Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
This project is designed to expand educational and employment opportunities in FANH sciences to students in the Marianas Islands and greater Micronesia, where course offerings necessary for federal employment are limited. The objectives of this project are 1) expand critical course offerings through institutional partnerships; 2) increase student retention and qualifications through experiential learning opportunities; 3) provide scholarships for FANH students, and 4) build student leadership skills through planning and implementing community outreach and recruitment activities.This project will create a course-sharing partnership between institutions of higher learning in the Marianas Islands (University of Guam, Northern Marianas College, and Guam Community College) and several large universities with strong FAHN programs (Utah State University, University of Florida, and University of Hawai'i). Through an online course-sharing platform and study abroad experiences, students at all participating institutions will have access to a diversity of FAHN courses and research fellowships. Institutions in the Marianas will be able to expand their degree/certification programs to meet qualifications for federal employment. This project will also provide high-impact learning experiences (including paid internships, mentoring, research fellowships, and study abroad experiences) that will increase student confidence and excitement, leading to greater retention. Scholarships and student-led community outreach will be important recruitment tools to assist students obtain a degree and introduce K-12 students in the Marianas to FANH activities. Through these experiences, students will gain broader awareness of local and federal careers in FANH, receive hands-on experiences to qualify for federal jobs, and gain confidence and new perspectives.
Animal Health Component
20%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Knowledge Area
601 - Economics of Agricultural Production and Farm Management;
703 - Nutrition Education and Behavior;
724 - Healthy Lifestyle;
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;
136 - Conservation of Biological Diversity;
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants;
112 - Watershed Protection and Management;
125 - Agroforestry;
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;
307 - Animal Management Systems;
Subject Of Investigation
1099 - Tropical/subtropical fruit, general/other;
3520 - Meat, swine;
0199 - Soil and land, general;
0399 - Watersheds and river basins, general;
3110 - Insects;
6099 - People and communities, general/other;
6010 - Individuals;
0640 - Tropical forests;
6050 - Communities, areas, and regions;
5010 - Food;
Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;
1070 - Ecology;
3020 - Education;
1081 - Breeding;
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;
3010 - Economics;
3030 - Information and communication;
Goals / Objectives
The goal of this project is to enhance career preparation in Micronesia (specifically through institutions in the Mariana Islands) in the fields of food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH). Primarily, this project seeks to expanding course/degree offerings and training experiences through a cooperative course-sharing program. Institutions in the Marianas Islands will partner with several key universities with comprehensive programs in the FANH sciences, namely the University of Florida (UF), the University of Hawai'i at M?noa (UHM), and Utah State University (USU). Through this program, students in the Marianas Islands will be able to take critical courses in sustainable agriculture, animal production, soil conservation, human nutrition, wildlife and land management, and invasive/endangered species ecology that are offered by universities with large and comprehensive degree programs. Additionally, students will participate in high-impact learning experiences that will shape their future and the future of the Micronesian Islands. These experiences include internships, research fellowships, study abroad, and mentorships.This project also seeks to recruit a greater number of students in the FANH sciences in Micronesia by offering financial assistance through scholarships and paid internships and increasing student-led outreach activities. Scholarships will allow a greater number of students the opportunity to pursue career training. Paid internships will allow students to get the necessary experience with a local agency to qualify for future employment, expose them to diverse fields of study, receive hands-on training, and get to know potential future employers--without having to sacrifice financial stability. Local agencies will have the benefit of expanding their part-time workforce and training potential future employees. Student-led outreach activities will increase exposure of FANH sciences to K-12 students, generating greater enthusiasm and visibility across the islands.The goal of enhancing career preparation in Micronesia will be accomplished through the following four project objectives:Objective 1) Create a course sharing initiative between institutions in the Marianas Islands and several large universities to expand the FANH degree programs available to all students.Objective 2) Develop and implement high-impact learning opportunities for students in all partnering institutions, including internships, research projects, semesters abroad, and mentoring programs.Objective 3) Provide a greater variety of students equity and access to financial support and other support services to enable them to pursue and complete B.S. degrees in the FANH sciences.Objective 4) Build student leadership, community involvement, and next generation recruitment by requiring students to plan and implement various K-12 community outreach activities each semester.
Project Methods
Objective 1) Create a course sharing initiative between institutions in the Marianas Islands and several large universities to expand the FANH degree programs available to all students.In this project, institutions in the Marianas Islands (UOG, NMC, and GCC) will partner with UF, USU, and UHM to increase FANH courses available to students at all participating institutions. Partnering universities have strong and established programs in the specific areas that are critical to our students, such as sustainable agriculture, wildlife/land ecology and management, food science and nutrition, as well as many other supporting courses in FANH sciences. This partnership will vastly increase the courses available to students in the Marianas Islands. Institutions will enter a cooperative articulation agreement and setup shared enrollment systems through a share-course management system. Students will receive credit at their home institution for courses taken at any of the partnering institutions. A course-sharing software will allow for easy access to any online courses shared between institutions. For courses that are not convenient for online delivery (i.e., courses that focus on field experiences), students can apply for a 1-semester study abroad experience (see below). All partnering institutions will be able to add courses to their degree programs through this collaboration, and UOG, GCC, and NMC will be able to add new degree and certification programs.Objective 2) Develop and implement high-impact learning opportunities for students in all partnering institutions, including internships, research projects, semesters abroad, and mentoring programs.High-impact learning opportunities are those that give students hands-on experiences in their field of study, including internships, research, studies abroad, and mentoring programs.Students in the FANH degree programs at UOG will be required to complete at least one of these opportunities (internship, research project, mentorship, or study abroad/research) in order to graduate. The goal of these opportunities is 1) to help students get the specialized experience necessary to qualify for FANH jobs upon graduating, especially in the federal sector where very specific qualifications must be met, and 2) increase student involvement, learning, retention, and confidence through hands-on experiences.Internships Through this grant, UOG will provide paid internship opportunities through partner organizations throughout the Marianas Islands. Partner organizations include local federal, state, and private organizations in the FANH sciences (USDA, USGS, NPS, Division of Forestry, Division of Agriculture, EPA, Department of Health and Human Services, environmental consulting firms, etc.). Examples of potential internship opportunities are found in Appendix A, and will likely increase as other agencies become aware of the program. Partnering organizations will be required to follow specific guidelines (yet to be determined) that will ensure interns are getting a variety of hands-on experiences that match their career field. Both intern and employer will be required to turn in an evaluation at the beginning and end of the internship/apprenticeship, which will serve to evaluate gains in student knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) and improve future experiences. Students will also present a poster or talk on their internship experience at a semi-annual student symposia.In areas where internships are not available, students can have the option to work remotely on a research project or work with a mentor online. These experiences can be individualized to meet the needs of the student and partner organization. Students will work with the career counselor to choose and design an internship/experiential learning experience that best suits their needs and career aspirations.Research fellowships Student research fellowships will be available to students of each partnering institution. Students can choose a research opportunity at their home institutions or at any of the partnering institutions. Opportunities will vary by institution. For example, at UOG research centers around coral reefs, endangered species, invasive species, tropical agriculture, hydroponics, diet and genetics, etc. Research fellowship opportunities will be identified during the planning year (year 1) and added/modified throughout the project timeline. Students will receive a stipend during their research fellowship and a travel allowance if they choose an opportunity at a partnering university. Students and mentors will submit pre- and post- evaluations to measure gains in student KSAs. Students will also present a poster or talk on their research experience at a semi-annual student symposia.Study abroad Study abroad experiences will be available to students at each partnering institution so that students can take courses with a heavy field component, experience a new culture/climate, and make personal connections with students and faculty at partnering institutions. Study abroad experiences will be at least one semester, but may also include a second semester and a summer research fellowship. Grant funds will cover travel costs, room/board, and a living stipend for each student. Tuition differences between the home and partnering institution will be paid through the grant. Students will submit pre- and post- evaluations to measure gains in KSAs and share their study-abroad experience at a semi-annual student symposia.Objective 3) Provide a greater variety of students equity and access to financial support and other support services to enable them to pursue and complete B.S. degrees in the FANH sciencesObjective 3 is critical in recruiting and retaining the next generation of FANH professionals. At UOG, GCC, and NMC, most undergraduates are first generation and 75% receive financial aid, with 59% on Pell grants 25. The ability to provide more scholarships for students in need will greatly enhance enrollment across the region. Students at UOG, GCC, and NMC will compete for scholarships based on financial need and previous education/experience. Scholarship money will be available for tuition, room and board (for students transferring to UOG from off-island), child-care, or other qualified expenses (books, lab fees, etc.). Priority will be given to 1) students who began FANH studies, but had to interrupt their studies due to financial, health, or other hardship; 2) students who earned an A.S. degree at any Micronesian institution and desire to continue to a B.S. in FANH, and 3) students who currently work in a FANH field but lack the education to advance in their field. Scholarship requirements and qualifications will be further developed during the Year 1 planning period.Objective 4) Build student leadership, community involvement, and next generation recruitment by requiring students to plan and implement various K-12 community outreach activities each semester.UOG already has a strong K-12 outreach program in place through the UOG Sea Grant, which is part of the Sea Grant College Program sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Current outreach activities include setting up interactive booths at local village festivals; working with K-12 schools to create school gardens and train teachers; conduct classroom presentations; etc. Through this project, FANH students can work jointly with SeaGrant students (most SeaGrant students are also FANH students) to expand on SeaGrant outreach activities (which focus on marine life and watershed protection) to promote additional FANH topics. Students learn leadership, communication, and organizational skills as they are required to plan and implement community outreach activities. FANH students will be required to help plan and carryout at least one outreach activity per semester. The Career Counselor will assist students in developing and carrying out activities.