Project Grant 20243843042201

** 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 CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, THE GROWING AGRICULTURAL NEEDS, AND THE DEMAND FOR MORE NOVEL AND PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO RESOLVE THE AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS HAVE INCREASED THE NEED FOR WELL-TRAINED INDIVIDUALS TO ADDRESS THESE GROWING ISSUES. UNFORTUNATELY, MINORITIES, ESPECIALLY AFRICAN AMERICANS, ARE UNDERREPRESENTED WITHIN THE SCIENCES. THEREFORE, THERE IS A CRITICAL NEED FOR HIGHLY EDUCATED SCIENTISTS, PROFESSIONALS, AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO BRIDGE THE GAP. TO THIS END, AAMU'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL, LIFE AND NATURAL SCIENCES (CALNS) IS PROPOSING A STRATEGIC PROJECT TO RECRUIT, RETAIN AND GRADUATE STUDENTS (ESPECIALLY MINORITY AND UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS) IN AGRICULTURAL AND RELATED SCIENCES. THE PROJECT SUPPORTS NIFA AND AAMU'S PRIORITIES BY ADDRESSING TWO CRITICAL NEEDS. 1) INCREASING THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES WITH BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND 2) PREPARING GRADUATES THAT MEET THE TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED NEEDS OF THE 21ST-CENTURY FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS WORKFORCE THAT WILL FACILITATE RURAL PROSPERITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS ONE CRITICAL CHALLENGE (LIMITED FINANCIAL SUPPORT) DRIVING THE CONTINUED DROPOUTS AND STOP-OUTS BY CAPABLE STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES. PROJECT SUCCESS IS VESTED IN RIGOROUS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PLANS CENTERED ON STUDENT MENTORING AND ACADEMIC COUNSELING, WITH SUPPORT FROM AAMU TEACHING STAFF, ADMISSIONS, CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND THE HONORS PROGRAM. PROGRESS WILL BE MONITORED PERIODICALLY USING FORMATIVE AND SUMMATIVE EVALUATIONS, AND LONGITUDINAL TRACKING OF GRADUATES.