Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
This project addresses the NEXTGEN program's primary goal of preparing a diverse and highly qualified emerging FANH workforce pipeline. The main goal is to strengthen and expand the Agriculture Plant and Soil Science (AGPS) program at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, by leveraging learning communities and building social capital to attract, train, retain, engage, graduate, and guide Hispanic, first-generation, and low-income students into careers in the agricultural industry and USDA. The proposed objectives are to 1) Expand the FANH workforce pathway through strategic financial support, career development, and just-in-time inclusive mentoring for critical transitions; 2) Increase the scientific proficiency, leadership, and visibility of highly qualified students through multidisciplinary experiential learning opportunities; 3) Augment and refine the agricultural sciences curriculum to leverage recruitment, upskilling, and preparation of a future-ready food and agricultural workforce. The proposed approach will leverage the AGPS cohort-based learning model as the key to student retention and success, by easing transfer experiences, building a sense of belonging, and promoting peer mentoring and accountability. Scientific identity and improved technical, leadership, and employability skills will be developed through career-focused experiential learning opportunities, including industry and USDA internships, Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences, and agricultural problem-solving Service Learning. Student recruitment will be centered around community outreach and networking, fostering partnerships with regional community colleges and high schools, and developing clear and cohesive pathways with intentionally aligned learning outcomes, while supporting students at critical transitions through academic advising, social connectedness, and student involvement.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Objective 1: Expand the food and agricultural sciences workforce pathway through strategic financial support, career development, andjust-in-time inclusive mentoring for critical transitions.Objective 2: Increase the scientific proficiency, leadership, and visibility of highly qualified students through multidisciplinary experiential learning opportunities.Objective 3: Augment and refine the agricultural sciences curriculum to leverage recruitment, upskilling, and preparation of a future-readyfood and agriculturalworkforce.
Project Methods
Objective 1. Activities: Financial Assistance and Academic and Professional Success Support. Providefinancial support coupled with community building, college transition aid, and opportunities to prepare for post-secondary pathways by connecting students to campus resources and mentors. Up to 62 students beginning their junior year will be selected for the 2-year NEXTGEN Ag Cohort Educational Assistance Award Program and receive a need-based financialaward aimed at helping cover tuition, campus-specific fees, and/or cost of attendance. Information about the award will be advertised at community colleges offering Agriculture Plant Science Associate Degree for Transfer, as well as atoutreach eventsand AGPS sophomore courses at CSUMB.Award recipients will participate in the Success Scaffold and enrichment activities, including college readiness and career development workshops. Students will also participate in theAg-Mentoring Program aimed at connecting student participants withAGPS alumnus/alumna and role model mentors working in the regional agricultural industry or USDA agencies.Objective 2. Activities: Career-focused experiential learning. Develop and supportlinked experiential learning activities in the form of professional internships and independent research experiences. An existing summer internship program will be expandedto create a regional pipeline to facilitate internship placement with local USDA and industry partners, as well as strengthen student social capital, visibility, and connections with food and agricultural employers. Undergraduate research experiences will be developed to enhance, facilitate, and encourage students' early participation and exposure to scientific research. Up to 70 summer internships will be offered as part of theSprouting Ag Leaders Program, which will match incoming transfer and already enrolled in AGPS students with mentors will include regional government and industry partners, including USDA agencies (ARS, NRCS). Participating students will also participate in the bridgeAg-Bootcamp internship training program to develop the personal and professional understanding and skills needed for their specific internship position and future career goals. During the academic year, the Ag-Researchers Program will provide support for up to60 studentsto work with CSUMB faculty, USDA, UCCE, or, community partner mentors conducting agricultural-related research, and/or continuing developing the products of their summer research placements. Recruitment and coordination of student research placement will be in collaboration with theCSUMB Undergraduate Research Opportunity Center.Objective 3. Activities: Curricular Revision and Augmentation. Enhance student recruitment, preparation, and retention efforts by strengthening the AGPS transfer pathway, and refining the curriculum to ensure that students are acquiring the desired knowledge and skills that meet the food and agricultural industry and USDA needs. In partnership with regional communitycolleges, clear and cohesive pathways with strong advising structures will be established in order to ease the process of transferring credits and fulfilling the requirements for students interested in the AGPS major.Revisionand alignment of upper-division courses across the AGPS curriculum aiming at strengtheningcourse transitions and activating and elevating the student's prior knowledge while synthesizing and organizing new information. Developing and executingAgTech-themed CURE modules focusingon controlled environments to promote curriculum alignment, revision, and iteration, while also creating opportunities for students to transfer their knowledge across courses. Additionally, through service learning experiences, participating students will gainproblem-solving, visibility, and leadership skills by participating in high-impact public outreach, community building, and related recruitment activities. AGPS SL modules and existing community partnerships will be revamped to ensure they foster higher-order thinking skills among students, strengthen community ties, and expose students to new career possibilities in public service and federal conservation programs.The Leadership Team, consisting of PD, Co-PD and key personnel) will work together with community and academic partners, and ensure the execution and evaluation of the proposed student academic and career success efforts. An Advisory and Stakeholder Committeeincluding members of USDA agencies, the agricultural industry, regional high school academic advisor(s), and local Community College partners, will be established with the goal of monitoring program performance, recommending development processes, and providing guidance on core decisions. The Advisory and Stakeholder Committee will review the project evaluations and recommend additional modifications needed to accomplish the proposed outcomes and to address changes in community needs and industry and USDA employment priorities.This project will implement an internal-external evaluation that will allow for quantitative analysis of the 5-Year Measurable Objectives, as well as analysis of the project's implementation fidelity and progress toward achieving desirable outcomes.The PD will work with the internal evaluation team to meet all federal reporting requirements, and to ensure the Advisory and Stakeholder Committee feedback is shared and incorporated into project revisions. An external evaluatorwill prepare and provide detailed reports to the Leadership teamthat include recommendations to improve the validity and value of data as needed. The assessment will track the implementation of the proposed project plan, provide formative feedback for project improvement, and assess progress toward achieving the goals and objectives shared through evaluation reports. Afinal summative evaluation report at the end of the grant will examine the effectiveness of project strategies and will provide an overall assessment of how well the project has met its goals.