Year 3, 2022 - 2023 academic year, 27 scholars were recruited to be a part of the 3rd cohort. 5 out of the 27 students are classified as out-of-state students. Thirteen scholars are female while fourteen scholars are male. During the recruitment periods, AIS program was able to make meaningful and lasting connections with school districts, high schools, principals, and counselors across the State of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The connections allowed 1890 Research and Extension to be a gateway to opportunities to coordinate organizational initiatives and help with the publicity and promotion of the SC State 1890 AIS in the future. To cumulate the recruitment period, the AIS program hosted a two in-person Welcome Orientations during the summer to welcome the new scholars and their families to the SC State. Scholars were allowed to bring up to 2 parental guests. During the orientation, participates were able to meet their cohort, tour the campus, meet with executive director of 1890 Research and Extension, meet their academic deans and faculty, and first year academic advisors. The program was a major success and a great introduction to campus life. Professional Development - In addition to orientation, the AIS program also hosted monthly professional development workshop (Win Wednesday in the Fall 2022 and Ag Mondays in Spring 2023) and the Ag Speaker Series virtually. These opportunities kept the scholars connected and engaged with the program and with their peers while providing meaningful, relevant, and consistent programming is also part of the retention plan for the scholars. AIS Program sponsored 30 AG Scholars to attend the USDA Career Development Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The purpose of the conference was to prepare students from 1890 universities for career opportunities with the Federal Government. Workshops were conducted to prepare students for the application process, interviewing and exploring careers with NRCS. AIS Program encourages internship attainment. All AG Scholars are expected to obtain an internship in their desired career field. Connection to resources - The SC State 1890 AIS Program strives to meet the relevant academic needs of its scholars. The AIS program remain continuously connected to its scholars to ensure the scholars remain successful in their academic and college journey. All scholars received a complimentary laptop to assist with their assignment. Many of the scholars did not have a personal laptop so this helped ease anxieties to focus more on their class assignments. The AIS program has connected with the Office of Student Success and Retention (SSRP) to provide extra assistance with class registration, FAFSA completion, and tutoring assistance. The AIS program has connected with the USDA liaison to assist scholars with providing information about USDA internships, applying for internships, reviewing resumes and cover letters, and hosting USDA and NIFA representatives on campus. To meet the needs of our scholars AIS program opened the AG Scholars Study Lab in Spring 2022 to provide a dedicated workspace for scholars to focus on their class work and to receive tutoring. A graduate assistant was hired to oversee the operations of the lab and to provide 'intrusive' advising/coaching to the students whose GPA is on the verge of 3.0 cumulative minimum. One student assistants were hired to work the receptionist desk and provide onsite tutoring.
Publications
|
Progress 06/01/21 to 05/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The scholarship recipients for the SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship (AIS) program are students from South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina who have excelled academically and who have an interest in agriculture and food production related careers. Potential scholars for the AIS program must meet the following selection criteria: (1) Must be a citizen or national of the United States; (2) Accepted for admission to SC State; (3) Begin school at SC State no later than the first fall semester following their high school or community college graduation; (4) Agree to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree within an accepted food and agricultural sciences and related fields within the College of Agriculture and Family & Consumer Sciences departments; (5) Intend to pursue a career in the food and agricultural sciences or other related disciplines; (6) Have a minimum cumulative 2.8 grade point average (GPA) or higher at the time of application (either from high school if entering as a freshman or community college if entering as a transfer student), and maintain at least a 2.8 GPA or higher on a semester and cumulative basis while receiving scholarship support from the program; (7) Be enrolled in at least 15 credits in the food and agriculturalsciences and related fields degree program leading to an undergraduate degree during each semester he/she receives 1890 AIS support. Hence, the scholarship award is good for a maximum of 8 consecutive fall/spring semesters (excluding summers) at SC State, provided the 1890 scholars maintain the required minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. Scholars who wish to be reconsidered as a scholar, must first regain admission to the university and reapply for the scholarship program; funding will be awarded based upon availability. Changes/Problems:Due to COVID-19, the SC State 1890 AIS Program experienced some major changes since its inaugural year. COVID-19 was an unexpected global pandemic that affected the approach that was planned to accomplish the goals and objectives of the AIS program. During the 2020-2021 academic year, SC State moved from in-person learning to entirely virtual learning. During the Spring 2021 semester, SC State gave the option for1,000 students to return to campus, mainly freshmen and athletes. As a result of this protocol, the AIS program recruiting events, experimental learning opportunities, and academic coaching and interventions plans were all held virtually, utilizing online conferencing systems such as Teams, WebEx, and Zoom. SC State returned to normal operations during Fall 2021, but several protocols and precautions were adopted for the safety of the campus community. As a program, we complied with these protocols adjusting programs and outreach initiatives accordingly. Regrettably, a total of 6 students were dropped from the program's 1st cohort due to academic performance. To better support scholar from falling behind an early intervention (AG Study Lab) was created and staffed with a EdD graduate student. This was a great move. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The SC State 1890 AIS Program was committed to the professional development of its scholars. The AIS program hosts monthly academic, professional, and personal development workshops called WIN Wednesdays. The sessions encouraged scholars to form a winning mindset in every endeavor in their life and to introduce and teach practical skills that will prepare them for the workforce and life after graduation. Topics have included: connecting to campus life, civic responsibility, resume and cover letter writing, how to dress for a professional interview, financial management, and meet the Deans. Each of the topics and speakers were specifically chosen to advance the scholar's knowledge so they can become productive students, leaders, and members of society. A highlight of WIN Wednesdays this year was Sc State alumni and author Jarrett Wofford who spoke with the students about how his college experiences helped shaped his career as an author, entrepreneur, and leader. The AIS program also encourages practical career related experiences. The monthly Ag Speakers Series has provided a space where scholars could hear directly from professionals in various agriculture related occupations. The speakers provided a general overview of their occupation and detailed their journey into their current job. Scholars also had the opportunity to engage with the speakers and ask questions. It is believed the experience will connect the scholars to an array of job possibilities and open their minds to jobs they typically were not aware of. In addition, it is expected that each scholar obtains a summer internship during their matriculation at SC State. The AIS program introduced the scholars to USDA and the internship application process this year. Partnering with the SC State USDA liaison, the scholars had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the USDA website and the process of obtaining an internship. Scholars could also e-mail their resumes to be reviewed by the USDA liaison. Trainings and professional development opportunities helped the scholars come one step closer to mastering leadership and professionalism How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship (AIS) Program has impacted communities of interest. First, part of the AIS program recruitment plan is to engage underserved communities South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The goal of the AIS program was to recruit a diverse student population who desired to pursue a professional career in agriculture related professions. This was accomplished by an aggressive marketing campaign utilizing social media, print media, radio, streaming services, connecting with education leaders, and like mission community organizations and agencies. Secondly, the AIS program also seeks to assist scholars with internships with USDA around the country. Through the professional development workshops, scholar's are positioned to excel as young professionals adhering to learned workforce norms and expectations. 11 ag scholars obtained an internship for summer 2022. Thirdly, several scholars participated in agriculture day at the South Carolina state fair. This was an opportunity for scholars highlight the SC State University and it's College of Agriculture and Family and Consumer Sciences. The scholars created an informational video offering tips on how to dress for a professional job interview. The video was disseminated on the SC State 1890 Research and Extension social media pages. The biggest highlight of 2021-2022 was the spring symposium that featured USDA Deputy Administrator for Foreign Agriculture Services Mr. MarkSlupek as quest speaker. His presentation covered a wide range of topics including job, internship, and opportunities, priorities of USDA Foreign Agriculture Services domestic/international, and leadership. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?To accomplish the goals of the SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship (AIS) Program, the scholarship team will continue to recruit and enroll, provide leadership of the program, and assess and evaluate the program to ensure effectiveness. Every month during the academic year, the scholarship team, along with the Vice President and Executive Director of 1890 Research and Extension, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Evaluation, and Engagement, USDA liaison, and 1890 fiscal managers meets to discuss the progress, challenges, and direction of the scholarship program. These meetings are very helpful for the sustainability of the program because it brings all concerned parties to the table on a regular basis to ensure that the program remains in compliance and that the program is meeting the needs of the scholars. At the end of each semester, scholars complete an evaluation where they can provide feedback concerning the program. Their collective responses are instrumental for making meaningful changes. Utilizing the survey responses and learned experiences from coordinating the AIS program, the following are additional plans to help meet the AIS program goals: Goal 1 - Increase student enrollment in agriculture related fields: The AIS program will continue to coordinate with the SC State Office of Admissions to recruit outstanding incoming freshmen and transfer students into the program. Utilizing SC State Admissions office allows the AIS program to coordinate more targeted student populations to increase the capacity of the program. To ensure the program reach our targeted enrollment numbers, the plan is to expand the recruiting timeline from November 2022 through April 2023. This will allow the AIS program more time to recruit students and to capture top-tier scholars earlier. The AIS program will be more aggressive in the advertising and marketing of the AIS program, utilizing social media, printed media, radio, and streaming services. Due to COVID-19, we were limited in some areas for in-person recruiting but now that many of the COVID-19 precautions has been lifted, the AIS staff will be able to attend more in-person college and scholarship fairs and to set up recruiting tables at high schools of interest. Lastly, SC State has a renown educational leadership program where many of South Carolina's school counselors, principals, and superintendents are alumni. The AIS program will utilize its alumni connections to assist in the publicity and recommend outstanding students for the scholarship. These collective efforts in concert with each will help the program meet its four-year goal of increasing student enrollment in agriculture related fields by 15%. Goal 2 - Increase number of graduates in agriculture related fields: The AIS Program will continue to be innovative in ensuring that the scholars excel as productive students at SC State and persist to graduation, which is the ultimate goal. The AIS program has coordinated with the SC State University Office Institutional Effectiveness (data manager) to receive mid-terms grades and final semester grades. This adjustment will ensure that the AIS program is regularly tracking the scholars along their academic journey and allow the AIS program to provide early interventions, if needed. The AIS program will continue to consult with faculty advisors and the Office of Student Success and Retention to keep the scholars informed about university academic resources and opportunities. Lastly, the AIS program will remain diligent in offering holistic student development opportunities, including attending and presenting at regional and national conferences, to ensure that the scholar's spiritual, mental, and social needs are being met. Student development research has proven that these types of opportunities can have a major effect on matriculation. Goal 3 - Increase experimental learning opportunities: The SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship (AIS) Program plans to provide various experimental learning opportunities to broaden the scholar's knowledge. Three signature programs that the scholars will participate in are WIN Wednesdays, Ag Speakers Series, and MANRRS. WIN Wednesdays will offer academic, leadership, professional, and personal development opportunities. The Ag Speaker Series will offer the opportunity for scholars to engage with current professionals in agriculture related careers. MANRRS is a national student organization that promotes academic and professional achievement and offer leadership and national agriculture opportunities. In addition to the three programs, scholars are expected to obtain an agriculture related internship during their matriculation at SC State. Lastly, scholars who are seeking employment and/or a work-study position will be encouraged to apply for student positions within the 1890 Research and Extension Department.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The SC State 1890 AIS program identified three major goals to guide the direction of the program for the four-year scholarship period. In summary, the three goals are: (1) increase student enrollment in agriculture fields, (2) increase the number of graduates in agriculture fields, and (3) expand experimental learning opportunities. To meet these goals by the end of the four-year period, the AIS program created a plan of action. The AIS program has had many accomplishments along the way. Recruitment - During Year 1 2020-2021 academic year, 26 scholars were recruited to be a part of the inaugural cohort of the SC State 1890 AIS Program. For Year 2 2021-2022 academic year, 25 scholars were recruited for the 2nd cohort. Fifteen scholars were male, and 10 scholars were female. Twenty-two of the scholars were South Carolina natives, while 3 of the scholars are out-of-state students representing Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. The average GPA of the 2nd cohort was 3.63. The AIS program is anticipating recruiting and enrolling 16 new scholars for year 3 2022-2023 academic year. During the recruitment periods, AIS program was able to make meaningful and lasting connections with school districts, high schools, principals, and counselors across the State of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The connections will allow 1890 Research and Extension to be a gateway to opportunities to coordinate organizational initiatives and help with the publicity and promotion of the SC State 1890 AIS in the future. To cumulate the recruitment period, the AIS program hosted an welcome orientation to prior to the start of the new academic year to welcome the new scholars and their families to the SC State. Scholars were allowed to bring up to 2 parental guests with them. The AIS enrolled scholarship recipients and their attended the orientation which led to the strong start of a new academic year (2022). During the orientation, participates were able to meet their cohort, tour the campus, meet with university president and executive director of 1890 Research and Extension, meet their academic deans and faculty, and first year academic advisors. The program was a major success and a great introduction to campus life. Professional Development - In addition to orientation, the AIS program also hosted WIN Wednesdays and the Ag Speaker Series virtually. WIN Wednesdays is an academic, personal, professional development, and leadership series. The Ag Speaker Series was a monthly informational session that featured professionals in the field of agriculture and leadership. The in-person opportunities kept the scholars connected and engaged with the program and with their peers. Providing meaningful, relevant, and consistent programming is also part of the retention plan for the scholars. Furthermore, all scholars are scheduled for two 1:1 session with the AIS program director during the academic year. The 1:1s provide the opportunity to further engage with the students, to check-in with scholars on academic and personal challenges that may be affecting their grades, and to assist students with applying for summer internships. Connection to resources - The SC State 1890 AIS Program strives to meet the relevant academic needs of its scholars. The AIS program intentionally stay connected to its scholars to ensure they remain successful in their academics and college journey. All scholars received a complimentary laptop to assist with their classwork. Many of the scholars did not have a personal laptop so this helped ease anxieties to focus more on their class assignments. The AIS program has connected with the Office of Student Success and Retention to provide extra assistance with class registration, FAFSA completion, and tutoring assistance. The AIS program has connected with the USDA liaison to assist scholars with providing information about USDA internships, applying for internships, reviewing resume and cover letters, and hosting USDA and NIFA representatives on campus. To meet the needs of our scholars AIS program opened the AG Scholars Study Lab in Spring 2022 to provide a dedicated workspace for scholars to focus on their class work and to receive tutoring. A graduate assistant was hired to oversee the operations of the lab and to provide 'intrusive' advising/coaching to the students whose GPA fell below the requirement. Two student assistants were hired to work the receptionist desk and provide onsite tutoring.
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Progress 06/01/20 to 05/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The scholarship recipients for the SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship program are normally first-generation undergraduate students. They are from predominantly underrepresented groups and from low-income backgrounds, equally male and female and the majority from South Carolina, some from North Carolina and Georgia, along with other states. In addition, an average SAT score of 850, ACT score of 17 and above, who have applied for the Federal Pell Grants. SC State is an 1890 land grant institutionrecognized for its teaching, research and extension programs, which specifically target the needs of 36 counties. SC State, located in Orangeburg, is the principal city in and the county seat ofOrangeburgCounty,South Carolina, located 37 miles southeast of Columbia on thenorthfork of the Edisto River. Potential scholars for the SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship must meet the following selection criteria: (1) Must be a citizen or national of the United States; (2) Accepted for admission to SC State; (3) Begin school at SC State no later than the first fall semester following their high school or community college graduation; (4) Agree to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree within an accepted food and agricultural sciences and related fields within the agribusiness and Family & Consumer Sciences departments; (5) Intend to pursue a career in the food and agricultural sciences or other related disciplines; (6) Have a minimum cumulative 2.8 grade point average (GPA) or higher at the time of application (either from high school if entering as a freshman or community college if entering as a transfer student), and maintain at least a 2.8 GPA or higher on a semester and cumulative basis while receiving scholarship support from the program; (7) Be enrolled in at least 15 credits in the food and agricultural sciences and related fields degree program leading to an undergraduate degree during each semester he/she receives 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship support. Hence, the scholarship award is good for a maximum of 8 consecutive fall/spring semesters (excluding summers) at SC State, provided the 1890 scholars maintain the required minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. Scholars who wish to be reconsidered as a scholar, must first regain admission to the university and reapply for the scholarship program; funding will be awarded based upon availability. Changes/Problems:Due to COVID-19, the SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship Program experienced some major changes in its inaugural year from its proposal. COVID-19 was an unexpected global pandemic that affected the approach that was planned to accomplish the three goals of the scholars program. During the 2020-2021academic year, SC State moved from in-person learning to entirely virtual learning. During the Spring 2021 semester, SC State gave the option for 1,000 students to return to campus, mainly freshmen and athletes. As a result of this protocol, the scholars program recruiting events, experimental learning opportunities, and academic coaching were all held virtually, utilizing online conferencing systems such as Teams, WebEx, and Zoom. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship Program was committed to the professional development of its scholars. The scholars program hosted monthly academic, professional, and personal development workshops called WIN Wednesdays. The sessions encouraged scholars to form a winning mindset to every endeavor in their life and to introduce and teach practical skills that would prepare them for the workforce and life after graduation. Topics during the first year included: Connecting to campus life, civic responsibility, resume and cover letter writing, how to dress for a professional interview, financial management, and meet the Deans. Each of the topics and speakers were specifically chosen to advance the scholar's knowledge so they can become productive students and members of society. A highlight of WIN Wednesdays was the development of an informational video on how to dress for a professional job interview, which was released as part of the SC State 1890 At-Home Series. The scholars used the information and tips from the WIN Wednesday Workshop to create the content for the video to teach others how to dress for success. The scholars program also encourages practical career related experiences. The monthly Ag Speakers Series has provided a space where scholars could hear directly from professionals in various agriculture related occupations. The speakers provided a general overview of their occupation and detailed their journey into their current job. Scholars also had the opportunity to engage with the speakers and ask questions. It is believed the experience will connect the scholars to an array of job possibilities and open their minds to jobs they typically were not aware of. In addition, it is expected that each scholar obtains a summer internship during their matriculation at SC State. The scholars program introduced the scholars to USDA and the internship application process this year. Partnering with the SC State USDA liaison, the scholars had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the USDA website and the process of obtaining an internship. Scholars could also e-mail their resumes to be reviewed by the USDA liaison. Trainings and professional development opportunities helped the scholars come one step closer to mastering leadership and professionalism. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship Program impacted communities of interest. First, part of the scholars program recruitment plan is to engage various communities in the state of South Carolina. The goal of the scholars program was to recruit a diverse student population who desired to pursue a professional career in agriculture related professions. This was accomplished by an aggressive marketing campaign utilizing social media, print media, radio, streaming services, connecting with education leaders, and like mission community organizations and agencies. Secondly, another goal of the scholars program was for scholars to obtain internships with USDA around the country. Through the professional development workshops, scholar's are positioned to excel as young professionals adhering to learned workforce norms and expectations. Finally, the scholars created an informational video offering tips on how to dress for a professional job interview. The video was disseminated on the SC State 1890 Research and Extension Facebook page. As of July 2021, it had over 240 views. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?To accomplish the goals of the SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship Program, we plan to continue to move forward and advance the things that worked well and had positive outcomes as well as rework or redesign the things that did not work well. At the end of each semester, the scholars had the opportunity to complete and submit a student satisfactory survey. The anonymous survey asked for the scholars feedback on various aspects of the program. Their collective responses were used to assess the program and make recommendations for improvements. Utilizing the survey responses and learned experiences from coordinating the scholars program, the following are additional plans to help meet the scholars program goals: Goal 1 - Increase student enrollment in agriculture related fields: The scholars program will continue to coordinate with the SC State Office of Admissions to recruit outstanding incoming freshmen into the scholars program. Now that meaningful connections have been made, a better understanding of the admissions process has been learned and admissions has a better understanding of the SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship Program eligibility requirements, we will be able to coordinate more targeted student populations to increase our capacity. To ensure we reach our enrollment numbers, the plan is to expand the recruiting timeline from February through April to November through April. This will allow us more time to recruit students and to capture top-tier scholars earlier. We will be even more aggressive in the advertising and marketing of the scholars program, utilizing social media, printed media, radio, and streaming services. Due to COVID-19, we were not able to recruit in-person but now that many of the COVID-19 precautions has been lifted, we will be able to attend college and scholarship fairs and to set up recruiting tables at high schools of interest. Lastly, SC State has a renown educational leadership program where many of South Carolina's school counselors, principals, and superintendents are alumni. The scholars program will utilize its alumni connections to assist in the publicity and recommend outstanding students for the scholarship. These collective efforts in concert with each will help the program meet its four-year goal of increasing student enrollment in agriculture related fields by 15%. Goal 2 - Increase number of graduates in agriculture related fields: The SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship Program will continue to be aggressive in ensuring that the scholars excel as productive students at SC State and persist to graduation, which is the ultimate goal. The scholars program has coordinated with the SC State data manager to receive mid-terms grades and final semester grades. This will ensure we are tracking the scholars, along their academic journey, and allow us to provide early interventions, if needed. The scholars program will continue to consult with faculty advisors and the Office of Student Success and Retention to keep the scholars informed about university academic resources and opportunities. Lastly, the scholars program will remain diligent in offering holistic student development opportunities to ensure that the scholar's spiritual, mental, and social needs are being met. Student development research has proven that these types of opportunities can have a major affect on matriculation. Goal 3 - Increase experimental learning opportunities: The SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship Program plans to provide various experimental learning opportunities to broaden the scholar's knowledge. Three signature programs that the scholars will participate in are WIN Wednesdays, Ag Speakers Series, and MANRRS. WIN Wednesdays will offer academic, professional, and personal development opportunities. The Ag Speaker Series will offer the opportunity for scholars to engage with current professionals in agriculture related careers. MANRRS is a national student organization that promotes academic and professional achievement and offer leadership and national agriculture opportunities. In addition to the three programs, scholars are expected to obtain an agriculture related internship during their matriculation at SC State. Lastly, scholars who are seeking employment and/or a work-study position will be encouraged to apply for student positions within the 1890 Research and Extension Department.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship Program identified three major goals to guide the direction of the scholars program for the four-year scholarship period. In summary, the three goals are: (1) increase student enrollment in agriculture fields, (2) increase the number of graduates in agriculture fields, and (3) expand experimental learning opportunities. To meet these goals by the end of the four-year period, the scholars program created a plan of action. The scholars program has had many accomplishments along the way. Recruitment - During Year 1, 26 scholars were recruited to be a part of the inaugural cohort of the SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship Program. The make-up of the 1st cohort was diverse. Most of the scholars were males, in-coming freshmen and South Carolina natives. Other states that are represented in the 1st cohort were California, Georgia, Florida and Louisiana. A few of the scholars were transfer students. By Spring 2021, we began recruiting for the 2nd cohort of scholars. Twenty five scholars were recruited to be a part of the 2nd cohort, beginning in Fall 2021. The make-up of the 2nd cohort was diverse. Fifteen scholars were male, and 10 scholars were female. Twenty two of the scholars were South Carolina natives, while 3 of the scholars are out-of-state students representing Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. The average GPA of the 2nd cohort was 3.63. During both recruitment periods, we were able to make meaningful and lasting connections with school districts, high schools, principals, and counselors across the State of South Carolina. The connections will allow 1890 Research and Extension a gateway to opportunities to coordinate organizational initiatives and help with the publicity and promotion of the SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship. Hybrid program delivery - When COVID-19 caused SC State University to move from in-person instruction to virtual instruction in March 2020 through 2021, the scholars program was impacted as well. During summer of 2020, plans were made to provide all virtual programming to the scholars until further notice from university officials. The scholars program hosted two virtual orientations in August 2020 where all the incoming scholars and their parents/guardian participated. During the orientation, participates received information about how the scholarship would be applied to their accounts, reviewed the contract and service agreement, met key staff members, and had the opportunity to ask questions. In May 2021, an in-person orientation was planned for the incoming 2nd cohort. The orientation featured presentations from faculty from Agribusiness and Family Consumer Sciences, Housing, Office of Student Success, student panel, and words of welcome from the university's president. In addition to orientation, the scholars program also hosted WIN Wednesdays and the Ag Speaker Series virtually. WIN Wednesdays was an academic, personal, and professional development series. The Ag Speaker Series was a monthly informational session that featured professionals in the field of agriculture. The virtual opportunities kept the scholars connected and engaged with the program and with their peers. Providing meaningful, relevant, and consistent programming was also part of the retention plan for the scholars. Connection to resources - The SC State 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship Program meet the needs of its scholars. The scholars program leadership team intentionally stayed connected to its scholars to ensure they remain successful in their academics and college journey. During the freshmen first semester, each scholar was expected to meet with the program director 1:1 to ensure he/she is transitioning successfully tocollege life. The meetings occurred via telephone or utilized the TEAMS virtual conferencing. Before classes began in Fall 2020, all scholars received a complimentary laptop to assist with their classwork. Many of the scholars did not have a personal laptop so this helped ease anxieties in order to focus more on their class assignments. The scholars program connected with the Office of Student Success and Retention to supply a hotspot to one of our scholars who did not have internet in her home. This was extremely successful to her success because with Wifi or internet, she would not have been able to complete her assignments. The scholars program connected with the USDA liaison to assist several scholars in applying for internships and jobs. The scholars program attempts to assist its scholars in meeting their out-of-classroom needs that may affect their classroom performance.
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