Gadsden State Community College Aquaculture Education and Development Center

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1 Gadsden State Community College Aquaculture Education and Development Center Gadsden, Alabama Mentorship: Hugh S. Hammer Mentor: William W. Falls Hillsborough Community College Aquaculture Program Tampa, Florida

2 Project Goals Evaluate Curriculum Student Recruitment Lab Exercises Recruit Intern Hosts Professional Development Evaluate Facility Evaluate Faculty/Staff Evaluate Students Evaluate Administrative Support

3 Reverse Site Visit November 2002 Attended Florida Aquaculture Association Meeting Met several organizations willing to sponsor interns from GSCC Program Attended an FAA benefit at the Florida Aquarium Attended Professional Development Sessions Attended Public Aquarium Marine Fish Health Sessions

4 Site Visit in March 2003 Toured the facility and met with GSCC faculty and staff Met with GSCC students Gave presentations on HCC s programs and projects Met with deans and administrators Reviewed curriculum and recruiting practices

5 Reverse Site Visit March 2003 Visited 7 different facilities in the Tampa area Two large tropical fish wholesale distributors Two tropical fish farms One high school aquaculture academy Two state-run laboratories Attended the PIDA and FTFFA show in Tampa Visited the Florida Aquarium and met with an aquarist Attended a fund-raiser for Morningstar Fishermen Visited Morningstar Fishermen facility

6 Evaluating the Curriculum Four classes are taught at GSCC Principles of Aquaculture (FHS 101) Water Chemistry for Aquauculture (FHS 102) Biology and Diseases of Aquaculture Species (FHS 112) Hatchery and Pond Management (FHS 114) Courses currently transfer to Auburn University and University of South Alabama Recommendations for future courses in Marine Biology, Limnology, Ichthyology

7 Student Recruitment Finished a new color brochure for recruiting GSCC program needs to recruit outside the local region and outside the state Gadsden is located hrs away from major potential markets in Birmingham, AL Chattanooga, TN and Atlanta, GA. GSCC should consider out-of of-state tuition waivers for students entering the program GSCC should target international students who come to GSCC for Alabama Language Institute

8 Laboratory Exercises Four exercises were implemented from WAS magazine (From Dr. Falls) GSCC has enlisted the aid of GSCC Biology Lab Coordinator Dr. Falls has donated HCC Website Project List of 109 aquatic websites GSCC has begun constructing a lab manual for it s courses.

9 Recruiting Internship Hosts Recruited on both reverse site visits and US Aquaculture meeting in Louisville, KY The GSCC program has secured internships with Florida Aquarium Mote Marine Laboratory Harbor Branch Oceanographic Walt Disney World Living Seas Oklahoma Aquarium Others

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11 Student intern at Alabama State Fish Hatchery

12 Professional Development Attended FAA and PAFHS meetings in Tampa Attended US Aquaculture in Louisville, KY Attended PIDA and FTFFA show in Tampa Making an oral presentation at WAS meeting in Hawaii 2004

13 Evaluating the Facility

14 Evaluating The Facility GSCC has an excellent facility, better than many 4-yr 4 colleges GSCC has an ARC grant to enlarge their facility GSCC s facility is too large for the staff to manage without additional staff or student support

15 Evaluating the Faculty and Staff Hugh is well educated, qualified, and dedicated Hugh s staff is qualified and dedicated GSCC is under-staffed Hugh is currently trying to complete a dissertation

16 Evaluating the Students Students are from diverse backgrounds Students like the curriculum, faculty, and facility but lack a basis for comparison Students are from local area Students requested additional library resources Students requested additional classes (content) in aquatic plants, aquaponics/hydroponics, ichthyology

17 Evaluating Administrative Support Chairman of Science Division is fully in support of the program Deans indicate mixed support Community & political support is strong College President is supportive

18 Accomplishments Curriculum okay Faculty great Lab exercises New internships Professional development is enhanced Working on Dissertation

19 Goals to Work on Next Year Complete dissertation & Ph. D. Recruit new intern hosts Increase geographic recruitment range Continue professional development Continue to add and upgrade facilities Add additional staff Continue high school out-reach

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