Project Grant 20233882140369

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** CURRENTLY, THREE 1890 INSTITUTIONS OFFER BACHELOR'S OR GRADUATE DEGREES IN AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES. THESE ARE UAPB, DSU, AND KYSU. THOUGH AQUACULTURE IS THE FASTEST-GROWING SEGMENT IN AGRICULTURE, MINORITY GROUPS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN THIS FIELD. THIS PROJECT WILL CREATE A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN UAPB, DSU, AND KYSU TO PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS WITH FUNDING AND SUPPORT FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN AQUACULTURE AND EXTENSION. IT WILL ALSO CREATE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OUR 1890 INSTITUTIONS AND AUBURN UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO FOR COLLABORATION ON TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND EXTENSION. IN YEAR ONE, STUDENTS FROM UAPB, DSU, AND KYSU WILL TRAVEL TO AU IN THE SUMMER FOR TWO WEEKS. THEY WILL ENGAGE IN AN INTENSIVE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE HOSTED BY AU. SIMILARLY, STUDENTS WILL TRAVEL TO USM AND UH IN YEARS TWO AND THREE TO ENGAGE IN SIMILAR LEARNING EXPERIENCES. AFTER THAT, THE STUDENTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO INTERN FOR SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS AT THE HOST INSTITUTIONS OR HOME INSTITUTIONS. IN THE FALL OF EACH YEAR, STUDENTS WILL ATTEND WEBINARS AND WORKSHOPS FOR CONTINUED LEARNING AND ATTEND A LOCAL AQUACULTURE MEETING WITHIN THEIR STATE. IN THE SPRING OF EACH YEAR, THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT, THE STUDENTS WILL TRAVEL TO THE ANNUAL WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY MEETING AND PRESENT POSTERS OR ORAL PRESENTATIONS ON THEIR SUMMER INTERNSHIPS. ASSESSMENT DATA WILL BE COLLECTED ON STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES AND COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT. THE DATA WILL BE ANALYZED AND SUBMITTED TO USDA ON ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORTS AND THE FINAL PROJECT REPORT.