Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** the aim of this multicultural…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** the aim of this multicultural scholars program (MSP)is to increase recruitment and retention of underrepresented students who receive baccalaureate degrees and are well prepared for professional and scientific careers in food and agricultural sciences. To address cultural disparities within the workforce, USU will focus efforts on the recruitment, mentoring and training of MSP scholars.four pillars support the utah state university (USU) mspincluding:1. Professional development – professional networking, grow knowledgebase in agricultural science, collegial interactions, and a clear understanding of the impact of agricultural sciences on society.2. Research skills – collection and analysis of data, running statistics, lab work, disseminating research, etc.3. Sense of belonging – participation with USU cultural clubs and organizations, caas week, connections (i.e., a program that introduces freshmen to college, etc.4. Cultural awarenessistorical foundations in one's culture; exploration, synthesis, and discuss systemic inequity in society for minoritized and underrepresented populations; etc.human capital is essential to meeting workforce needs, yet today's agricultural employers throughout the U.S. Report shortages of skilled workers (goeker, ET AL., 2015). This shortage is the result of a training GAP that is exacerbated by a higher education participation GAP; there is a proportionally lower participation by minority students in higher education than white, non-hispanic students, particularly those seeking degrees in stem fields. Enrollments at USU follow this pattern with the proportion of minority students seeking agricultural or food sciences degrees not reflecting the demographics of our local, regional, and national populations. This project seeks to meet workforce demands in agriculture and food sciences by beginning to close the gaps in training and participation in agriculture and food sciences by identifying and recruiting MSP scholars and by providing resources to promote their success in completing baccalaureate degrees.