Recipient Organization
LANGSTON UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
LANGSTON,OK 73050
Performing Department
School of Agriculture
Non Technical Summary
The long-term goal of this project is to increase the diversity of the Food, Agriculture, NaturalResources and Human Sciences (FANH) workforce, especially among African Americans andUnderrepresented Minorities (URM) students. The primary objective is to increase retention andgraduation rates among Langston University students pursuing bachelor's degrees in agriculturalsciences by providing scholarships, experiential learning, and career development opportunities.The project will achieve this through threesecondary objectives,1:Recruit and train1890 Scholars;2:Increase retention and graduation rates of scholars through mentoring,experiential learning, and professional development,3:Increase employment rates and/or graduateschool admissions of scholars by providing the necessary skills and career services. Theseobjectives will lead to greater retention and recruitment of students, specifically African Americanand other URMs at Langston University's School of Agriculture and Applied Science's (LU-SAAS). Indeed, all project goals and objectives included in the proposal are compatible with thosearticulatedin the1890 Scholarship Program.The addition and trainingof 1890 Scholars, who likely would not otherwise matriculate in LU-SAASdue to financial and other constraints, will have a positive impact for both Scholars and forstrengthening the academic mission of Langston University (LU) land-grant programs. ForScholars, the program will increase their skills and engagement, resulting in enhanced retentionand employment rates. For LU, the program will increase the diversity of the University in generaland will enable LU to build linkages with high schools, communities, and businesses in Oklahomaand beyond. The program will promote LU as a major producer of highly trained agriculturalgraduates in Oklahoma.Additionally, the food and agriculture workforce will be enhanced by thegraduationof thesetrained and talented Scholars.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Thelong-term goal of the projectis to increase the diversity of the FANH sciences workforce, especially among African Americans and URM students. Theprimary objectiveis to increase recruitment, retention and graduation rates among Langston University students pursuing a bachelor's degree in agricultural sciences by providing scholarships, experiential learning, and career development opportunities. The project will achieve its goal through the following specific objectives:?Recruit and enrollunderserved and minority students.Award full 4-year and or 2-year scholarships to matriculating high school and or transfer students.Award partial scholarshipsto rising juniors who did not previously qualify for scholarships but excelled academically through freshman and sophomore years at LU.Increase retention and graduation rates of scholars and other students through mentoring, experiential learning, and professional development.Increase the employment rates and/or graduate school admissions of Scholars by providing the necessary skills and career services.
Project Methods
Theproposedprogramwillsupport 1890 Scholars'intenttopursueaFANHcareerbyprovidingsixcomponentsasdiscussed below.Overall,theprojectrepresentsahighlyeffectiveapproachtoencouragetraditionallymarginalizedpopulations togainuniversityleveleducationandrealizetheirintenttopursuecareersinthefoodandagriculturalsciences,includingcareersinagribusiness,energyandrenewablefuels,orfinancialmanagement.Scholarships:TheacademicgoalofLU-SAASistocreateahigh-qualityacademicenvironmentthatisattractivetoadiversestudentpopulation,providethemwiththeknowledgenecessarytoentertheworkforceand/orgraduateschools,provideanenrichingacademicexperience,andexperientialexposureneededforlifelongcareerpathsinFANH.TheScholarshipProgramwillhelptoensurethatthisgoalisachievedbyincreasingretentionratesandScholars'neededskills.Manyyoungpeoplewhowouldnototherwisehaveanopportunitytoearnacollege educationnecessarytoenterthefood/agricultureworkforceduetothefinancialburdenwillgettheuniqueopportunity. Amajorchallengethatisfacedbymanystudentsinterestedinfoodandagriculturalsciencelocatedinruralandinner-cityurbanareasisthelimitedresourcesandlimitedexposuretogroupsandorganizationsthatcanprovideresourcesfortrainingbeyondhighschool.Theresourceconstraintsmaketheopportunityofabachelor'sdegreeinfeasibleorrequiresstudentstopursuemajorstheybelieveareagreatreturnoninvestment.Thisdelicatesituationleadstothelossofpotentialmembersofthefoodandagriculturallaborforcethatisalreadytaxedandprojectedtohavealaborshortfall.FacultyMentoringandAdvising: 1890 ScholarswillworkwithaFaculty Mentors.WewillassignFacultyMentorsbasedontheScholars'majorsandfocalareas.ScholarsandMentorswillmeetregularlytoensuretheScholarsareprogressingandto mitigateanypotentialchallenges.Additionally,theMentorswillassistScholarsprepareforconferencepresentationsand connectwithprofessionalsintheirfieldsofstudy.ExperientialLearning:Manyagriculturerelatedbusinessesandgraduateschoolsareseekingindividuals with experience including research and/or internships. By fostering experiential learning,Scholarswillmeetthisrequirement andbecomemoreattractivetobusinessesandgraduateschools.ClubsandGroupEngagement:Byparticipatinginclubsandgroups,Scholarswillenhanceskillsdevelopmentandleadershipopportunities.Theclubswillexposethemtoopportunitieswithinagriculture. AnexampleclubincludeMinoritiesinAgriculture,NaturalResourcesandRelatedSciences(MANRRS).StudentAmbassadors:ScholarswillhavetheopportunitytoserveasaStudentAmbassadors,whichwillallowthemtolead,network,andserveaspeermentorsaswellastutors.NetworkingOpportunities:TheprogramwillprovideScholarswithopportunitiestonetworkwithbusinessesandalumni.Thiswillincreasetheircareeroptions,promoteLU-SAASstudentstothecommunity,andenhance opportunitiesforexperientiallearning.