AgSTEP

AgSTEP is a noncredit, competency-based education certificate that helps farmworkers and agricultural students upskill in response to industry mechanization and learn more about the agriculture industry.

Curriculum: The curriculum consists of fourteen core competencies developed in conjunction between faculty from six California Community Colleges and agricultural industry partners. Shasta College is currently working with northern California agricultural industry partners to verify the curriculum materials, and community partners who routinely work with farmworkers to develop marketing plans.

Competency-based education (CBE): Learning via CBE allows a student to individualize their educational journey, build their learning on existing knowledge, skills, and abilities, and move through the curriculum at their own pace. CBE also requires students to demonstrate mastery of the content at a higher level (80%) than traditional classes (70%).

Recruiting students will begin in late Summer 2026, with plans to launch the program Spring 2027.

For more information, contact Buffy Tanner, Director of Innovation, at btanner@shastacollege.edu or (530) 242-7714.

Funding: The Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC) has been awarded a $3 million grant from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) as part of California Jobs First’s Regional Investment Initiative. This investment will support the statewide expansion of the Ag Skills Training and Employment Program (AgSTEP), bringing industry-aligned Agrifood Technology and Engineering Collaborative (AgTEC) certifications to new regions and connecting students to high-quality jobs in the agricultural sector. Colleges funded by this grant include Shasta College, Hartnell College, Imperial Valley College, and Merced College.