USDA work group meeting planned
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to hold a local work group meeting for Dolores Conservation District in Montezuma County at 1-3 p.m. on Aug. 6 in the First National Bank Conference Room, 2258 E. Main St., Cortez.
The meeting is open to the public.
The work group will focus on identifying local agricultural and natural resource issues and providing information and feedback to direct NRCS programs.
Local work groups are subcommittees of the NRCS State Technical Committee. They meet annually to provide recommendations on local natural resource priorities to assist USDA NRCS in providing Farm Bill conservation programs in Colorado.
Grazing lands eligible for conservation aid
Beginning Sept. 1, farmers and ranchers can apply for financial assistance to help conserve working grasslands, rangeland and pastureland while maintaining the areas as livestock grazing lands.
The initiative is part of the voluntary Conservation Reserve Program, a federal program that assists producers with the cost of restoring, enhancing and protecting certain grasses, shrubs and trees to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and reduce loss of wildlife habitat. .
Applications will be accepted beginning Sept. 1. For more information, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/crp. To locate an agency office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.
SCCC encourages students to enroll
Fall registration is underway at Southwest Colorado Community College, and officials are encourage prospective students to sign up for classes now. Fall classes start Aug. 24, but SCCC encourages to register before Aug. 7 to ensure a space in their classes.
An appointment with an adviser is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.
More information about enrolling, advising and registering procedures is available by calling Mancos campus at (970) 564-6200 or at www.enrollsouthwest.org.
New Student Orientations at the Mancos campus are Aug. 18, from 2 to 5 p.m. and Aug. 25, from 2 to 5 p.m.
Financial aid paperwork must be submitted by Aug. 10. More information: 1-888-642-6017.
College now offers MRI, CT programs
Course offerings will expand this fall when Southwest Colorado Community College East Campus adds certificate programs in medical imaging.
SCCC will add a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) certificate program this fall in addition to a computed tomography (CT) certificate program.
Both classes will be offered primarily online through Pueblo Community College with the exception of clinical experience components.
Anyone interested in attending classes or would like more information is encouraged to e-mail Chamberlain at Shawna.chamberlain@pueblocc.edu.
The programs start Aug. 24. Enrollment is open, and priority registration ends Aug. 7.
FLC gets $1.1 million science grant
Fort Lewis College has received a $1.1 million grant for its STEM³ program from the U.S. Department of Education.
The STEM³ program supports FLC students working toward degrees in science, technology, engineering and math. It focuses on students who are first-generation, low-income or students who are dealing with a disability. The program serves about 120 students each year.
The STEM³ program has seen 82 percent of its students maintain a good academic standing – a GPA of 2.0 or higher – and 98 percent stay in school, although not necessarily at FLC, and continue to pursue their degrees from year to year.
The grant will be paid out over five years at $220,000 a year.
The Dolores Star