Progress 06/01/23 to 05/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:During this reporting period, the primary focus was on CSUMB undergraduate students, mainly supporting first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented individuals within the FANH fields, particularly those enrolled in the AGPS degree. During the 2023- 2024 academic year, our AGPS program enrolled 105 students. Among them, a significant majority--65%--identified as Hispanic, reflecting the overall CSUMB demographics and designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution. Furthermore, over two-thirds--67%--were first-generation college students, and 40% were from low-income backgrounds. These numbers underscore our commitment to fostering inclusivity and providing opportunities for traditionally underrepresented groups in higher education through the NextGen grant efforts. In addition to serving our student population, we also engaged with various community stakeholders, including high school and community college students, their families, educators, and industry representatives from the Tri-County region. This region encompasses Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties, including predominantly agricultural and rural areas such as the Salinas and Pajaro Valleys. By extending our outreach efforts to these communities, we aimed to create pathways to higher education and career opportunities, particularly within the agricultural sector, thereby contributing to regional economic development and social mobility. Changes/Problems:Changes: -The proposedAg-Researchers Program, initially planned for Fall and Spring semesters, couldn't be implemented in year 1 due to student availability issues and logistical challenges in matching them with research mentors. Consequently, the budgeted funds were redirected to support a larger number of full-time 10-week summer internships. -The proposedposition for the Internship and Recruitment Coordinator remained unfilled due to difficulties in finding qualified candidates. Instead, during year 1, the Program Director oversaw recruitment processes for students and mentors, job/internship placements, and progress tracking, while theAcademic & Career Enrichment (ACE) Coordinator provided support for student internship and professional preparation, including post-evaluations. Additionally, an undergraduate student assistant was hired to handle administrative tasks and logistical duties. Problems: The execution of our planned activities was influenced by various factors, with one significant challenge being the hurdles students faced with their FAFSA applications in 2023-2024 academic year. These difficulties affected the ability of many prospective students to commit to pursuing higher education without the certainty of receiving financial aid. This situation forced some students to postpone their higher education goal and transfer to CSUMB, consequently resulting in them missing the application window for the AGPS scholarship or internship programs. Despite these challenges, we were able to achieve our proposed goals. Moving forward, the processes we established in the first year will enable us to proactively communicate these opportunities and enhance the application experience in the coming year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During year 1, we provided numerous training and professional development opportunities. These included six academic and professional development workshops (Campus Academic and Career Advising; Campus Student Enrichment and Wellbeing Programs; On-campus Tutoring and Student Disability and Accessibility Services; Resumes & Cover Letters, Professional Networking; and Demystifying Internships). Additionally, we offered a semester-long course, AGPS 302, focusing on careers in agriculture and featuring professionals in academic, industry, and government careers. Furthermore, we conducted over 70 one-on-one advising meetings with the ACE Coordinator. These meetings involved reflections on career and professional goals, discussions on internship interests, and assistance with resume and personal statement revisions, as well as interview preparation. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The outcomes of our initiatives have been effectively communicated through a variety of outreach and engagement activities. More than 8000 individuals, including high school and community college students, family members, educators, and community members, have been reached through college tours, open houses, school visits, workshops, demonstrations, course presentations, guest lectures, and tabling events. During these engagements, attendees gained insights into the AGPS major, career opportunities in agriculture, experiential learning opportunities, scholarships, campus resources, and student success programs. Information about scholarships, internships, and career fairs was disseminated through a range of channels, including printed and digital materials, e-newsletters, and emails. These communications were distributed to CSUMB students, student applicants from high schools and community colleges, as well as industry and USDA partners. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next year / reporting period, we will maintain the activities conducted in year 1 while also initiating new efforts to further bolster student success. This includes facilitating experiential learning opportunities, financial assistance, academic and career enrichment interventions, expanding outreach and recruitment efforts, and continuing to build and strengthen partnerships with industry representatives and USDA agencies. Specifically, we will: Objective 1: -Award scholarships to returning cohort 1 (seniors) and the new cohort 2 (juniors), and continue advertising and improving the application process for cohort 3. -Continue offering academic, professional and well-being enrichment activities, including launching the Ag-Mentoring Program matching scholarship recipients with AGPS alumnus/alumna and mentors and role models working in the regional agricultural industry or USDA agencies. -Conduct exit and focus group interviews with graduating scholarship recipients. Objective 2: -Offer the Ag-Bootcamp and assess its impact on CSUMB AGPS students -Host the AGPS NextGen poster session at the Undergraduate Research Festival on campus, August 9, 2024 Mentor student interns in submitting and presenting poster presentations at national conferences (SACNAS NDiSTEM 2024) -Monitor and distribute the internship experience survey to participating students, and complete data analysis on the internship experience. This will also be accomplished with the support of the external evaluator. -Recruit CSUMB undergraduate students and community partners to participate in the internship program in year 2 Objective 3 -Continue to participate in campus recruitment events and outreach activities with local Community Colleges and High Schools from the Salinas and Pajaro Valleys, and explore opportunities to expand engagement with community colleges across California through target in-person and virtual opportunities. -Organize an in-person Cultivating Talent and Harvesting Leaders Career and Internship Fair for CSUMB and Community College students, as well as students from local high schools and other regional Hispanic Serving Institutions. We will also work on recruiting additional regional employers to participate in the event. -Continue to work on developing and offering AgTech-themed CURE modules and assess their impact.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective1 -HiredAcademic & Career Enrichment (ACE) Coordinator. -16 incoming 3rd year (Junior) AGPS students were awarded AGPS NextGen scholarship. Scholarship recipients participatedin success- scaffold efforts, including 6 academic and professional development workshops. These workshops aimed to enhance student awareness and foster connections with various academic success and student well-being campus resources, as well as foster can-do attitudes through professional networking and clarifying internship opportunities. Enrichment activities fostered cohort relationships, peer camaraderie, and a supportive environment. These activities included welcome/onboarding sessions, opportunities to get to know each other better, study sessions, and a celebration marking the end of the semester. Feedback from student surveys indicated that the workshops were highly beneficial, with over 75% of students expressing appreciation for the new information and insights gained. Some testimonials from these surveys include: "AGPS NextGen scholarship has helped me tremendously, not only financially but also by exposing me to various resources for academic success," "Being a recipient of the AGPS NextGen Scholarship has supported my journey and success in the AGPS program, thanks to the scholarship, I have been able to focus more on school and not worry about financial stress as much," "Thanks to NextGen, I secured my dream internship with the NRCS, which I previously applied for but was not selected. This opportunity brings me closer to my goal of eventually joining the USDA workforce." -Scholarship recipients benefited from personalized one-on-one advising meetings with the ACE Coordinator. During these sessions, students received guidance on career goals, academic progress, performance, and internship interests, while also receiving assistance with revising and updating resumes and personal statements. -Created a tailored application system for administering thescholarship to incoming students. This new platform simplified the application process and provided direct guidance and technical support from financial aid advisors. We received a total of 20 applications, awarding 15 scholarships. Objective2 -We hired a student assistant to provide administrative assistance. -We did extensive outreach to industry partners to secure internship placements for our students, resulting in agreements with 14 new companies. Additionally, we maintained active communication with USDA partners, collaborating closely with the USDA OPPEregional liaison. - We organized the Cultivating Talent and Harvesting Leaders Career and Internship Fair featuring agricultural career opportunities and internships. Employers included USDA agencies (ARS, NRCS, Forest Service) andprivate companies(D'Arrigo, Taylor Farms, Monterey Mushrooms, Dole,Driscoll's, among others). Local agricultural extension agenciesalso participated. Participation surveys revealed that over 85% of the employers expressed interest in joining the AGPS NextGen internship program, with 45% eventually offering internship positions available to students funded by our grant. -We developed a dedicated webpage (https://rb.gy/637anh) to promote internship opportunities. It featured comprehensive details such as project descriptions, company information, internship locations, as well as application requirements, qualifications, and roles/responsibilities. This webpage attracted substantial student interest, with over 50 unique visitors and more than 200-page visits within approximately 90 days. -Students explored internship options through various channels: career fairs, AGPS courses, the website, and targeted sessions. After selecting their top 3 choices, they met with the ACE Coordinator for resume updates and application preparation. Our team matched students with placements and arranged tailored interviews, receiving positive feedback for enhancing readiness and minimizing logistical challenges. - We exceeded our first-year internship goal by over 200%, facilitating and supporting a total of 26 10-week full-time internship placements. These placements included 35% with USDA agencies (ARS 66% and NRCS 33%), 54% with agricultural companies (7% Nature Rewards, 7% Plant Science, 7% Braga Fresh, 7% Vilmorin Mikado, 7% Monterey Mushrooms, 7% Enza Zaden, 15% D'Arrigo, 21% Taylor Farming, 22% SAKATA), and 11% with CSUMB faculty conducting agricultural research in collaboration with USDA scientists. -We also redesigned the AGPS 394 - Agriculture Internship course, now available in the summer term, lightening the senior year course load for grant-supported interns. Additionally, we developed the Ag-Bootcamp curriculum to equip all interns with essential skills and knowledge, making it mandatory for all participants. We also created resources like a Slack channel and Canvas site to enhance peer communication and collaboration among interns. Objective3 -We hired a graphic design student assistant to develop a range of materials aimed at informing, recruiting, and marketing the AGPS program, and featuring details about the AGPS NextGen scholarships and internship opportunities. -We reached out and established new recruitment agreements and collaborations with 17 community colleges across California. Our collaborations involved participating in specific informational sessions and delivering guest lectures. Additionally, we met with academic counselors to ensure the effective articulation of academic programs and to share information about the AGPS program. We also engaged in recruiting efforts and marketing initiatives to promote the AGPS program, highlighting details about the AGPS NextGen scholarships and internship opportunities. -We conducted extensive outreach efforts aimed at engaging with various high school communities. Through activities such as college tours, open houses, and school visits, we reached out to over 300 high school students from institutions such as Rancho Cielo, Rancho San Juan, Everett Alvarez, Watsonville High, and Hollister High. During these interactions, students were introduced to the wide array of career opportunities available in agriculture, as well as the benefits of the AGPS program and the opportunities provided by the NextGen grant. -We hosted campus visits for students from Cabrillo College and Hartnell College in November and December 2023, respectively, and for Evergreen Valley Community College and College of the Sequoias in January and February 2024, respectively. These visits included presentations on the AGPS Program and our NextGen Initiatives, highlighting scholarships and internships to inform prospective students. We also provided insights into available campus resources for transfer students, led campus tours, and facilitated poster presentations by AGPS student researchers showcasing their work in labs at CSUMB and USDA ARS. -Weparticipated in key events such as the 2023 CSUMB Open House, Otter Admitted Day, and Otter Transfer Day. During these events, AGPS program representatives warmly welcomed attendees, offering insights into the AGPS program, personalized financial aid guidance, and class registration opportunities. Additionally, participants learned about AGPS NextGen scholarship and internship opportunities. Our engaging presentations on application processes led to several on-site applications, showcasing the high interest generated by our program. -Four AGPS studentsattended the 2024 NextGen/Agricultural Outlook Forum in Washington, DC, in February 2024. Beyond the excitement of visiting the US capital for the first time, students gained comprehensive insight into the organization and operations of the USDA, networked with fellow NextGen students and USDA leadership at USDA Headquarters, visited the renowned USDA's Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and USDA National Agricultural Library, and actively participated in the 2024 Agricultural Outlook Forum.
Publications
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