Relo: Research, Experiential and Learning Opportunities For Underrepresented Students in Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

The main objective of this project is to broaden the student body and increase the number of Hispanic and underrepresented students in agricultural engineering emphasis at CSUB. In order to achieve this goal two CSUB departments, the Physics and Engineering department and the Electrical and Computer Engineering department, will work closely together to effectively develop experiential learning (hands-on experience) activities and outreach activities. Another objective of the project is to provide the agricultural engineering students with industrial internships (USDA agencies, UC cooperative extension, local industry) in order to produce graduates with real-world experience and developed engineering skills.This project has three major objectives as detailed below.Increase student enrollment (by 30% every year). The freshman enrollment in the emphasis will grow by a minimum of 50% per yearIncrease of Hispanic and underrepresented students in the agricultural engineering emphasis (60%
by the end of fourth year)Increase female enrollment (by 40% at the end of fourth year). The female students will form at least 40% of the student body of the emphasis by the end of the proposed project.The primary USDA educational strategies addressed by this project are detailed below:Faculty preparation and enhancement for teachingAs part of this proposal, the proposing CSUB Engineering faculty members will redesign courses based on student learning outcomes (SLOs) needed by modern agricultural engineers and leaders to solve real-world problems. Such redesign will enhance classroom instruction with project-based learning, hands-on research, and experiential learning opportunities.Student experiential learningThe PIs will develop project-based (hands-on) learning opportunities for BAE students. This is a key step in the continuation of the development of a BAE concentration. These opportunities will increase student learning and develop their engineering skills.Student recruitment
and retentionThis project includes student recruitment and retention strategies. The project will use several activities to attract students into the BAE emphasis. These activities are listed and discussed here.Student clubs and organizations: Student members of several organizations on campus are expected to have interest in the BAE emphasis. These students are mainly engineering, math, biology and physics majors. After coordinating with these organizations, the PIs will present the program at the meetings to the students involved in these organizations.Society of Engineers at CSUB: Perhaps the most BAE-relevant student organization on CSUB campus. This society attracts many CSUB students interested in engineering disciplines, and therefore has great potential in introducing quality students to the BAE program.Society of Women Engineers (SWE): Targeting SWE offers our program a unique opportunity to reach female students. This is important for the PIs as female students currently
form 61% of the student body of CSUB, but only 20% of the engineering science students (lowest among all the engineering programs offered at CSUB).Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) is the largest student organization for Hispanic students on campus. Reaching out to MEChA will enable the BAE program to reach a diverse body of students.