Progress 07/15/23 to 07/14/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Delaware State University (DSU) in addition to being a proud 1890 Land-Grant Institution (LGI) is also a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Underrepresented minorities (URM) make up the greatest portion of the DSU population which includes 62% African American enrollment and an increasing number of Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian, and other international students. Furthermore, a significant amount of DSU students are first-generation students, from lowincome backgrounds, and may come from some form of disadvantage. These characteristics are given as they are the makeup of many of the selected scholars for cohort 1 (FY20-21) recruited to DSU via the DSU-CAST 1890 Scholarship Program or were already going to attend DSU and learned about the scholarship program through the program's marketing/recruitment efforts across the institution. To understand the selected "target audience" one must understand the strategy and approach taken to identify potential scholars with the given attributes necessary to comply with the guidelines outlined in the grant RFA. In the initiation stage of the project, the College of Agriculture, Science, & Technology (CAST) consulted with its' college recruiter to assist in developing marketing and recruitment efforts. The recruiter contributed previous student success data, linkages to DE K-12 school districts (administrators, ag. educators, and guidance counselors), and bridged established relations to three national agricultural high schools (W.B. Saul Ag High School (PA),John Bowne High School (NY), and Chicago High School of Agricultural Sciences (IL)) to recruit scholars state-wide and nationally who meet the scholar eligibility requirements. Scholars that participate in the DSU CAST 1890 Scholarship Program majored in fields of study not only associated with agriculture, natural resources, or human ecology: but also, related majors such as computer science, and information technology. Not only do these scholars have an opportunity to have their financial barriers relieved, creating greater generational wealth and social mobility for themselves, family, and their communities upon graduation. These scholars also have a chance to be prepared, through student and professional development training provided in the DSU CAST 1890 Scholarship Program (FY21-22), to be gainfully employed in the agricultural public sector. Additionally, recruited scholars from related majors assist, upon graduation, in applying their degrees across various fields of study that deem their expertise as high demand which thereby assist in any shortages in workforce demand in public service. Lastly, the scholars will be an example of workfore diversity for future minorities to see themselves in the same or similiar roles as their primary career. Changes/Problems:Currently, the College of Agriculture, Science, and Technology (CAST); Ms. Troy Darden retired in April 2024 and Alex Meredith left the University in August 2024 we have recently hired a new information coordinator, and they are becoming acclimated to the new programs. We have currently added a student's services team that is overseen by Associate Dean Dr. Charlie Wilson and they will be managing our 1890s program. Eric Morgan, is our new recruitment and retention specialist, Mia Freeman, Corporate and Workforce development and Karen Holland, Scholarship, Student Services and Counseling. Dr. Marikis Alvarez is our Associate Dean of Land Grant and he will assume the role of 1890s coordinator. Chandra Owens, 1890s Scholar liaison. Frank Yehiri, 1890s scholar advisor. The office of the Dean is in the process of hiring a budget analyst whose sole caseload of grant responsibility will be associated with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Once the position is filled, this individual will aid the DSU-CAST 1890 Scholarship Program (program director) with any budgeting issues, agency financial reporting, and inquiries, providing precise grant balances, and requisition processing What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Students were mentored and guided to careers in the food and agricultural sciences, They understudied professors in areas of their interest. They were also exposed to the 1890 Lnad-Grant Instutions by attending competitive presentations during the DSU-CAST Undergraduate Research Symposium. Where the scholar's used their research experience to convey the benefits of conducting undergraduate research and projects to their undergraduate peers within the College. This symposium also served as a "chat n chew" for faculty to also engage with potential DSU-CAST students that may consider conducting undergraduate research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results are disseminated through university websites. and other mass com medium. Dissemination to Communities of Interest The College of Agriculture, Science, & Technology (CAST) employs an information coordinator, Mrs. Troy Darden. One of Mrs. Darden's primary duty functions is to publicize findings locally, state, and nationally. To do this intentionally, Mrs. Darden publishes the "CAST Quarterly" that filter to other 1890 Land-Grant institutions, government, and private stakeholders with a vested interest in CAST updates. In addition to publications, Mrs. Darden and Dr. Meredith write scholarly success stories that cover their professional development training, internships, graduation, and summer experiential learning opportunities. These results are published on the DSU-CAST 1890 Scholarship and CAST social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) for program awareness, and success. Furthermore, Dr. Meredith, the Program Director, utilized program results to recruit and market the program to attract future scholars who may be transfers, current DSU students, or incoming students. This is done by contact and student attribute data supplied by the Office of Admissions (incoming/transfer) and the Office of Records and Registration (current DSU students). Once retrieved, we utilize "Constant Contact" an email marketing system to educate internal prospects about the DSU-CAST 1890 Scholarship Program, and supply the scholarship webpage which houses the online application on a revolving two-week basis until the scholarship deadline. Externally, the marketing of results is utilized for ongoing recruitment initiatives (i.e., Open House, Hornets Days, Transfer Days, and high school visits). Lastly, the University uses program results to promote the DSUCAST Scholarship Program internally/ext What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue recruiting process. Once the DSU-CAST 1890 Scholarship Program can assess, upon the completion of the Spring 2025 semester (FY 24- 25), what positive or negative effects may have formed from previous project recommendation enhancements (FY23-24) (i.e. Faculty/Research Program, Mental Health Initiative, EMPWR Engagements, and tweaks to admission procedures). Then, the DSU-CAST 1890 Scholarship Program may make additional recommendations, if any, to meet, exceed, or enhance the current project goals.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A total of 30 students (25 females, 5 males) are registered in the program. There were 30 renewals, no GPA infractions or denials. The DSU-CAST 1890 Scholarship Program awarded 30 scholars funding towards their educational needs (FY23-24). Of the 30 scholars,twenty five were females and five were males. Twenty-four were outof-state and 6 were in-state scholars. Scholars' racial and ethnic makeups for cohort two there were three Caucasians, three Hispanics, and 24 African Americans. The DSUCAST 1890 Scholarship Program awarded 19 full scholarship commitments and 11 partial scholarship commitments. A full scholarship commitment covers all the scholar's educational needs for up to eight consecutive semesters, while the partial scholarship commitment covers up to $3,000 towards the scholar's educational needs each semester, andcommitments are awarded by semester if a scholar remains eligible for re-award. (i.e., GPA, major, compliance with program eligibility requirements). The outcome of the scholarship program implementing a new strategy of follow-up communication interventions via phone, text, and email, discussed in the prior progress report, to increase completed applications of prospective applicants to boost related sciences applicants.
Publications
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Progress 07/15/22 to 07/14/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Delaware State University (DSU) in addition to being a proud 1890 Land-Grant Institution (LGI) is also a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Underrepresented minorities (URM) make up the greatest portion of the DSU population which includes 62% African American enrollment and an increasing number of Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian, and other international students. Furthermore, a significant amount of DSU students are first-generation students, from low-income backgrounds, and may come from some form of disadvantage. These characteristics are given as they are the makeup of many of the selected scholars for cohort 1 (FY20-21) recruited to DSU via the DSU-CAST 1890 Scholarship Program or were already going to attend DSU and learned about the scholarship program through the program's marketing/recruitment efforts across the institution. To understand the selected "target audience" one must understand the strategy and approach taken to identify potential scholars with the given attributes necessary to comply with the guidelines outlined in the grant RFA. In the initiation stage of the project, the College of Agriculture, Science, & Technology (CAST) consulted with its' college recruiter to assist in developing marketing and recruitment efforts. The recruiter contributed previous student success data, linkages to DE K-12 school districts (administrators, ag. educators, and guidance counselors), and bridged established relations to three national agricultural high schools (W.B. Saul Ag High School (PA), John Bowne High School (NY), and Chicago High School of Agricultural Sciences (IL)) to recruit scholars state-wide and nationally who meet the scholar eligibility requirements. Scholars that participate in the DSU CAST 1890 Scholarship Program majored in fields of study not only associated with agriculture, natural resources, or human ecology: but also, related majors such as computer science, and information technology. Not only do these scholars have an opportunity to have their financial barriers relieved, creating greater generational wealth and social mobility for themselves, family, and their communities upon graduation. These scholars also have a chance to be prepared, through student and professional development training provided in the DSU CAST 1890 Scholarship Program (FY21-22), to be gainfully employed in the agricultural public sector. Additionally, recruited scholars from related majors assist, upon graduation, in applying their degrees across various fields of study that deem their expertise as high demand which thereby assist in any shortages in workforce demand in public service. Lastly, the scholars will be an example of workfore diversity for future minorities to see themselves in the same or similiarroles as their primary career. Changes/Problems:Currently, the College of Agriculture, Science, and Technology (CAST); more specifically, the Office of the Dean is in the process of hiring a budget analyst whose sole caseload of grant responsibility will be associated with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Once the position is filled, this individual will aid the DSU-CAST 1890 Scholarship Program (program director) with any budgeting issues, agency financial reporting, and inquiries, providing precise grant balances, and requisition processing. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Students were mentored and guided to careers in the food and agricultural sciences, They understudied professors in areas of their interest. They were also exposed to the 1890 Lnad-Grant Instutions by attending competitive presentations during the ARD Symposium. A new component of the DSU-CAST 1890 Scholarship Program is the opportunity for scholars to actively conduct ongoing research or a project with a faculty member, within their field of study. This program was successfully implemented in the Fall of 2023with four faculty member participants with expertise in food science, environmental science, animal science, and agriculture business. Projects range from food inspection in the Delaware Food Bank, and job shadowing with local agribusinesses (Agri-marketing emphasis). Active research projects include natural ways to deworm goats to minimize medication and identify safer solutions to decrease the number of microplastics in the water. Currently, one scholar is engaged in a food science project, two are engaged in environmental science research, four are engaged in animal science research, and three scholars are engaged in agri-business projects. The goal for Spring 2024is to have all scholars complete their research and projects to be featured at the DSU-CAST Undergraduate Research Symposium. We will use the scholar's research experience to convey the benefits of conducting undergraduate research and projects to their undergraduate peers within the College. This symposium will also serve as a "chat n chew" for faculty to also engage with potential DSU-CAST students that may consider conducting undergraduate research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results are disseminated through the ARD network of 19 universities, FAEIS system and university websites. and other mass com medium. Dissemination to Communities of Interest The College of Agriculture, Science, & Technology (CAST) employs an information coordinator, Mrs. Troy Darden. One of Mrs. Darden's primary duty functions is to publicize findings locally, state, and nationally. To do this intentionally, Mrs. Darden publishes the "CAST Quarterly" that filter to other 1890 Land-Grant institutions, government, and private stakeholders with a vested interest in CAST updates. In addition to publications, Mrs. Darden and Dr. Meredith write scholarly success stories that cover their professional development training, internships, graduation, and summer experiential learning opportunities. These results are published on the DSU-CAST 1890 Scholarship and CAST social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) for program awareness, and success. Furthermore, Dr. Meredith, the Program Director, utilizes program results to recruit and market the program to attract future scholars who may be transfers, current DSU students, or incoming students. This is done by contact and student attribute data supplied by the Office of Admissions (incoming/transfer) and the Office of Records and Registration (current DSU students). Once retrieved, we utilize "Constant Contact" an email marketing system to educate internal prospects about the DSU-CAST 1890 Scholarship Program, and supply the scholarship webpage which houses the online application on a revolving two-week basis until the scholarship deadline. Externally, the marketing of results is utilized for ongoing recruitment initiatives (i.e., Open House, Hornets Days, Transfer Days, and high school visits). Lastly, the University uses program results to promote the DSU-CAST Scholarship Program internally/externally (DSU enews; social media channels; and scholarship webpage support). Scholarship webpage, https://bit.ly/3Uqgi5q. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue recruiting process. Once the DSU-CAST 1890 Scholarship Program can assess, upon the completion of the Spring 2024semester (FY 23- 24), what positive or negative effects may have formed from previous project recommendation enhancements (FY22-23) (i.e. Faculty/Research Program, Mental Health Initiative, EMPWR Engagements, and tweaks to admission procedures). Then, the DSU-CAST 1890 Scholarship Program may make additional recommendations, if any, to meet, exceed, or enhance the current project goals.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A total pf 35 students (29 females, 6 males) were registered in the program. There were 30 renewals, 3 had GPA infractions.1 was denied funding.and one did not need funding. The DSU-CAST 1890 Scholarship Program awarded 30scholars funding towards their educational needs (FY22-23). Of the 30scholars, 30were females and fivewere males. Twenty-four were out-of-state and 6were in-state scholars. Scholars' racial and ethnic makeups for cohort two there were three Caucasians, three Hispanics, and 24African Americans. The DSUCAST 1890 Scholarship Program awarded 19 full scholarship commitments and 11partial scholarship commitments. A full scholarship commitment covers all the scholar's educational needs for up to eight consecutive semesters, while the partial scholarship commitment covers up to $3,000 towards the scholar's educational needs each semester, and commitments are awarded by semester if a scholar remains eligible for re-award. (i.e., GPA, major, compliance with program eligibility requirements) Of cohort two (FY 22-23), 19 remained eligible for re-award, 11 graduated from Delaware State University, four withdrew from the scholarship program (no need for aid; transfer), and five were dismissed due to GPA infractions. The outcome of the scholarship program implementing a new strategy of follow-up communication interventions via phone, text, and email, discussed in the prior progress report, to increase completed applications of prospective applicants to boost related sciences applicants, Fall 2023yielded one computer science major, one information technology major, one biology major, and one engineering major.
Publications
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