Project Grant 20237704041151

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT WILL INITIATE AN INTEGRATED PROGRAM OF EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND WORKFORCE PREPARATION FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY (NAU) AROUND THE INTERSECTION OF USDA MISSION-CRITICAL ISSUES OF FORESTS, FIRES, AND FLOODS. THE PROGRAM ADVANCES THE USDA PRIORITIES OF ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADVANCING RACIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND OPPORTUNITY, AND ALIGNS WITH NAU'S COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF STUDENTS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS, AS OUTLINED IN ITS ELEVATING EXCELLENCE PLAN. THE PROGRAM WILL BUILD ON INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS TO INCREASE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF UNDERGRADUATES FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND ENHANCE STUDENT PREPARATION TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE.TWO COHORTS OF 16 STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A THREE-SEMESTER PROGRAM BEGINNING WITH AN INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL ISSUES AROUND THE FORESTS-FIRE-FLOODING CHALLENGE. DURING A SECOND SEMESTER, STUDENTS WILL MEET WEEKLY WITH PROFESSIONALS WHO EXPLAIN WORKFORCE NEEDS, ILLUMINATE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, AND HELP GUIDE INTERNSHIP DESIGN. THE CAPSTONE ACTIVITY WILL BE A PAID INTERNSHIP IN WHICH STUDENTS CONDUCT MENTORED RESEARCH ON THE IMPACTS OF CHANGING FIRE AND FLOOD REGIMES.UNDERGRADUATES WILL BE SUPPORTED BY MENTORSHIP FROM A FACULTY ADVISOR AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, WHO SERVE AS ASPIRATIONAL ROLE MODELS, BY BEING PART OF A COHORT OF PEERS, AND BY CAREER-RELEVANT INTERACTIONS WITH OFF CAMPUS INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS.SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM WILL BE PROFESSIONALLY ASSESSED USING A METRICS THAT INCLUDE STUDENT RETENTION WITHIN THEIR MAJOR, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, GRADUATION RATE, AND SUBJECTIVE INDICATORS. THE PROGRAM INITIATED BY THIS GRANT WILL BE SUSTAINED BY ONGOING EFFORTS OF OUR GROUP TO BUILD UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN AREAS OF NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.