** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** MCLENNAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE SEEKS FUNDING TO DESIGN A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICIANS.THIS PROJECT IS ROOTED IN THE PRESSING NEED TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES WITHIN THE STATE AND LOCAL AREA DUE TO POPULATION GROWTH AS WELL AS MEET REGIONAL PRIORITIES TO INCREASEPOSITIONS IN AGRIBUSINESS. THIS TRAINING WOULD PREPARE LEARNERS FOR ENTRY-LEVEL, SKILLED FIELDWORK TO SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS IN RESOURCE AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION. THE PRIMARY AUDIENCE ISINDIVIDUALS WORKING IN LOWER-SKILLED, ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN AGRICULTURE OR RELATED FIELDS LOOKING TO MOVE INTO HIGHER-SKILLED POSITIONS. SECONDARY AUDIENCES INCLUDE CORPORATE TRAINING/EMPLOYEE UPSKILLING, RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES LOOKING FOR HIGHER-SKILLED POSITIONS IN AGRICULTURE AND RELATED FIELDS, AND THOSE CURRENTLY WORKING IN AGRICULTURE LOOKING TO GAIN ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, ESPECIALLY RELATED TO MONITORING AND DATA ANALYSIS. TRAINING WILL COVER TOPICS SUCH AS SOIL AND WATER QUALITY, RESOURCE CONSERVATION, ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING, AND THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PRACTICES. SOFT SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK, AND DECISION-MAKING WILL ALSO BE ADDRESSED. TRAINING MODULES WILL BE DEVELOPED BY SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ON STAFF WITH A HEAVY FOCUS ON HANDS-ON LEARNINGUSING THE COLLEGE'S 198-ACRE HIGHLANDER RANCH. THE FIRST YEAR OF THISTWO-YEAR PROJECTIS FOR CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT. THE SECOND YEAR TESTS THE CURRICULUM WITH A SMALL COHORT OF 10 LEARNERS.THROUGHOUT THE TWO YEARS, PROJECT STAFF WILL MEET PERIODICALLYWITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND EXTERNAL EVALUATOR FOR UPDATES AND INPUT. DURING THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT STAGE, PROJECT STAFF WILL REVIEW SIMILAR TRAINING PROGRAMS AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL IDEAS AND BEST PRACTICES. THE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES ARE TO HAVE A TRAINING CERTIFICATE THAT CAN BE EMBEDDED INTO THE COLLEGE'S CURRENT AND PROPOSED CREDENTIAL OFFERINGS, THE CREATION OF A PIPELINE FOR GRADUATES TO EMPLOYMENT, AN INCREASE IN THE SKILL LEVEL OF EXISTING WORKERS RELATED TO MONITORING AND DATA ANALYSIS, AND AN INCREASE IN AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-RELATED CAREERS.$250,000
· FY2024 · National Institute of Food and Agriculture