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 department of cooperative…

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 department of cooperative research and extension at the college of micronesia-FSM seeks funding to improve agriculture and natural resources programs and enhance the educational capacity of instructors and extension staff in agriculture-related fields by providing opportunities for distance learning. The potential for online education to provide the knowledge and skills students need cost-effectively from remote locations utilizing better educational technology has been recognized by experts in the higher education field. By delivering reliable internet technology in the most geographically challenging areas, this project aims to expand educational opportunities, help students attend classes from remote locations of micronesian islands, and help overall student enrollment. Funding for cooperative research and extension staff to pursue graduate and postgraduate degrees offered by the university of guam and other land-grant institutions and universities in the U.S. Will increase faculty expertise, build human capital, and provide qualified personnel to teach various agriculture and food sciences-related courses. This project directly relates to goal 5 of the USDA strategic plan: expand opportunities for economic development and improve quality of life in rural and tribal communities, and USDA science strategy, accelerating innovative technologies and practices. The project's objectives also address need areas, especially i) faculty preparation and enhancement for teaching and II) instructional delivery systems and student recruitment and educational equity for under-represented students from remote locations for agricultural and food sciences programs.agricultural science is a much-needed program for micronesian islands, and providing the program through distance education will allow more student enrollment at the college while helping them gain valuable knowledge and skills. Food security will be strengthened with the enhanced knowledge and skills in agriculture.