Preparing students for careers with the USDA Forest Service by linking student success with experimental learning opportunities in forest management and climate change ecology

This ROCN proposal is a collaboration among 14 Hispanic Serving Institutions in New Mexico and Puerto Rico focusing on Climate Change and Forest Service (FS) Labor Force Track. Our main objectives center on identifying and mentoring cohorts of students to prepare them for careers in Natural Resource Management. These students will be provided a series of experiential learning opportunities appropriate for their academic level that engage them in resource management. Annual programs include semester faculty mentorships, summer internship & research experiences, graduate student mentorship, field courses, a semester exchange program between New Mexico and Puerto Rico, high school field trips, and advising and tutoring programs. These programs will result in improved recruitment, retention, academic performance and graduation rates; a greater number of students transitioning from 2 to 4 yr institutions; and more students moving directly to careers with the FS or other USDA agencies.