COMPASS

Creating Opportunities for the Marianas: Pathways for Access and Student Success

COMPASS is a U.S. Department of Agriculture NIFA NextGen grant program awarded to the University of Guam College of Natural & Applied Sciences in 2023. Over its $10 million, five-year grant term through 2028, the program will be working to expand the educational and employment opportunities for students in the Mariana Islands.

COMPASS will strive to increase student qualifications for careers in the sciences and agriculture through cooperative course-sharing opportunities at University of Florida, University of Hawai’i Manoa, and Utah State University, experiential learning experiences — such as internships, research programs, and study-abroad opportunities — and scholarships to help students cover childcare, room and board, and tuition costs, which can prohibit residents from pursuing or finishing bachelor’s degrees in food, agriculture, nutrition, or human sciences.

The hands-on experiences combined with the advanced courses will boost local graduates’ resumes, making them more competitive, particularly for federal jobs that are available locally.

Program objectives

1. Expand critical course offerings through institutional partnerships
2. Increase student retention and qualifications through experiential learning opportunities
3. Provide scholarships for food, agriculture, nutrition, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH) students
4. Build student leadership skills through planning and implementing community outreach and recruitment activities.

Major program activities

• providing student career counseling
• facilitating paid internships and research
• promoting professional development and networking
• organizing study-abroad opportunities
• building community engagement skills