PSII-12 Change in College Students’ Sense of Belonging as a Result of a Beef Cattle Production Tour

Abstract Sense of belonging is a student’s sense feeling accepted, valued, encouraged, and included by others in their discipline. fundamentally influences behavior linked to academic career outcomes. Recent projections indicate there will not be enough qualified college graduates for requisite STEM agriculture careers. Further, an ethnic disparity degree recipients. As Black Hispanic students have higher attrition than White STEM, opportunity implement educational interventions improve increase matriculation into the workforce. The objective this study was evaluate if experiential learning opportunity, five-day tour beef cattle industry, changed students’ with focus on ethnicity. Procedures involving human subjects were approved Texas State University IRB (#8309). Students from two universities attended industry Panhandle May 2022. toured facilities, interacted professionals, reflected experiences through daily entries journals. Pre- post-tests administered via Qualtrics as identical questionnaire-based survey instruments immediately before after tour. Questions adapted previously validated instruments. metrics scored 5-point Likert scale where 1=Strongly disagree 5=Strongly agree. Cronbach’s alpha pre-survey 0.71 post-survey 0.74. Statistical analyses conducted SPSS v.26. Independent sample t-tests used change pre- responses one-way ANOVA difference between ethnicities. (n = 21) predominantly female (81%); A&M (67%) or (33%); (52%), (33%), (14%). We combined “Hispanic” “Black” single independent variable analyze differences (52%) non-White (48%) students. Before tour, (P 0.05) (4.33 ± 0.16) minority (3.73 0.23) such that had stronger agriculture. There no 0.55) result 4.33 0.16 4.39 0.44. However, ≤ 0.01) belonging, 3.73 0.23 4.37 0.27. Ultimately, participating increased Black, but White, belonging. One potential benefit implementing opportunities dynamic social environments improving especially careers/industries minorities are underrepresented.