Ventura College has received a $300,000 grant to train agriculture students in geographic information systems.

The grant, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is a major accomplishment for the college, campus officials said. Ventura College has named Allan Hancock College as its partner in the grant, which has the following very long name: Training and Internships in Geographic Information Systems to Improve Recruitment and Student Success in Agriculture.

The grant co-author, professor Bill Thieman, department chairman of agriculture and biological sciences, said, "The USDA does not usually fund community colleges, but in this case both colleges are working closely with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and Cal State Fresno, tracking our students as they transfer to those specific four-year institutions. Students will also have the opportunity to enter the work force in related fields."

Courses in the program funded by the grant are expected to begin in spring 2004. Students will take classes in global positioning and geographic information, as well as participate in internships with local agriculture-related businesses. The classes will permit the students to work toward a new certificate of completion in agricultural applications of GIS, pending board approval of the certificates.

"We expect that students will find this new program an excellent training opportunity for the high-tech agriculture industry in our area," Thieman said. "Agriculture in Ventura County is a billion-dollar industry. Wine growers, greenhouses, hydroponics, and support industries need employees with these skills and are willing to pay higher salaries to employees with the appropriate training. This training will provide those technically trained employees."

Steve Palladino, professor of earth sciences and co-author of the grant, explained: "The project will not only provide training in field data collection from sensors, but will also instruct students on analyzing the data and making decisions based on that data."

Student recruitment will begin during the current semester through the Ventura College Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement -- MESA -- center.

"Both Ventura College and Allan Hancock College are designated as Hispanic-serving institutions by the U.S. Department of Education, and both institutions want the diverse student populations in their respective communities to be aware of the new transfer education program. We will be contacting high schools to request their assistance in recruiting interested students, and where it is appropriate, specific high school courses may be listed as prerequisites," Palladino said.