Recipient Organization
COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA
MAIN STREET
KOLONIA,FM 96941
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The Department of Cooperative Research and Extension at the College of Micronesia-FSM seeks funding to improve agriculture and natural resources programs and enhance the educational capacity of instructors and extension staff in agriculture-related fields by providing opportunities for distance learning. The potential for online education to provide the knowledge and skills students need cost-effectively from remote locations utilizing better educational technology has been recognized by experts in the higher education field. By delivering reliable internet technology in the most geographically challenging areas, this project aims to expand educational opportunities, help students attend classes from remote locations of Micronesian Islands, and help overall student enrollment. Funding for Cooperative Research and Extension staff to pursue graduate and postgraduate degrees offered by the University of Guam and other land-grant institutions and universities in the U.S. will increase faculty expertise, build human capital, and provide qualified personnel to teach various agriculture and food sciences-related courses. This project directly relates to Goal 5 of the USDA Strategic Plan: Expand Opportunities for Economic Development and Improve Quality of Life in Rural and Tribal Communities, and USDA Science Strategy, Accelerating Innovative Technologies and Practices. The project's objectives also address need areas, especially i) faculty preparation and enhancement for teaching and ii) instructional delivery systems and student recruitment and educational equity for under-represented students from remote locations for agricultural and food sciences programs.Agricultural Science is a much-needed program for Micronesian islands, and providing the program through distance education will allow more student enrollment at the college while helping them gain valuable knowledge and skills. Food security will be strengthened with the enhanced knowledge and skills in agriculture.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
To Increase Access to Higher Education: The project aims to increase access to higher education opportunities in agriculture and food sciences for students from remote island settings of the FSM who face barriers to traditional educational pathways.To Enhance Educational Capacities of Extension Staff: Another objective is to enhance the educational capacities of Cooperative Research and Extension (CRE) staff by providing funding to enroll in advanced agriculture-related courses at universities such as the University of Guam and other mainland universities.The anticipated overall impact of the project is the improvement in the quality of food and agricultural sciences education in the FSM, with specific outcomes including i)Students in remote island settings will gain access to agricultural education, fostering local skill development and economic growth, and ii) Extension staff will improve their expertise in agriculture, enhancing agricultural practices and regional food security.
Project Methods
Recruitment and Enrollment. The Project Director, Co-Project Director, and staff will identify potential staff, instructors, and graduates from the College of Micronesia-FSM agriculture, marine sciences, and other related programs interested in pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree in agriculture or food science-related programs. Recruitment will also be done through social media and the college website.Student Resources and Mentoring: The students will receive academic advising to provide them with the necessary tools, information, and support to enroll in online degree programs at selected universities. They will also receive laptops, scholarships, and stipends to support their educational resources. The Project Director will engage with key faculty from related disciplines to provide mentoring support to the students.Monitoring and Evaluation: The number of students enrolled in a focused program will be used to evaluate the project's success. Here are the main key performance indicators for assessing and evaluating the project.Percentage increase in student enrollment in agriculture and natural resources programs compared to baseline data.Number of instructors and extension staff enrolled in bachelor's and master's degree programs in agriculture-related fields.Number of students attending classes remotely using the provided internet technology.Number of faculty and extension staff completing graduate degrees and returning to apply newly acquired knowledge and skills in their roles.The percentage increase in underrepresented students from remote areas enrolled in agriculture and natural resources programs.