Recipient Organization
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
(N/A)
RALEIGH,NC 27695
Performing Department
Center for Environmental Farming Systems; Horticulture
Non Technical Summary
Women and minority students are the most under-represented in most undergraduate science programs, in professional agricultural societies, and in the agricultural science workforce. Sustainable agriculture is critical to addressing our agricultural challenges and a way to engage diverse individuals in agriculture while broadening their career prospects.The proposed program takes a two-pronged approach to advance career and leadership opportunities of women and minority community college students in sustainable agriculture through hands-on experiential learning and exposure to successful agricultural entrepreneurial businesses in rural North Carolina. First, we will recruit students to participate in a summer research and education internship at NCSU and be introduced to a network of rural entrepreneurs. Second, we will recruit students to participate in NC's first ever Registered agricultural Apprenticeship, the Sustainable Vegetable Production Apprenticeship.The overarching goal of this project is to increase the number of women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas who will pursue and complete post secondary STEM degrees and introduce them to a range of career opportunities. This goal is supported by the following objectives: 1) Initiate a major recruitment effort at rural community colleges in NC. 2) Recruit 14 community college students to participate in a summer internship program at NCSU. 3) Recruit 3 community college students to participate in the Sustainable Vegetable Production Apprenticeship program. 4) Increase participants' knowledge and technical skills in sustainable agriculture through mentorship and project based learning. 5) Increase participants' critical thinking, communication, leadership skills, and awareness of agricultural career paths.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The overall goal of this program is to increase multi-level career pathway opportunities for women and minorities in sustainable agriculture and STEM-related agriculture disciplines. This is supported by the following five objectives:Initiate a major recruitment effort to identify women and minority students from rural community colleges in North Carolina interested in agriculture as a study or career.Recruit 14 community college students to participate in a summer internship program at NC State University with 100% being women or minority students.Recruit 3 community college students to participate in the Sustainable Vegetable Production Registered Apprenticeship program with 100% being women or minority students.Increase participants' knowledge and technical skills in sustainable agriculture through focused mentorship and project-based learning.Increase participants' critical thinking, communication, leadership skills and awareness of agricultural career paths through professional development activities and network building.?
Project Methods
Program Activities: Both internship and apprenticeship programs will provide women and minority community college students with diverse research, education, professional development, and mentorship opportunities focused on sustainable agriculture. Activities are split into three main program elements, carefully developed for experiential learning and engagement:Recruitment and Careers in Agriculture Seminars. PD Cruz will develop 6 interactive seminars (3 per year) face to face for partner community colleges and virtually (webinars) for community colleges throughout NC in Yrs 1 & 2. Seminar topics will include introduction to careers and education paths in agriculture, as well as an overview of the internship and apprenticeship programs.Summer Internship. This 9-week summer internship program provides faculty-mentored sustainable agriculture research and educational experiences together with professional development, networking, and leadership opportunities. Participants are provided with campus housing and work stipend ($4500). The Internship program is divided into 5 main components described below:i) Introductory tour, "Diverse Communities and Agriculture across NC". PD Cruz and Co-Pi's Schroeder-Moreno and Long will lead students on a 4-day tour across agricultural systems and communities from the mountains to the coast of NC. Students visit diverse farms and meet with agricultural entrepreneurs (many minority business owners), industry leaders, and extension agents.ii) Faculty-mentored research and educational training. We have identified a number of outstanding research faculty, with extensive mentoring experience, who have agreed to serve as mentors (see Support Letters). Working with these mentors, students will assist with sustainable agriculture research or educational projects, such as evaluating yield and disease resistance for open pollinated corn populations or measuring nitrous oxide emissions in conventional vs organic farming systems. Faculty mentors are diverse, comprising 44% women and 55% underrepresented minorities, providing important role models for the students in the program. Students will work with their mentors and on project activities for 4 days each week. At the end of the summer, students will present a final oral or poster presentation on their research to faculty and staff associated with CEFS and PSI.iii) Paired mentorship and network opportunities. Each student will also be paired with a graduate student mentor that is conducting similar sustainable agriculture research. Graduate mentors will meet with students weekly to discuss experiences in graduate school, project activities, professional opportunities and help them prepare their final presentations.iv) Professional development and leadership training. On Fridays of each week, students will participate in professional development activities coordinated by PD Cruz including leadership training, diversity, equity and inclusion competencies, and professional communication.v) Agricultural career exploration. The Friday professional development days will focus on understanding agriculture career pathways. Throughout the summer, there will be three career panels and students will visit and meet with business leaders, non-profits, and government employees that all work in sustainable agriculture to expose students to the diversity of career opportunities. The apprenticeship program already has a network of more than 20 farms and agricultural businesses and nonprofits across NC that are committed to mentoring young professionals entering the agricultural sector.3. Apprenticeship. The Registered Apprenticeship model is both a way to educate the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs and diversify the agriculture workforce, while supporting local food and agricultural organizations. CEFS will provide ongoing support by monitoring the progress of apprentices and host farmers throughout the 18-month curriculum and providing training and resources to both groups. Like most formal apprenticeship programs, The SVP curriculum is based on the US Department of Labor's recommended components for successful apprenticeships including:i. Business involvement: The farm businesses and agricultural non-profits that employ the apprenticeship are the foundation of the program. The host organizations will be chosen through an application process. The host organizations oversee the apprentices on a day-to-day basis, assuring quality hands-on job training.ii Structured on the Job training: Apprentices will be paid employees so they can "earn while they learn." They will be expected to work 20-40 hours a week throughout the apprenticeship and work 2000 hours by the end of the 18-month program. Each apprentice will receive hands-on-training from an experienced mentor at their host organization or farm.iii. Related Instruction: Apprentices will receive technical and academic training around the 8 core competencies identified in the curriculum. The PD will organize formal apprentice training activities once a month. These workshops will be conducted by experts in the field, such as Extension Specialists.iv. Rewards for Skill Gains: Apprentices are paid hourly workers, receiving pay as soon as they start hands-on training. The apprentices will receive pay increases after each 6-month period if they have met the required benchmarks for skill competencies. During the 18-month program, apprentices will receive two pay raises. One after six months and the second after a year.v. Recognized Credentials: The program is registered with ApprenticeshipNC, the state Apprenticeship coordinator. This credential demonstrates to future employers nationwide that apprentices are fully qualified and highlight which skills they have mastered.