ENSURING THE FUTURE OF AT-RISK SPECIES, MIGRATORY BIRDS, AND THEIR HABITATS REQUIRES THE EFFECTIVE CONSERVA…

Assistance award details

Assistance award identifier

ASST_NON_F22AP02953_014

FAIN

F22AP02953

Recipient

BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY, INC.

Awarding agency

Department of the Interior

Funding agency

Department of the Interior

Assistance listing (CFDA)

15.670

Total obligated

$54,903

Period

Sep 1, 2022 – Aug 31, 2024

Fiscal year

2023

Place of performance state

FL

Source file

FY2023_All_Assistance_Full_20261006.zip

Description

ENSURING THE FUTURE OF AT-RISK SPECIES, MIGRATORY BIRDS, AND THEIR HABITATS REQUIRES THE EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION OF PROPER QUANTITY, QUALITY, AVAILABILITY, AND DISTRIBUTION OF HABITATS TO MEET THE SERVICES CORE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGING THESE SPECIES. THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR HIGH QUALITY SCIENCE AND DECISION SUPPORT THROUGH SUPPORTING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND FACULTY MENTORS FROM BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY TO COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF DECISION SUPPORT TOOLS RELATED TO AT-RISK SPECIES IN THE SOUTHEASTERN US WHILE EXPOSING UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS TO USFWS RELATED CAREERS. THIS PROPOSAL LEVERAGES AND SEEKS TO EXPAND UPON THE SPRING 2022 COLLABORATION BETWEEN USFWS AND B-CUS RISE SCHOLARS PROGRAM IN WHICH SIX UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND FACULTY MENTORS PARTICIPATED IN 8-WEEK INTERNSHIPS CREATING USFWS OUTREACH MATERIALS, ANALYZING USFWS DATA, CONTRIBUTING TO THE ANALYSIS OF BIOLOGICAL OPINIONS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE LANDSCAPE RECOVERY TOOL AND EFFECTS PATHWAYS DESCRIPTIONS. THE EXPANSION OF THIS PROGRAM WILL SUPPORT INCREASED INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR 1-3 STUDENTS PER YEAR FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS ALONG WITH TRAVEL FOR STUDENTS TO PRIORITY HABITATS AND USFWS FACILITIES. A MINIMUM OF SIX, 8- TO 16-WEEK LONG INTERNSHIPS, DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT, EACH ACADEMIC SEMESTER WOULD ASSIGN STUDENTS TO WORK ON GENERATING OUTREACH MATERIALS, DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS, AND OR TOOL DEVELOPMENT TO ASSIST IN AT-RISK AND MIGRATORY BIRD SPECIES MANAGEMENT. DURING THE INTERNSHIP STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN WEEKLY MEETINGS, CAREER SERVICES TRAININGS, FIELD TRIPS, AND INTERNSHIP OR RESEARCH ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL CULMINATE IN PRESENTATIONS AT A CONFERENCE OR SYMPOSIUM. STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, STUDENT SATISFACTION, ACQUISITION OF SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES, AND WORKFORCE PREPARATION WILL BE ASSESSED IN EACH CYCLE WITH STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN PRE POSTTEST EVALUATIONS AND MENTORS COMPLETING DIRECT ASSESSMENTS OF STUDENT COMPETENCI