October 3, 2023
Extension Programs Administrative Update
Discover Your Future Program Kick-Off
4-H Career Exploration and Career Pathway Program
In an earlier Tuesday Letter, I introduced the Discover Your Future Program, which is now underway. Information was sent to prospective 4-H junior and senior high school youth regarding the first-in-the nation program.
This pilot program will enable 60 junior and senior high 4-H youth (20 per class) to achieve college credit by completing an aligned 4-H project and passing the accompanying K-State introduction-level college course. The introductory courses are offered online and are asynchronous (on your own schedule) self-paced and will not interfere with current school schedules or take away from school classroom instruction.
The project courses available are:
- Introduction to Personal Financial Planning: 3 credit hours
o (4-H project area: Family Studies-Consumer Skills)
- Introduction to Human Development: 3 credit hours
o (4-H project area: Family Studies – Child Development, Consumer Skills or Family)
- Introduction to Agriculture Communications: 2 credit hours
o (4-H project area: Creative Arts/Photography and/or Digital Media)
Here are some ways in which the Discover Your Future program will benefit 4-H youth:
- Combines 4-H projects with advanced learning.
- Helps youth set goals, manage project expectations, increase knowledge and growth mindset within a project area.
- Allows youth to obtain dual high school and college credit.
Here are some ways in which the Discover Your Future program will benefit parents:
- It's an inexpensive way for their child to gain dual high school and college credit.
- It provides an opportunity for 4-H youth to explore career exploration and pathways.
Here is how the Discover Your Future program works:
Application & Enrollment – Students will enroll in an aligned project area through 4-H online as a 4-H member. Next, eligible 4-H youth (junior or senior in high school) will fill out a Discover Your Future Career & Exploration and Pathway application (linked application here).
For those 4-H youth who are part of the home school community, a transcript and/or a letter from a parent or other adult who could attest to the 4-H youth readiness/ability to take a college level course will be acceptable.
This program is in a pilot phase with an initial small-scale implementation to assess the program and work out any trouble-spots for the project, thus the need to limit the initial offering to a total of 60 4-H youth.
The application will be reviewed by the Career Exploration and Pathway advisory team and a recommendation will be made for acceptance into the program and chosen class. If selected to participate in the program, the participant will be required to pay a $75 application/entrance fee. All other costs will be paid by scholarship or waived for the program.
The total estimated value of this program per 4-H youth is $640 (the cost includes K-State admission, tuition, college and departmental fees). Additionally, we plan to work with school systems to offer the courses for dual credit.
An Extension Navigator (EN) for each course will provide support to an instructor and the 4-H student. The EN can assist 4-H youth in navigating the K-State system (application to K-State Canvas course platform, course questions) and support the 4-H student with bi-weekly check in Zoom meetings to help keep the 4-H student on track or answer timely questions.
Timeline for the Project:
September 2023 – Recruitment
October 2023 – 4-H enrollment and project selections
October 15 – Application deadline (or until slots are filled)
October 15-20 – Review of applications
October 25 - Program invites go out
November 1 – Acceptance due back
November 1 – 14 – Application to Kansas State University (fee waived)
November 15 – Program and class orientation for 4-H youth, parents, and agents
November 21– Canvas course orientation
December – Official enrollment into the intro course
January 16, 2024 – May 10 – Class duration
How You Can Help
The success of the pilot depends upon recruiting 4-H youth into the project. You all know youth who are self-starters and have shown success in their 4-H career. Please encourage 4-H youth who have an interest in the pilot and course to submit an application.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by email, rlpeterson@ksu.edu.