Source: NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIV submitted to
SYSTEM APPROACH TO PROMOTE LEARNING AND INNOVATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS (SAPLINGS) OF PROFESSIONALS AND LEADERS IN FOOD, AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND HUMAN SCIENCES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1030727
Grant No.
2023-70440-40153
Cumulative Award Amt.
$18,110,000.00
Proposal No.
2022-11885
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jun 1, 2023
Project End Date
May 31, 2028
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[NEXTG]- NEXTGEN Program
Project Director
Alston, A. J.
Recipient Organization
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIV
1601 EAST MARKET STREET
GREENSBORO,NC 27411
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
SAPLINGS envisions leading the 1890 land-grant universities (LGUs) and the nation in growing the next generation of underrepresented minority (URM) workers, leaders, and innovators for food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH) careers. SAPLINGS establishes sustainable pathways, partnerships, and programs to prepare URM students across the educational continuum -- 4-H youth, Grades 5-12, and college - for federal and private sector employment. Our overarching goal is to use collaborative networks and innovative concepts and approaches to leverage institutional assets, expertise, and resources to increase the number of students persisting and succeeding at each major juncture along the education-to-workforce pathway. SAPLINGS is aligned with USDA Nextgen priorities and contributes to all 6 strategic goals of the 2022-2026 USDA's Strategic Plan, Goals 2, 5, and especially 6. The SAPLINGS objectives are to (1) strengthen the college pipeline by igniting interest and engagement in FANH programs among grades 5-12 school students (2) use a comprehensive modular approach with multi-layer partnerships to attract, retain, mentor, and graduate more URM college students across the FANH continuum; and (3) increase institutional capacity for student success and boost students' awareness of FANH careers. Upon the completion of this project, we expect to (1) train 6134 G5-12 students, 326 G5-12 educators, and 5871 college students; (2) reach 980 families; (3) engage more than 30 partners; (4) enhance URM student enrollment, retention and graduation rates at 1890 LGUs; (5) increase URM graduates for USDA employment; and (6) enhance the 1890 LGUs' capacity by scaled courses, certificates, and training modules.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
8026010302050%
8066099302050%
Goals / Objectives
SAPLINGS envisions leading the 1890 land-grant universities (LGUs) and the nation in growing the next generation of underrepresented minority (URM) workers, leaders, and innovators for food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH) careers.The SAPLINGS objectives are to (1) strengthen the college pipeline by igniting interest and engagement in FANH programs among grades 5-12 school students (2) use a comprehensive modular approach with multi-layer partnerships to attract, retain, mentor, and graduate more URM college students across the FANH continuum; and (3) increase institutional capacity for student success and boost students' awareness of FANH careers.
Project Methods
Led by North Carolina A&T State University in collaboration with six other 1890 Land-grant universities, SAPLINGS will lead partnerships, involving industry, academia, nonprofits, FANH agencies, and other communities of practice, provide end-user insights, services, infrastructure, and transition-to-practice pathways. SAPLINGS consists of six complementary modules designed to enhance student learning, training and success. The modular approach affords the opportunity to: (1) cater to the needs of our diverse students; (2) leverage resources and assets across partners and stakeholders; and (3) pilot, customize and scale programs to ensure more aligned outcomes across all SAPLINGS' 1890 LGU partners. The following are the complementary modules:Module 1 - Formal and Informal Pathways to Prepare G5-12 ScholarsThis module builds early student interest in FANH and readiness for college success using 4-H and Ag-focused youth programs, internships, and summer programs. It targets Grades 5-12 educators (Ag, FCS, STEM) and students, families, guidance counselors, community volunteers, and 4-H Agents. The module will develop research-based marketing and recruitment strategies; expose students to Ag experiences and career paths during elementary/middle and high school positively influences youth perceptions and attitude; develop new STEM educational contents for use in 4-H, community-based organizations and schools based on URM market research insights; and utilize the 4-H Youth Futures model to engage URM families in smart Ag and college preparation. In addition, the module will increase student and teacher awareness of FANH, provide experiential learning for students to expose students in grades 11-12 to Federal/State Government programs, and enhance the competencies of Ag and Family and Consumer Sciences educators (Ag and FCS) in FANH disciplines.Module 2 - Experiential Training in Agricultural Entrepreneurship (Agripreneurship) This module aims to develop Ag professionals with technical and leadership skills to start, grow, and succeed in their own agribusiness or gain employment in FANH sector. Activities includeinternships, farm visits and training on business and marketing plans, collaboration with the newly funded 1890 Agriculture Business Innovation Center based at NC A&T to equip students with the application of acquired entrepreneurship skills, and engagement in Ag101 Bootcamps in partnership with the Farm Foundation as well as their engagement in Cultivators program for mentoring. Module 3 - Training Integrated Climate-Smart Agriculture Stewards (TICAS)This module will prepare students for careers in integrated Ag and natural resources (animals, plants, soil, water, environment) across research, education, and extension.To advance state-of-the-art-training in Ag and natural resources, SAPLINGS will work with local and regional partners to establish a new precision Ag site at NC A&T's 492-acre farm. Student training support includes scholarships, internships, new integrated certificate in natural resources. Teaching will be enhanced through hands-on training modules in courses, field trips to USDA facilities, and guest lectures/seminars. Module 3 will also build regional and national partnership cluster to expand resources and ensure long term sustainability.Module 4: Food, Nutrition, and Health - Let the Farm be the Pharmacy (The "Farmacy")Module 4 uses team science to train the next generation of diverse food and nutrition professionals to use foods to combat diet-related health disparities in communities of color and increase interest in Food and Nutritional Science (FNS). SAPLINGS advances "farm as pharmacy" education and training by: (1) creating The Farmacy Scholars scholarship to attract, support, retain, and graduate students in FNS; (2) using multi-layer clusters and experiential learning to expose students to the best educational and leadership opportunities within the field of FNS (the "farmacist"), and (3) enabling students to be ambassadors of underserved communities to combat health disparities. The team will build the internal cluster through leveraging existing assets and partnering with The Southern University's 1890 Center of Excellence for Nutrition, Health, Wellness, and Quality of Life (Sang is Co-PD) to strengthen existing training capacities. This module will also create a regional cluster and later expand into a national cluster to support student training and enhance sustainability.Module 5: ARtificial Intelligence and Data Science for Precision Agriculture (ARISE 4 Ag)Introduce data analytics, precision Ag and AI into food & Ag education to enable the next-generation workforce as to develop solutions for food and Ag industries. The module will engage students at high school, undergraduate and graduate level, faculty; and young farmers. Module 5 introduces advanced data analytics and AI-technologies into food and Ag education in SAPLINGS institutions. Plans are to develop three AI-enabled educational labs with data analytics modules at three levels focusing on statistical approaches, econometrics, data mining, The learning modules will implement experiential and collaborative learning of precision Ag, AI, and data analytics using the infrastructure and materials and develop educational materials for student training (i.e., labs, projects, workshops).Module 6: Enhance FANH Sciences Student Success Module 6 provides centralized professional development for faculty, expanded course offering to students, and other institutional support infrastructure (i.e., National Student Exchange, Research and Extension Experiences, Emerging USDA Leaders; mentoring) to impact FANH teaching and learning within the 1890 LGU system. This includes (1) offering Faculty Development through Center for Teaching Excellence at NC A&T using the Association of College and University Educators Teaching Effectiveness Program along with specialized teaching workshop, (2) covering membership for all SAPLINGS partners to participate in the NSE allowing students to matriculate up to two semesters at other LGUs at no additional cost to complete courses not available at their home institution, (3) offering a Distributed Research and Extension Experiences matching students with mentors from another 1890 LGU for paid summer research or extension internship experience, (4) launching the Emerging USDA Leaders Model Program to support professional learning communities where students benefit form experiential learning opportunities, including apprenticeships, internships, practicums, and fellowships, (5) providing professional Mentoring to students through MentorCollective, and (6) engaging the USDA and the 1890 Foundation in Career Awareness and Exploration benefiting students.

Progress 06/01/23 to 05/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences at North Carolina A&T State University, in collaboration with Virginia State University, Florida A&M University, the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Tuskegee University, the University of Maryland & Eastern Shore, North Carolina State University and various local, state, and federal agencies leads the exciting initiative known as SAPLINGS (System Approach to Promoting Learning and Innovation for the Next Generation of Professionals and Leaders in Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human Services). Using a modular approach, SAPLINGS works to improve the pipeline of early outreach, family engagement, recruitment, and marketing, to establish a program that enhances student learning, training, and success, that build collaboration at the local, regional, & national levels, and develop mechanisms to enable sustainability through supporting activities such as formal/informal outreach & engagement, integrated recruitment, training/retaining initiatives, scholarship, experiential learning, and other student supports. Through these comprehensive outreach methods, education, research, and extension, SAPLINGS aims to increase diversity within the food and agriculture workforce while addressing the chronic shortage of FANH graduates our nation needs to ensure a safe, healthy, nutritious, and abundant food supply. Our main demographic (or target audience) is underrepresented minorities (families and youths) because these areas often lack targeted outreach and positive engagement from a young age. Therefore, SAPLINGS has developed six subgroup modules targeting URM and youth interested in STEM, Technology, and Agriculture: Modules 1: The Pipeline Module 2: Agripreneurship Module 3: Training Integrated Climate-Smart Agriculture Stewars (TICAS) Module 4: The Farmacy Module 5: ARISE 4 Ag Module 6: FANH Student Success These modules cover a wide range of students (i.e., K-12, middle/high school students, undergrads/grads, students interested in Food & Nutrition programs) to career professionals (i.e., science teachers, counselors, Career Technical Education (CTE) partners) primarily in the College of Agriculture, Agribusiness, NCAT students and recruits from across the 1890 community (i.e., Agricultural, Food, Natural Resource Sciences & Human Science majors, Bio-Engineering & Applied Economics students interested in AgTech and undergraduates interested in FANH careers). Additional engagement includes faculty across five institutions, a cross-section of students registered at Virginia St. University (College of Agriculture) and other FAHN-related disciplines, alumni, and industry professionals recruited. Specifically, the Module 6 student profile is highly Pell Grant eligible and diverse (socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged). SAPLINGS has employed resources from other grants to reach its target audience. Project Deans and 1890 faculty members have sent emails and disseminated surveys/flyers using links on program flyers to recruit students. The Emerging USDA Leaders Model, workshops, student organizations (MANRRS, horticulture club, etc.), existing teachers and student networks, and the Student Success & Workforce Development Center peer-to-peer mentoring program were also used for recruitment. Module work uses collaborations among the 1890/1862 Land Grant Universities (LGUs) and aligns with USDA's goals. Together with the six core 1980 LGUs, SAPLINGS is beginning to strengthen the college pipeline by provoking interest and engagement in FANH programs among Grade 5-12 students and educators. The comprehensive modular approach utilized with multi-layered partnerships has begun to attract, retain, mentor, and hope to graduate more URM college students across the FANH continuum. SAPLINGS is increasing institutional capacity for student success and boosting student awareness of FANH careers by using formal/informal pathways to prepare Grade 5-12 scholars, experiential training in agricultural entrepreneurship, training integrated climate-smart agriculture stewards, using team science to train the next generation of "farmacists", artificial intelligence and data science for precision agriculture, and enhanced faculty development and student learning. Market research, surveys, focus groups, project engagement, advertising (i.e., REE program & SSWD websites), conferences such as MANNRS, ARD, and the SSWD Symposium, as well as Cooperative Extension 4-H agent connections and college listservs and department chairs have been used to aid in student and URM recruitment. Internship opportunities are provided through collaborations with 1-2 high schools/CTE directors and FANH agency/area school partnerships. The DREAM Program is instrumental in exposing high school Juniors/Seniors to the Food, Agriculture, & Natural Resource Sciences. It connects them with experiences in federal & state government agencies, non-government organizations, and private companies while attracting more minority students interested in the field. SAPLINGS used the Modified 4H Youth Futures Model, Teen Advisory Council, YEA-REAP summer camp (Grades 9-12), and stipend/transportation for student retention. Additionally, students are retained through module scholarships and internship training, which further encourage student engagement to apply for scholarship programs. Following application submission, interviews are conducted to determine student eligibility for participation. Other recruitment and retention efforts included engagement with regional and national networks to create food and nutrition opportunities for students. By doing so, SAPLINGS has leveraged partners, students, and 1890 liaisons and expanded its reach through follow-up surveys, social media groups, student exchange modules, and student leadership organizations. The project acknowledges and recognizes the financial struggles faced by many students. Therefore, efforts have been introduced to provide work and housing stipends to ensure housing accommodations. Faculty have also played a role by integrating new hands-on learning opportunities and engaging through formal agricultural-based courses as a direct way to provide chances for student involvement in project activities. Changes/Problems: Each of the six SAPLINGS components has encountered challenges or pitfalls. The consensus issue was timing. Many of the components faced difficulties that led to a late start. In The Pipeline, several indicated that specific purchase requirements don't qualify as allowable expenses. It was also revealed that the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is falling behind schedule, procedures are unclear, and it was not readily available, particularly during the summer months. To ensure compliance with IRB regulations, Ag. Communications must create materials and understand their availability. Additionally, there were difficulties in securing speakers who respond to emails, shared their content, and develop surveys. Due to a late start in August 2023, the project has been slow to begin. The program coordinator began work late in March, leading to delays. Consequently, the team will recruit rising high school juniors and seniors rather than only juniors. It is crucial to budget time and money effectively during this period. More support staff is necessary to plan for the summer. Unfortunately, due to the delay, no summer scholarships were offered. As a result, double scholarships will be available in Fall 2024. The start time for specific Agripreneurship tasks was challenging because the 1890 Agribusiness Innovation Center was waiting for staff. As a result, the module started late due to limited faculty availability and capacity. Agriculture Communications must post information on the website for advertising purposes for the TICAS component. Unfortunately, the project manager was hired late, which resulted in a lack of staff support for the project. The Farmacy encountered a limited number of students, making recruiting difficult and delaying the start. Considerable recruiting time for graduate students in the ARISE 4 Ag component who could complete lab setup, find lab space, and create educational materials to get someone from the undergraduate students to work with also provided challenges. The FANH Student Success module proposed an outcome change--instead of faculty fellows supporting each other, they would work on their own projects and share them with their departments. However, there were challenges: module lead was not in college or Agriculture, connecting with faculty from different institutions, and getting press releases from partner institutions' leadership. In addition, faculty from other institutions had trouble staying aligned with the program and understanding the bigger impact. Support is needed to generate program interest across institutions. Partnering with other 1890s, academic advisors and instructors was included in the process using engagement and dissemination plans to increase participation. Many students were overwhelmed with personal and professional activities, which competed with their interest in exploring FANH opportunities presented through this initiative. Academic advisors and instructors were included (engagement and dissemination plan) to increase participation and student learning outcomes. Some indications were that using small cohort engagement models may increase participation and student learning outcomes. To help students grasp the essential STEM concepts for many FAHN career pathways, educational technologies such as Labster, Kritik, and ClassVR were also explored by the project team as a way to support students in developing competence through additional exposure to the material, peer support and feedback as well as virtual exposure to FAHN working environments. Finally, funding on campus. Due to insufficient funds, much time was lost, and approval to move forward was not received until the Fall (September/October). Additionally, the Mentor Collective contract had to go through NC A&T SU because of process issues at UAPB, resulting in a prolonged process. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Professional development opportunities for college/career readiness, food & agribusiness marketing, and AgTech will be available. Youth and the larger community can participate in a professional development session in Fall 2024 on culturally responsive pedagogy. Topics include DEI in Agriculture, Introduction to Agriculture Education and Future Farmers of America, Introduction to FCS and opportunities, CAES student reflections, Digital Agriculture: Future in Farming, Ag careers, CAES department chairs (majors/minors), N.C. A&T admissions process. Youth participating in SAPLINGS activities in The Pipeline learned about coding and drones, which provided more access to STEM and technology careers. They also had the opportunity to receive flight certification. Engagement in leadership development opportunities (i.e., 16 hours of regional and online training for the Game of Drones competition) was also provided. The YEA-REAP Summer Leadership Institute further developed high school students' skills through hands-on learning and mentorship. Exposure through research and extension programs offered a deeper understanding and expertise as they explored the possibility of future careers in Agriculture and STEM. Through The Pipeline component's selective programming, summer camps, and agency tours, students' understanding of the FANH field also helped them develop leadership skills. For example, the impact of the DREAM Program has been recognized through web and social media platforms (visibility and sustainability). Overall, equity has been promoted, and a diverse, skilled workforce for the future of FANH has been built. This program creates interest in FANH sciences among high school and college students through immersive experiences, outreach efforts, and leadership development. Partnering with industry and educational institutions provides hands-on learning opportunities, mentorship, and career exposure. There have been no professional development or training opportunities created thus far. The career and leadership development aspects of the Agripreneurship component utilize internships, Agribusiness training, business development, and initiatives such as the Ag. Bootcamp and Cultivator Program to mold the next generation of Agriculture business leaders. Currently, there are no new professional development opportunities in this area. Students were provided with seminars to raise awareness of field opportunities and summer internships for career and leadership development through the TICAS module. The intent is to have five student ambassadors focus on leadership in Climate-Smart Agriculture, conduct outreach, and serve as representatives for the college. Five professional development sessions have been conducted: Climate-Smart Agriculture Introduction, Sustainability in the Dairy Industry, Climate-Smart Hemp: Toward Agronomic & Environmental Sustainability, and Swine Industry Approach to Sustainability & Career Path in Extension). To promote advancement, The Farmacy will develop a course centered on the USDA and FDA to better prepare students for government jobs in food science. Leadership components include training students to facilitate webinars and engage with communities of color to address health disparities. At the same time, career development will involve partnering with institutions such as NC State University to develop relevant courses and training for high school teachers. Professional development on health disparities using dietary strategies to prevent diabetes has also been created. Technology integration, hands-on learning, diverse student support, collaborative partnerships, capacity building, and community engagement have all been used to promote advancement throughout the ARISE 4 Ag component of SAPLINGS. The project's emphasis on these aspects and holistic approach to workforce development position it as a catalyst for advancement in food, agriculture, nutrition, and human sciences. ARISE 4 Ag addresses current workforce needs by providing students with the skills/ knowledge needed to succeed in the digital age. It lays the foundation for a more resilient and inclusive future. Graduate students can work with undergraduates and high school students to teach them how to use AI technology and data analytics platforms. The project has provided two seminars on virtual labs & digital twins and remote sensing & soft sensing. Being ACUE graduates, faculty develop leadership capacity by supporting other faculty in the program. In year two of the FANH Student Success component, faculty sharing their work increases their leadership capacity. Digital fellows increase their career development by creating programs/resources, and by sharing their projects, they increase leadership skills. ACUE is a PD opportunity that includes 25 modules. Bi-weekly meetings with the facilitator consist of coaching and community-building exercises, and faculty share what is and what has been learned. Students are allowed access to training in the FANH field as a foundation for the workforce. The project will incorporate presentations from USDA and other federal agencies to discuss career opportunities by agencies associated with FANH. An employability skills workshop series will be embedded into the program, and students must complete at least eight sessions focusing on employability skills, graduate school applications, and career panels with individuals from FANH fields. To this effort, ACUE promotes advancement with the Leadership Academy, Career Exposure Days (which provided 42 students the chance to travel as a cohort to explore Virginia Tech's Veterinary Medicine School & Animal Production Systems), and the Virginia State Grazing School (a partnership with the American Farmland Trust that introduces trends, opportunities, and challenges associated with grazing and the management/marketing of livestock). Virginia State University held its first Leadership Academy to prepare students for high-level leadership positions, emphasizing food, agriculture, and community-based problem-solving. Advancement is forthcoming; however, participants will delve into the intricate nuances of professionalism in the contemporary workplace landscape. Through rigorous exploration, they will cultivate effective work habits that bolster individual performance and contribute to organizational success. Additionally, students will hone communication skills within the workplace and broader community contexts, equipping themselves with the tools to convey messages with clarity and impact. Moreover, they will learn to leverage technology as a strategic enabler to achieve their professional goals precisely and efficiently. Through leadership development, students will be empowered to unlock their leadership potential. They will engage in scholarly inquiries into leadership theories and paradigms, fostering a deep understanding of effective leadership practices. Through experiential learning opportunities, students cultivate the skills necessary to capitalize on personal strengths and lead teams toward shared objectives. Furthermore, they will explore the critical dimensions of equity, inclusivity, and anti-racism in leadership, equipping themselves with the awareness, attitudes, and skills required to foster equitable and inclusive environments. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Journal publications, College of Agriculture website updates, and creating the NextGen website for the project itself are the major components of the dissemination of The Pipeline. Information regarding the program will be distributed through CAES News, the College of Agriculture website, and the NextGen website. Students will also distribute information via social media platforms. Each task must be completed efficiently to ensure program success. The key is to have effective communication and visibility. The TICAS component will utilize the College of Agriculture's website to display the outcomes of graduate student research, which will also be shared at conferences and in written publications. The Farmacy has developed plans and organized opportunities for students to present their research findings via poster presentation on Undergraduate Research Day and attend conference presentations. ARISE 4 Ag's dissemination plans include sharing results at a professional conference to provide students a platform to showcase their research findings, which could present opportunities for publication. This approach would help to bring adequate attention and recognition to student research efforts that contribute to the advancement of the agricultural industry. The dissemination plan for the FANH Student Success component entails faculty conferences, departmental presentations, and journal articles. The dissemination plan will also emphasize engaging diverse student participants from various disciplines through various communication channels and participatory activities. The plan's primary focus is to ensure that various barriers to entry are considered and that a diverse suite of opportunities is developed to reach a broader population. The mentoring collective will also provide a report shared with the Dean by the Project Lead. Accomplishments will be shared at the beginning and end of the school year. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Three main objectives encompass each of the six SAPLINGS project modular approach subgroups. Objective 1 applies to The Pipeline component, which seeks to strengthen the college pipeline by igniting interest and engagement in FANH programs among Grades 5-12 students. This subgroup will finalize vendor bids and start research efforts. Next, recruitment for new teams to participate in the Game of Drones competition will be sought out via application. Training will be provided once the teams are selected, and the competition will be implemented. In Spring 2024, the YEA-REAP application process began with mentor recruitment and mentor/mentee matching. FANH visits were conducted, and plans were made for a summer tour, teacher workshops, and Fall 2024 scholarships to be offered. During the Summer 2024 period, recruitment for 2025 began, and Summer 2025 scholarships were offered. Fall 2024 will see STEM sessions hosted with mentors and mentees and the creation of the first Teen Advisory Board project. Planning for the second YEA-REAP Summer Institute will begin also. The application and recruitment period closed, and educator participants were selected in March 2024. In May, students were chosen for a 6-8-week summer internship, and a summer retreat was held June 24-26, 2024. The project aims to finalize scholarship and summer program applications and complete the student selection process in February/March 2025. Summer 2025 scholarships will be offered in Spring 2025. Objective 2 of the SAPLINGS project is to use a comprehensive modular approach with multi-layer partnerships to attract, retain, mentor, and graduate more URM college students across the FANH continuum. This objective applies to Agriprenurship, TICAS, The Farmacy, & ARISE 4 Ag. Nineteen students were selected for the May 2024 Ag Bootcamp following the April 2024 application period. Applications for the Cultivator Program were created and distributed in June, and the actual event will take place in Fall 2024 in Hawaii. Four to five students completed Agribusiness internships, and in the Summer of 2025, graduate students will have the opportunity to visit the USDA Economic Research Service to learn about data usage. In Spring 2024, students were surveyed to assess their increase in knowledge and applications for Fall scholarships were distributed. During the Summer of 2024, the TICAS funded one student's internship experience. Summer 2024, the certificate program was finalized and submitted to the University for approval. Plans to complete enhancements for five courses and a second cohort of 20 students are provided with scholarships. The goal for all 2024 is to continue providing seminars every 2-4 weeks (totaling 12), select five student ambassadors, and recruit 1-2 graduate students to complete a Climate-Smart Research project. The Farmacy engaged in a summer workshop on metabolomics and the NC State University Summer Scholar Program and provided a diet-associated health disparity webinar for the Nutrition Center Summer 2024. Three Farmacy scholarships will be awarded in Fall 2024, and there are plans to recruit more scholars during the Fall 2024 & Spring 2025 semesters. This component will continue to conduct training, and students will continue their outreach to communities of color and research on combatting diet-related health disparities, which began in the Summer of 2024 and into the Summer of 2025. The goal for Spring 2025 is to develop a course that focuses on USDA and FDA to better prepare students for government jobs in the food science area. Summer 2024 saw the ARISE 4 Ag component have 75 high school students (in groups of 3) visit the AI for 2-3 hrs. while in development. Though the labs are still in development, there was enough for the students to be shown a demonstration. Graduate students assisted in completing the development of the AI and data analytics labs. Lab materials and protocols for student use were completed. In addition, work was done with NC State to finalize the student exchange, and technical support was provided to the students. The evaluation protocol was finalized. The goal for Fall 2024 is to support six undergraduate students (one Master's and 1 Ph.D. student to be supported by the project) and for technology development to be completed. The final objective (Objective III) is to increase institutional capacity for student success and boost student awareness of FANH careers (FANH Student Success). In Spring 2024, a session at the SSWD Symposium where 1890 schools could complete NSE applications and receive support was held. REE program students were selected and an IRB Application submitted. The Career Exposure Days event was held at Virginia Tech, and planning for the Hackathon event with STEM-4-US began (April 2024). A four-part graduate education series (in partnership with SSWD) was hosted. Information on selecting graduate education programs and completing this was made available to all students through the 1890 system, and students were encouraged to participate in NSE or REE. During the Summer of 2024, a teacher workshop with the Petersburg School District was held, and a curriculum for virtual experiential learning was developed. Students engaged in the REE program for eight weeks. A curriculum for virtual experiential learning was developed, and information regarding how to become an extension professional boot camp for the REE program was provided In Fall 2024, the FANH Student Success subgroup will begin an AI teaching initiative with 50 faculty across all five institutions and provide two workshops. NSE liaisons at partner institutions will be identified. USDA career talks, the Pilot of Agrivoltaics internship with industry partners, and the Hack-a-thon event with STEM-4-Us will also occur. The inaugural cohort will be completed in December. The goal for January 2025 is the start of the second cohort and for the inaugural cohort to begin ACUE Scholar work. 1890 students will be placed at their NSE schools for the 2025-26 academic year, and applications for 1890 partner schools to host students for the REE program will open February 2025. Two workshops will be held, and there are plans for USDA career job talks, where speakers are brought into classes in Spring 2025. In addition, the component is looking to have the Leadership Academy 2025 take place in February 2025 and Career Exposure Days in April 2025. The component also seeks to hire a full-time faculty developer Fall 2025.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? By implementing a modular approach, SAPLINGS can leverage resources from various partners and stakeholders, pilot, customize, and scale programs to ensure aligned outcomes across all SAPLINGS 1890 LGU partners. The six modules are achieving the project's primary goals, enhancing student learning, training, and success. The Pipeline began in mid-June 2024, with interviews boosting interest in agriculture and STEM. A K-12 curriculum that teaches SmartAg infuses culturally responsive pedagogy into classrooms was introduced. Sixty students (Grades 7-12) expressed interest in participating, while 25-30 college athlete mentors helped to promote interest. Students were invited to apply for the Teen Advisory Council, attend the YEA-REAP summer camp, and attend STEM seminars. Increased enrollment and involvement of underrepresented URM in career prep/4H programs that helped gauge STEM interest and fostered positive youth mentorship were just a few outcomes. Additionally, 12 groups totaled 55 youth participants in the Game of Drones coding competition. The YEA-REAP summer camp was successful, forty-two youth, 25 mentors, and 5 Teen Advisory Council members were selected. The impact of these activities were that good and Student interns reflected on their experiences and gained insights about FANH college programs. These activities will help SAPLINGS understand how minority youth view agricultural careers, identify the best ways to increase interest in Agriculture and STEM, create learning materials based on URM market research and engage families in Smart Ag and college prep. The SAPLINGS Agripreneurship component works with the 1890 Agribusiness Center at NC A&T to provide essential student training. Farm visits were conducted, and at least four student scholarships were provided. The Ag Bootcamp, a 2-day internship training for Agribusiness, was conducted in collaboration with the Farm Foundation. During the Ag Bootcamp, sign-in sheets were maintained for lobby days, internship receipts were tracked, and program completers' applications were monitored. Students and faculty were actively engaged in problem-solving and building upon existing connections, and pre/post-assessments added valuable student feedback to highlight success. As a result, there are ongoing talks with companies regarding internships, The Ag Bootcamp is a relevant support activity that provides AG career and entrepreneurial skills and Agripreneurship training. Training Integrated Climate Smart Agriculture Stewards, or TICAS, offers scholarships that enable students to focus on Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR) studies and internships. By working with other schools/groups, TICAS has the means to create better networking and internship opportunities. Course materials are also being modified to enhance teaching, including Climate-Smart Ag content in ANR courses, while encouraging undergraduate students to apply for integrated ANR certificates. Outcomes have shown that students receiving scholarships increased their GPAs, and interest in Climate-Smart Agriculture increased. As a result, 20 scholarships were awarded from Fall 2023 to Spring 2024, and four seminars were held discussing various areas of climate-smart agriculture. Fourteen students have seen their overall GPA increase (average of 0.08). TICAS prepares students for careers in Climate-Smart agriculture areas and increases knowledge of the Agriculture and Natural Resource field. The Farmacy component has worked with NC State University to design and build a bridge program offering Farmacy scholarships to NC A&T students for food & nutrition research and training with faculty. Student support efforts are also utilized in finding summer internships with government agencies and hosting summer professional development on Metabolomics. This program aims to enable student ambassadors for underserved communities, build networks (internal, regional, and national) for training at various labs, and increase food/nutrition training opportunities. Following each training session, surveys were conducted to track the number of sessions held, information learned, and the types of student research conducted along with community engagement/interaction. This focus has helped to increase Food & Nutritional Science research skills, work with communities of color to combat diet-related health disparities and promote healthy eating. As a result, 3 students were interviewed for the Pharmacy Scholarship, and 11 high school teachers applied to receive training from NC State. Three students applied for the Summer Scholar Program at NC State, and two have accepted the offer. The Farmacy trains future Food Science students to use team science strategies via different exposure methods (i.e., hands-on) and prevent diet-associated diseases (especially related to health disparities) using dietary strategy. Artificial Intelligence labs and software were developed, set up, and utilized to analyze Agricultural data in the ARISE 4 Ag module. In this component, six students, 50 undergraduates, and three high school students over five years will be supported and provided tools for student research. Over 400 students will benefit from course redesign/training certification. Students will have the skills to create AI-based solutions to fix specific Ag/Food industry issues. The project has partnered with John Deere to provide AI tools for precision Ag. Tech support for student training and help with capstone projects. Outcomes include the introduction of AI, precision Ag, & data analytics into Food and Agriculture Education to help create solutions and collaboration between high school, undergraduate, and graduate students to work on AI, precision Ag, & data analytics. Additionally, surveys were instrumental in assessing knowledge of basic AI concepts/tech principles. As a result, two graduate students (Spring 2024 & Fall 2024) and three undergraduates (Spring 2024) have begun developing project proposals following a short introduction to AI technology. Two seminars and workshops were presented, and a certification application/proposal was created. The ARISE 4 Ag's relevance to the SAPLINGS project is its focus on three major Agricultural production technologies--artificial intelligence data analytics and precision agriculture. FANH Student Success (via The NSE) provides students access to coursework at 160 schools nationwide, allowing partners to create or enhance degree programs. Students can work with liaisons for up to two semesters, and during the summer, undergraduates can conduct research and gain experience in other 1890s. This component will place 5-10 students at one of their top three 1890s each summer, providing them with funding for work and housing. Through this partnership, possibilities in Agrivoltaics to explore internships and learning opportunities in emerging FANH careers will become more available. Regarding outcomes, teaching skills will be tracked using tools made by ACUE. Faculty will self-report via poster, conference presentation, or articles. As a result, Virginia State held the first Leadership Academy, Career Exposure Days, and, in partnership with the American Farmland Trust, the Virginia State Grazing School, which has provided valuable experiences for 42 students. Thirty-three faculty have enrolled and are monitored. On average, faculty have completed 7/25 or 28% of modules. The ACUE artificial intelligence program was purchased to be offered to 50 faculty (Fall 2024). Two of the 1890 partners have applied for the NSE consortium. The FANH Student Success component of SAPLINGS will enhance teaching skills among faculty in all five partners in Agricultural Colleges and increase course access & learning opportunities for students.

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