The cooperative research and extension (CRE) program and agriculture and natural resources management (ANRM) program promotes agriculture development in the federated states of micronesia (FSM),…

The cooperative research and extension (CRE) program and agriculture and natural resources management (ANRM) program promotes agriculture development in the federated states of micronesia (FSM), typically training approximately a hundred students per year across the four states of the FSM, plus several times that number of agriculture students in other programs the college offers. Computing resources are only available to these students at their respective campuses during hours of operation. Their ability to make progress will be improved if the college can establish a free laptop program at each site to serve these students. The program will be sustainable as the college is providing free laptops to students affected by the global pandemic and the college is moving towards requiring a laptop as part of the admission process by 2026. The proposal is for funds to purchase these computers and administer dispersal and orientation on basic computer usage, plus extra monies to pay for students and faculty to develop a few high-need online resources: websites for public education, videos and text materials as part of the distance education coursework with this technology will ensure the agriculture extension students have the tools they need to succeed in the agriculture program and beyond, and will support the progress in the agriculture sector.