The evaluation examines the implementation and outcomes of a new undergraduate certificate program. The Harvesting Innovation Project, funded by the USDA, addresses the growing demand for a skilled workforce in the rapidly evolving field of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). The project aims to establish a multi-institutional, regional undergraduate certificate program across four campuses: the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC), the University of Missouri – Columbia (UM), Kansas State University – Manhattan Campus (KSUM), and Kansas State University – Olathe Campus (KSUO). Its objectives are twofold: to develop a shared multidisciplinary certificate program and to equip a qualified workforce capable of operating and owning CEA farms in Kansas and Missouri.

The Urban Education Research Center (UERC) serves as the external evaluator for this four-year federal initiative. The evaluation includes both formative and summative components. Formative evaluation involves collecting and analyzing data to monitor implementation progress, providing insights to guide project adjustments as needed. Summative evaluation assesses data over the full grant period to measure project outcomes, achievements, and lessons learned.