Progress 07/15/22 to 06/26/25
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for the program has been (i) All newly admitted students at WVSU (both freshmen and transfers), (ii) qualifying current WVSU students, and (iii) High school students taking early enrollment (dual-credit) classes with WVSU. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In Spring 2025, many scholars presented their research at local and national conferences, including the 1890 ARD conference in Nashville, the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Research Symposium, the College of Business and Social Sciences Research Symposium, the WVSU SURE symposium, and West Virginia Undergraduate Day at the Capitol. One student received a Business & Workforce Investment (Health) internship award from the Appalachian Regional Council (ARC), another received a summer research award at Kansas, another conducted summer research at Appalachian State, and one completed an internship with PepsiCo in Champagne, Illinois. Other professional development activities provided to students included a Leadership Workshop, a Resume Writing Workshop, a Jobs/Internship Application workshop, a Financial Aid Seminar, Soft skills development, and an understanding of different personality types and teamwork. On April 4, 2025, 1890 Scholars participated in "WVSU Cares Day" at Kanawha State Forest. They cleaned the picnic shelters, bagged trash, and assisted the staff in clearing the downed trees. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We present the program's updates and achievements at national and local conferences, to the WVSU Board of Governors, the WVSU General Faculty, the WVSU Faculty Senate, the President's Cabinet, Student body meetings, and to Colleges' Advisory Boards to promote and share the program's successes and achievements. We have also used the program website to disseminate information related to the program. The WVSU 1890 Scholarship Team presented "Regaining a Lost Legacy: Integrating Agriculture Back into West Virginia State University" at the 2025 Academic Program Staff Development Workshop in Tucson, Arizona, on February 10-12, 2025, where we shared the program progress, impact, and achievements with the participants What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We are in the fifth year of the WVSU 1890 Scholarship Program, which has provided students at West Virginia State University (WVSU) support to study and experience academic programs supporting food and agriculture. The program has experienced fantastic growth in the last five years, starting with six students in the Fall 2020 semester and having 46 students at the start of the Spring 2025 semester. The funding supports students pursuing degree programs in Biology (Plant and soil Science), Chemistry (Applied), Business (Agribusiness), and Economics (Agriculture). The WVSU 1890 Scholarship's award # 2022-70418-37659, "the award," supported 1890 scholars' education in the Spring 2023 and the Spring 2025 semesters. Semester details of this support are provided below. In the Spring 2023 semester, the program had 29 scholars (12 Biology, 3 Chemistry, 12 Business, and 2 Economics), including 4 new scholars. This group included 21 in-state and 8 out-of-state students. The award provided full support (tuition, fees, books, and room/board) to 2 scholars and partial support (tuition, fees, and/or books) to 20 scholars. A total of $163,267.72 from this award was used for this support. We had one 1890 USDA scholars in Spring 2023. Three scholars graduated at the end of the Spring 2023 semester. In the Spring 2025 semester, the program had 46 scholars (17 Biology, 5 Chemistry, 21 Business, 3 Economics), including 3 new scholars. This group included 30 in-state and 16 out-of-state students. The award provided full support (tuition, fees, books, and room/board) to 8 scholars and partial support (tuition, fees, and/or books) to 30 scholars. In addition, the award provided financial support to another 4 students who were accepted in the program early in the semester. A total of $341,995.44 from this award was used for this support. In this semester, we had three 1890 USDA scholars. Eight scholars graduated at the end of the Spring 2025 semester. Summarizing, the award (# 2022-70418-37659) supported the education of 64 students (duplicated) in the semesters mentioned above. By the end of the Spring 2025 semester, seventeen (17) scholars have graduated. These graduates include 8 in B.S. in Biology (Plant & Soil Science Option), 4 in B.S. in Business (Agribusiness Concentration), 1 in B.S. in Chemistry (Applied Chemistry Option), and 2 in B.S. in Economics (Agriculture Economics). Additionally, two scholars double-majored (one in Biology and Chemistry and one in Business and Economics). Some of these graduates are pursuing advanced degrees in various graduate schools at US and international universities. Some of them are employed by the USDA, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, and USDA Rural Development. These graduates finished the programs within 4 years. The projected 4-year graduation rate for the 1890 Scholars is over 70% (about 4 times higher than the University's 4-year graduation rate). In the Spring 2025 semester, more than 50% of the scholars were either on the Presidential or Dean's lists of merit (6 on the WVSU Presidential List and 18 on the Dean's List). Throughout the program, multiple scholars have been accepted for the 1890 USDA National Scholars Program
Publications
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Progress 07/15/22 to 07/14/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience for the program has been (i) All newly admitted students at WVSU (both freshmen and transfers), (ii) appropriate current WVSU students, and (iii) High school seniors taking early enrollment (dual-credit) classes with WVSU. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Professional development for the scholars included resume training during the Fall 2021 semester, led by the interim USDA Liaison for WVSU, Allison Johnson. This was followed up with several scholars participating in the Fall 2021 Career Opportunities Workshop organizedby the 1890 Universities Foundation. During the Spring 2022 semester, the professional development for the scholars included pieces of training from the new Executive Director of the WVSU Career Services, Travis Kahle as well as financial aid information from Ms. Jodi Johnston. During the Fall 2022 semester, the scholars participated in one of the listening sessions for the strategic plan being developed at WVSU. Another session focused on creating a federal resume and searching USAjobs.gov for internship opportunities.Scholars were asked during the final session for the fall what types of professional development topics would they like to participate in,and they identified public speaking, networking, critical thinking,communication skills, andtime management as their top five topics of interest. In the spring of 2023, we had Rebekah Redman, Associate Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships come to talk about the importance of filling out FERPA as well as Linda Madden (Human Resource Specialist) and Buddy Davidson (Marketing Specialist) talk about the internship and job opportunities at the WV Department of Agriculture.Ms. Madden also gave the students tips on resumes, cover letters, and interviewing for internships and jobs. Students are required to submit academic progress reports. These are submitted electronically via Google Forms by their instructors after weeks 4 and week 8 of the semester. This practice has enabled us to assist our students in timeto help themsucceed in their classes. Several studentspursueexperiential learning and research opportunities in the summer semesters.We also had two students doing internships with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture in their Business Division and another student working with a local beekeeper in developing marketing plans for his honey operation. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have regularly presented to the WVSU Board of Governors, WVSU General Faculty, the WVSU Faculty Senate, the President's cabinet, Student body meetings, and Colleges' Advisory Boards to promote and share the program's success. We have also used the program website to disseminate information related to the program. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to continue (i) monitoringstudents' progress and success in the program, (ii)reviewing and revisingthe available financial resources, and (iii) exploring and expanding professional development and experiential learning opportunities.?
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We have completed the third year of the WVSU 1890 Scholarship Program, which has provided students at West Virginia State University (WVSU) support to study and experience academic programs supporting food and agriculture education. Currently, four academic programs are supported by the 1890 Scholarship Program. These programs include B.S. Biology - Plant and Soil Science option (Biology-PSS), B.S. in Business Administration - Agribusiness concentration (Business Administration-A), B.S. in Chemistry - Applied Chemistry option (Chemistry-AC), and B.S. in Economics - Agricultural Economics (Economics-AE). Starting Fall 2020, we supported six first-time freshmen; 4 in Biology-PSS, 1 in Business Administration-A, and 1 in (Economics-AE). Two scholars received full and 4 received partial support. One student was placed on probation because of a low GPA. We provided additional advising and tutoring to this probationary student to help her improve, but she failed to raise her GPA by the end of the Spring 2021 semester and was released from the program. Starting Fall 2021, we added Chemistry-AC to the program. Also, we opened up the WVSU 1890 Scholarship opportunities to current students in addition to first-time freshmen and transfer students. The 1890 Scholarship Team developed the 1890 Scholarship application and the recommenders' forms in fillable pdf format. We used these forms alongside WVSU's admission applications to recruit students. These forms were upgraded for the Spring 2022 semester and were made available on the website. The 1890 Scholarship Team used several tactics to improve recruitment, including a postcard campaign to all early enrollment seniors at the high schools and a calling campaign to qualified students who were admitted to Biology, Chemistry, Business, and Economics programs. The Academic Program Coordinators (APCs) attended and recruited students at the New Student Orientations during the summer of 2021. The website for the WVSU 1890 Scholarship was updated with current information, documents, and links (https://www.wvstateu.edu/research/1890-scholarship-program.aspx). Twenty (14 freshmen, 3 transfer, 2 re-admits, 1 post-grad) new WVSU 1890 Scholars were recruited for the Fall 2021 semester in addition to the five continuing scholars. Of these 25 WVSU 1890 Scholars (at the start of Fall 2021), we had 16 in Biology-PSS, 4 in Chemistry-AC, 4 in Business Administration-A, and 2 in Economics-AC. The group comprises 15 females and 10 males, which include 16 first-generation students and 4 out-of-state students. Ethnically, we had 20 Caucasian, 4 African American/Black, and 1 (Caucasian/White + Pacific Islander). Eleven students received full, and 14 students received partial financial support. In Spring 2022 semester, we added three new 1890 Scholars to our roster. We also had three students leave the program (two transferred, and one was dropped because of a low GPA). One student took a medical leave of absence. Thus, we started Spring 2022 with 24 students (12 in Biology-PSS, 3 in Chemistry-AC, 7 in Business Administration-A, and 2 in Economics-AE. The group comprised 13 females and 10 males (and one preferred not to answer) and included 14 first-generation students. There were 19 in-state and 5 out-of-state students. Ethnically, we had 19 Caucasian/White, 3 African American/Black, and 2 two ethnic groups (Caucasian/White + Pacific Islander). Eleven scholars received full and 13 received partial financial support. Seven students left the program before the start of the Fall 2022 (2 switched majors, 4 dropped for low GPA, and 1 dropped for not making progress toward the degree). Two of the scholars were awarded USDA 1890 National Scholarships. We recruited ten new scholars for the Fall 2022 semester (one deferred to Fall 2023). Thus, we started the Fall 2022 semester with 27 scholars (11 in Biology-PSS, 3 in Chemistry-AC, 11 in Business Administration-A, and 2 in Economics-AE). This group comprised 19 females and 7 males, and one preferred not to answer. There were 15 first-generation, 20 in-state, and 7 out-of-state students in this group. Ethnically, 19 scholars identified as Caucasian/White, 6 as African American/Black, and 2 as two-ethnic groups (1 Caucasian/White + Pacific Islander and 1 Caucasian + American Indian/Alaska Native). We piloted using Google Forms to receive students' progress reports from instructors in the Fall 2022 and have continued using this at the end of the 4th and the 8th week of a semester. In Spring 2023 semester, we added three new scholars to the program, and one student transferred to another institution. So, we started the Spring 2023 semester with 29 scholars (11 in Biology-PSS, 3 in Chemistry-AC, 13 in Business Administration-A, and 2 in Economics-AE). The group consisted of 20 females, 8 males, and one prefer not to answer. A total of 15 scholars were first-generation students. Ethnically, 20 scholars were Caucasian/White, 7 African American/Black, and 2 two-ethnic groups (1 Caucasian/White + Pacific Islander and 1 Caucasian + American Indian/Alaska Native). Also in Spring 2023, Dr. Saman Bandara (associate professor of economics) joined our team as a Co-PD. In addition to other responsibilities, he mentors students pursuing the Agricultural Economics option. We are thrilled to report that three of our 1890 Scholars graduated in May 2023. The 1890 Scholarship Team has almost finished evaluating the applications for Fall 2023 semester, and at this point, we have accepted 17 new students to the program. Two students have been dropped because of low GPA. We expect to start the Fall semester with 40 students in the program and hence will surpass our goal of having at least 39 students in the program. The WVSU 1890 Scholarship Team comprising the PD, the Co-PDs, and the Director of the WVSU Early Enrollment program, meets biweekly to discuss the program's and the scholars' progress, develop ways to promote the program, and create new professional development opportunities for the scholars. The Internal Steering Advisory Council for the program meets twice every semester. The committee comprises universityadministrators and staff members. Itfacilitates the work of the 1890 Scholarship Team and ensures compliance with policies. The 1890 WVSU Scholarship Program team closely monitors the progress and performance of every 1890 Scholar. Students who drop below 3.0 (but above 2.8) are given targeted help by the faculty advisor, the Office of Retention and Student Success, and university tutors to improve performance. The students who drop below 2.8 (at the end of the year) are dropped from the program.
Publications
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