Overview

1. Twenty-one (21) students have been identified/recruited to the Center as members of Cohort 1 (2016 – 2017), including 6 Ph.D., 6 M.S., and 9 B.S. Ten (10) students have been recruited to Cohort 2 (2017-2018) including 4 Ph.D., 3 M.S., and 3 B.S. students.
2. Nine (9) underrepresented minorities at the LMRCSC are pursuing higher education in NOAA mission fields in the March 1, 2017 – August 31, 2017 reporting period.
3. Seventeen (17) EPP-funded post-secondary students from underrepresented minority communities were trained.
4. CSC faculty have secured $1,130,273 in funds leveraged with CSC award to support NOAA mission in education and research. 
5. Three (3) students participated in on-site experiential research and training opportunities at NOAA Labs.

Student Recruitment

1. Established the first cohort of NOAA EPP LMRCSC Scholars and are in the process of recruiting students to Cohort 2
2. Participated in recruitment activities, such as the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, the UMES Open House, and the College/Career Pathways to Success Night at Wor-Wic Community College, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Alumni Reception. Each partner university participated in on-campus events and activities to recruit new students

Training and Preparing Students for Careers in Marine Science

1. Planning for “A Cohort Experience” workshop in March 2018
2. Planned and began a Data Management course
3. Transition of Advanced Environmetrics Course from SAS to R
4. Awarded the Scott B. Gudes Public Service Graduate Scholarship in Marine Resources Conservation to Stephanie Martinez-Rivera
5. Trained five rising sophomores as part of the Rising Sophomore Summer Research Experiential Training Program
6. Students have been trained in the ethical conduct of research  

Engagement with NOAA Scientists

1. Incorporated 31 collaborators and new contacts in the NOAA LMRCSC project, 22 of which are from NOAA
2. Maintained six collaborative partnerships in support of NOAA’s mission
3. Center enhancing engagement to identify NERTO mentors and members of thesis and dissertation committees; ten NOAA scientists have been identified to serve as mentors of the students during NERTO programs or as collaborators in TAB funded projects. The NERTO has increased exposure to NOAA training and encouraged faculty to increase their flexibility in scheduling graduate students' field work and academic schedules.
4. Presented webinar to SEFSC director and division Chiefs
5. Eight collaborative research proposals funded during the reporting period
   

Administration

1. SSU partnership formalized for Education Expert position and hiring process started
2. Science Meeting conducted in Spring of 2017 at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center
3. Completed substantial changes to the LMRCSC website
4. Produced Spring 2017 and Fall 2017 newsletters
5. Ongoing work to fill the Administrative Director, Postdoctoral Researcher positions
6. Held monthly Executive Committee meetings 
7. Evaluation plan produced; first year evaluation produced by The College of Exploration
8. Planning for Board of Visitors meeting for November 2017 at Savannah State University
9. The success of the M.S. in Marine Sciences at SSU, supported by the NOAA LMRCSC, led to the creation of an M.S. in Mathematics, which started this year. The program’s bid for a Title VII grant to fund graduate fellowships was successful. 

NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center
University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Lead Institution)
(410) 651-7870
Award numbers: FY 2016 Award #NA16SEC4810007 
Funding Agency: NOAA Educational Partnership Program with Minority-Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)
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