Teaching and Mentoring Teaching and Mentoring Students Through Experiential Students Through Experiential

Learning Opportunities for Learning Opportunities for

Careers in SciencesCareers in Sciences

Shad D. Nelson, Ph.D.Shad D. Nelson, Ph.D.Assistant Professor of AgronomyAssistant Professor of AgronomyTexas A&M University-KingsvilleTexas A&M University-Kingsville

Current ChallengesCurrent Challenges

Student retention in scientific Student retention in scientific disciplinesdisciplines

Obstacles for students:Obstacles for students: 1.1. Increased emphasis on challenging Increased emphasis on challenging

academic curriculums: such as math, academic curriculums: such as math, chemistry, engineering, physics, etc.chemistry, engineering, physics, etc.

2.2. Student’s inability to visualize how this Student’s inability to visualize how this knowledge will apply to “real world”knowledge will apply to “real world”

3.3. Student’s question: How will this get Student’s question: How will this get me a job, or practical ‘hands-on’ skills me a job, or practical ‘hands-on’ skills and experience?and experience?

Student’s ReactionStudent’s Reaction For many students, especially 1For many students, especially 1stst

generation college students, when they generation college students, when they confront these obstacles a common confront these obstacles a common reaction occurs:reaction occurs:

1.1. Increased anxietyIncreased anxiety2.2. Fear of failure in current academic Fear of failure in current academic

programprogram3.3. Lack of self-confidence to make it throughLack of self-confidence to make it through4.4. Rushed decision to leave program for a Rushed decision to leave program for a

“less-rigorous” one“less-rigorous” one5.5. Discouraged and may abandon collegeDiscouraged and may abandon college

Instructor’s Role in Student Instructor’s Role in Student RetentionRetention

The Instructor’s Role:The Instructor’s Role:1.1. Acknowledge that student retention is a Acknowledge that student retention is a

personal responsibilitypersonal responsibility2.2. Determine a Determine a Plan of ActionPlan of Action to retain to retain

students in your academic programstudents in your academic program3.3. Include as many additional people into Include as many additional people into

that plan as possiblethat plan as possible4.4. Seek out funding sources that can help Seek out funding sources that can help

you achieve successyou achieve success5.5. Do ItDo It

One Example ProgramOne Example Program

Texas A&M University-Kingsville, located Texas A&M University-Kingsville, located in South Texasin South Texas

University is a Hispanic Serving Institution University is a Hispanic Serving Institution (>50% Hispanic students)(>50% Hispanic students)

Problem: >25% of freshman student drop-Problem: >25% of freshman student drop-out rate; only 25% graduate in 6 yrsout rate; only 25% graduate in 6 yrs

The Following Illustrates My Solution to The Following Illustrates My Solution to Increase Practical Experiences for Increase Practical Experiences for Students and In Turn Increase Student Students and In Turn Increase Student RetentionRetention

Plan of Action-ObjectivesPlan of Action-Objectives Objective 1:Objective 1: Address professional development Address professional development

of TAMUK undergraduate students to basic of TAMUK undergraduate students to basic research skills and experience needed for research skills and experience needed for employment or graduate schoolemployment or graduate school

Objective 2:Objective 2: Create course to teach laboratory Create course to teach laboratory and research techniques and protocols used in and research techniques and protocols used in soil, plant and environmental sciencessoil, plant and environmental sciences

Objective 3:Objective 3: Fund undergraduate student Fund undergraduate student research projects under direction of a major research projects under direction of a major advisoradvisor

Objective 4:Objective 4: Get students involved in research Get students involved in research presentations at regional and national meetingspresentations at regional and national meetings

Objective 5:Objective 5: Pay for students to attend a Pay for students to attend a professional meeting to present their researchprofessional meeting to present their research

USDA/CSREESUSDA/CSREESHSI HSI Education Grants Program

Meeting the Experiential Needs of South Texas Meeting the Experiential Needs of South Texas Students for Careers in Agricultural SciencesStudents for Careers in Agricultural Sciences– 2002-2004; $299,9742002-2004; $299,974

Teaching and Mentoring South Texas Students Teaching and Mentoring South Texas Students for Careers in Agricultural Science and Researchfor Careers in Agricultural Science and Research– 2004-2006; $300,0002004-2006; $300,000

– Co-PDs:Co-PDs: Drs. J. Laurenz, and R. Stanko (TAES) Drs. J. Laurenz, and R. Stanko (TAES) – Collaboratoring Mentors: Drs. M. Garcia, L. Collaboratoring Mentors: Drs. M. Garcia, L.

Brennan, E. Louzada (TAMUK-Citrus Center)Brennan, E. Louzada (TAMUK-Citrus Center)

AccomplishmentsAccomplishments New Courses Created “Experimental New Courses Created “Experimental

Methods & Sample Analysis”Methods & Sample Analysis”– Agriculture ScienceAgriculture Science– Animal ScienceAnimal Science

Laboratory Courses in Spring ‘03 and ‘05 Laboratory Courses in Spring ‘03 and ‘05 Students receive ‘hands-on’ training in their Students receive ‘hands-on’ training in their

field of study in course have opportunity field of study in course have opportunity After course training: if student desires, After course training: if student desires,

he/she selects faculty mentor to perform he/she selects faculty mentor to perform research under their directionresearch under their direction

AccomplishmentsAccomplishments Over 20 undergrad student research Over 20 undergrad student research

aides and 4 graduate students hiredaides and 4 graduate students hired Students and mentors in agriculture Students and mentors in agriculture

science created individual research science created individual research projectsprojects

Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate Research projects presented at state Research projects presented at state and national professional society and national professional society meetingsmeetings

Results in preparation for publicationResults in preparation for publication

Students Employed by Students Employed by ProgramProgram

Robert Munguia, Jr. Veronica Ancona Tracy Cadena Jeremiah Salinas James Wilborn LeeRoy Rock Luna Viola Gade Julien Shantidas Catherine Simpson Sara Anne

Fredrickson Wendy Austin

Benjamin Garcia David Etzler Jeremy Rounsavall Jaclyn Dominguez Chad O’Gorman Nicole Burdick Trent Teinert Lacie Schnieder Angela Lee William Arnwine Elizabeth Torres

Professional Meeting AbstractsProfessional Meeting Abstracts2005 2005 1. Southern Section American Society of Animal Science, Baton Rouge, AR2. Southern Regional Animal & Waste Conference, San Antonio, TX3. Southern Region ASA meetings, San Antonio, TX 20042004 1.1. Annual Student Agriculture Research Symposium, College Staion, TXAnnual Student Agriculture Research Symposium, College Staion, TX2.2. Pathways to the Doctorate Symposium, TAMUS, Corpus Christi, TXPathways to the Doctorate Symposium, TAMUS, Corpus Christi, TX3.3. 2004 Texas Chapter Meeting of the Wildlife Society, Kerrville, TX2004 Texas Chapter Meeting of the Wildlife Society, Kerrville, TX4.4. 2004 Southern Region of the Amer. Soc. of Animal Science. Tulsa, OK2004 Southern Region of the Amer. Soc. of Animal Science. Tulsa, OK 5.5. 2004 Subtropical Hort. Soc. Meeting. TAMUK Citrus Center, Weslaco, TX2004 Subtropical Hort. Soc. Meeting. TAMUK Citrus Center, Weslaco, TX

2003 2003 1.1. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Society Meeting. Denver, CO.ASA-CSSA-SSSA Society Meeting. Denver, CO.2.2. Pathways to the Doctorate Symposium, TAMUS. Galveston, TX Pathways to the Doctorate Symposium, TAMUS. Galveston, TX

Student Presenters: 15 different student research presentersStudent Presenters: 15 different student research presentersChad O’Gorman, Lacie Schnieder, Nicole Burdick, Jaclyn Dominguez, Lisa Chad O’Gorman, Lacie Schnieder, Nicole Burdick, Jaclyn Dominguez, Lisa Soliz, LeeRoy Rock, Robert Munguia, James Wilborn, Catherine Simpson, Soliz, LeeRoy Rock, Robert Munguia, James Wilborn, Catherine Simpson, Veronica Ancona, Julien Shantidas, Jerry Stratmann, Trent W. Teinert, Veronica Ancona, Julien Shantidas, Jerry Stratmann, Trent W. Teinert, Jeremy W. Rounsavall, and Viola Gade Jeremy W. Rounsavall, and Viola Gade

HSI funded student projectsHSI funded student projects

Outcomes: McNair Scholarships Outcomes: McNair Scholarships Funding for Summer Research Funding for Summer Research

20042004

(2005) — South Section American Society of Animal Science in Baton Rouge, Arkansas

TAMUK students broke a regional record by winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the Undergraduate and 2nd place in the Graduate Research Presentation Competition.

OutcomesOutcomes

100% retention of undergraduate 100% retention of undergraduate students in collegestudents in college– 95% remained at TAMUK College of Ag95% remained at TAMUK College of Ag

Over 50% of undergraduate students Over 50% of undergraduate students have gone on to graduate schoolhave gone on to graduate school

3 out of 4 Masters students went on to 3 out of 4 Masters students went on to doctorate degree programsdoctorate degree programs

All others have job offers prior to All others have job offers prior to leaving school or found jobs in their leaving school or found jobs in their field within 2-3 months after field within 2-3 months after graduationgraduation

A Mechanism for Student A Mechanism for Student SuccessSuccess

Funding agencies, like USDA/CSREES can Funding agencies, like USDA/CSREES can play a major role in the direction of play a major role in the direction of underserved student populationsunderserved student populations

Such programs will not only increase Such programs will not only increase student retention, but bolster both student student retention, but bolster both student and faculty professional developmentand faculty professional development

Continued support of programs like this is Continued support of programs like this is necessary to allow for students to progress necessary to allow for students to progress to graduate school and train them for to graduate school and train them for future careers in scientific disciplinesfuture careers in scientific disciplines

The Final PointThe Final Point Students Want To Be ChallengedStudents Want To Be Challenged Learning Today Must Be InteractiveLearning Today Must Be Interactive Educators Must Immerse Themselves in Educators Must Immerse Themselves in

Student Centered and Career Training ActivitiesStudent Centered and Career Training Activities When These Activities Have Purpose: When These Activities Have Purpose:

1.1. A Student’s Self-Esteem Increases A Student’s Self-Esteem Increases

2.2. Their Drive to Succeed in Program RisesTheir Drive to Succeed in Program Rises

3.3. Determination to See It Through is Determination to See It Through is AccomplishedAccomplished

4.4. Student Finds Within Himself or Herself an Student Finds Within Himself or Herself an Accurate Picture of What He/She Can BecomeAccurate Picture of What He/She Can Become