The University of Guam’s College of Natural & Applied Sciences has been awarded a significant grant of $10 million to advance the agriculture and natural resources workforce in the Mariana and Micronesian islands.
The grant, part of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s “From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals Program” (NextGen), aims to address the pressing challenges of food security, climate change, and invasive species.
“This is a major grant for UOG and this region,” said Rachael Leon Guerrero, vice provost for research in a press release.
“It’s the university’s second largest grant ever, following the (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) grant, and it’s the largest amount of funding that has ever come to UOG focused solely on undergraduate STEM and agriculture education,” added Leon Guerrero in a press release.
Cooperative course-sharing
The grant project, a cooperative bachelor’s program, will benefit students from the University of Guam (UOG), Northern Marianas College (NMC), and Guam Community College (GCC).
Collaborating with several prominent U.S. universities, the program offers specialized courses to students enrolled in agriculture and natural resource-focused programs.
Partner universities such as Utah State University, University of Florida, and University of Hawaii at Manoa will provide in-depth education in respective subject areas. The course-sharing initiative will commence in January, with students having the option to take courses either online or through a semester abroad.
“Our islands are in need of larger scale agricultural production to facilitate food security, wildlife biologists and land managers to control invasive species, and ecologists to restore our native species, to name a few critical areas,” said Dr. Lee S. Yudin, dean of the UOG College of Natural & Applied Sciences and project director on the grant, in a press release.
“This project combines the resources of multiple institutions to expose our students to these career possibilities and ensure they’re the best candidates to fill these jobs,” added Yudin in a press release.
Internships, research experiences, scholarships
To enrich the learning experience, students will also have access to internships, research programs, and study-abroad opportunities in collaboration with partner universities and local government agencies.
These hands-on experiences, combined with advanced courses, will enhance the competitiveness of local graduates, particularly for federal jobs available in the region.
The program will provide scholarships to cover various costs, including childcare, room and board, and tuition, which often pose financial barriers for students pursuing degrees in food, agriculture, nutrition, or human sciences.
Students and prospective students interested in studying food, agriculture, nutrition, natural resources, or child and family sciences can contact Dr. Jolley at [email protected] for more information about the opportunities offered through the NextGen grant.
The grant has a five-year term, concluding on May 31, 2028.