The VESTA National Center of Excellence is a collaboration between 23 educational institutions across the United States and Canada that provides online and hands-on education related to viticulture, enology, and wine business. It has experienced dramatic growth in student enrollment from 35 students in 2004 to over 1200 students in 2014-2015 across 45 states and 5 countries. The partnership allows for seamless credit transfer between institutions and uses innovative technologies and national expert instructors to provide a rigorous educational program with opportunities for practical experience.

1. Michelle Norgren - Principle Investigator and Director, Viticulture &
Enology Science & Technology Alliance (VESTA)
Scott Kohl - Co-Principal Investigator and VESTA Campus Director, Highland
Community College
Tom Smith - Co-Principal Investigator and VESTA Campus Director,
Michigan State University; Associate Director of the Institute of
Agricultural Technology
CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR
COLLABORATION TO ENHANCE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

2. a National Science Foundation (NSF)–
Advanced Technological Education (ATE)
Program grant to create and implement an
educational program designed to develop an
educated workforce that will meet the needs
of the grape and wine industry through a
National partnership of higher education
institutions.
The VESTA National Center of
Excellence is:

3. Arizona - Yavapai Community College **
Arkansas – Arkansas Tech University – Ozark
California – Sonoma State University
Illinois – Rend Lake College
Iowa – Northeast Iowa Community College
Kansas – Highland Community College - Wamego
Michigan – Michigan State University
Michigan - Northwestern Michigan College**
Michigan - Lake Michigan College**
Minnesota - Central Lakes College
Minnesota – South Central College**
Missouri – Missouri State University
Missouri - Missouri State University – West Plains
New Mexico – Northern New Mexico College
New York – Niagara County Community College
North Carolina - Surry Community College
Ohio – Kent State University – Ashtabula
Ohio – Clark State Community College**
Oklahoma – Redlands Community College
Oregon – Umpqua Community College
Tennessee – Nashville State Community College**
Texas – Texas State Technical College
Washington – Yakima Valley Community College
Wisconsin – Northeast Wisconsin Technical
College
Unique and Dynamic Partnership of Educational Institutions
2003
2014

4. Intercollegiate Collaboration
• Of the 23 educational
institution partners, 7 host
online courses.
• Throughout the Alliance,
students seamlessly
transfer earned credits and
distribute financial aid
between course hosting
institutions and the
students’ home (degree
granting) institution.

5. Rigorous and Comprehensive Educational Program
• 41 online courses
• 3 educational tracks – viticulture,
enology, and wine business
entrepreneurship.
• Multiple educational paths
– Individual courses
– Technical Certificate
– Associate of Applied Science
– Bachelor of Science
– Masters
• Curriculum that is industry driven and
supervised by notable emeritus
professors
– Dr. Stan Howell, Michigan State
– Dr. Barry Gump, University California
– Fresno
• Dedicated Instructional Designer
– Dr. Jodi Creasap Gee, Missouri State
University

6. Knowledgeable and respected national teaching faculty

7. VESTA Instructors
• Dr. Merilark Padgett, Santa Rosa Junior College, CA
• Pat Henderson, Executive Winemaker, Kenwood Vineyards, CA
• Patricia Chalfant, Winemaker/Vineyard Manager, Caesar Creek Winery, OH
• Dennis Emslie-Drummond, Instructor, Central Lakes College, MN
• Dr. Bill Edinger, Emeritus, CalPoly, NY
• John Giannini, Consultant, (former winemaker, Fresno State Winery), CA
• Zoran Ljepovic, QA/QC Manager Constellation Wineries, CA
• Benedicte Rhyne, Wine Country Consulting, TX
• Mike Gau, JD, Northeast Iowa Community College, IA
• Shouxin Li, Vineyard Manager, CA
• Tom Smith, IAT, Michigan State University, MI
• Dr. Mercy Olmsted, Viticulture Extension, University of Florida, FL
• Robert Landry, Agriculture Instructor, Butte College, CA
• Dan Neenan, Director, NECAS Center, IA
• Dr. David White, Midwest Wine Analytics, WI
• Dr. Barry Gump, Professor, Florida International University, FL
• Darren Michaels, Laffort, WA
• Patty Held, Wine Marketing Consultant, MO
• Ian Mac Neill, Bank of Marin, CA
• Ricky Thibodeau, Hudson Valley Community College, NY
• Elizabeth Slater, Inshort Marketing, CA
• Andy Allen, Arkansas Technical University, AR
• Aaron DeBeers, Vinoptic Vineyard Consultant, CA
• Daniel Becker, University of Kentucky, KY
• Melba Allen, Oenocom, Burgundy, France
• John Thull, Vineyard Manager, University of Minnesota, MN

8. Innovative use of distance educational technologies
Synchronous and
Asynchronous distance
educational technologies.
Mobile compliant for the
student on the go.

9. Onsite Field Practicums
• Onsite field practicums
– (437 industry partners in
38 states and 4 foreign
countries.)
• Opportunity to work
alongside industry mentors.

10. Dramatic Growth in Student Enrollment
• VESTA enrollment in the
2004 academic year
consisted of 35 students
from 7 states.
• Total student participation of
1500 students from 45 states
and 5 foreign countries since
2003.
• The 2014-2015 academic
year found the total
consortium enrollment, a
combination of online and
on-ground students of more
than 1200 students.

11. Cooperative
Curriculum Review
• Annual working Retreats
involve a curricular team of 60
individuals representing
industry members, instructional
faculty and Management Team
members.
• The instructional designer,
working with the course
instructor adapt course content
and online course site to
accommodate revisions.

12. Centralized Program Front Door
• Serves as the front door to the VESTA program.
• Timely and current information regarding classes, workshops, events and
learning resources.
• Online registration with common Joint Admission/Registration form
• Course payment, change of schedule, transcript request forms,

13. Additional Grant Related Activities
• Undergraduate Research Program
• Professional Development Workshops
– vineyard crop and canopy management
– vineyard integrated pest management
– wine sensory analysis
– wine and must chemical analysis
– winery sanitation
– barrel cooperage production
– winter cold damage prevention
– fruit wine production
• High School Teacher Outreach
– STEM concepts
– Viticulture Boot camp
– FFA
– Career Fairs

14. What’s Next?
• Spanish versions of
instructional videos
• New modules and
Emerging
Technologies
• Simulation
Instructional
Technologies
• Customized
Corporate Training
Program

15. Collaboration:
The Community College
Perspective
Scott Kohl
Highland Community College

16. DEMOGRAPHICS
Highland Community College,
Kansas
Main campus and 5 satellite campuses
College-wide FTE – 2100
Viticulture and Enology at Wamego
Campus FTE = 250
Viticulture and Enology Program FTE = 6
1 Administrator and 2 Faculty

17. How we got
started…

18. How VESTA
helped us step-up
our game

19. Small college
benefits from
VESTA

20. VESTA benefits
from small college
partners

21. Collaboration:
The University Perspective
Tom Smith
Michigan State University

22. Michigan’s Wine
Economy
• Michigan has 15,000 acres of vineyards
making Michigan the fourth largest
grape-growing state.
• About 2,650 acres are devoted to wine
grapes, making Michigan the fifth state
in wine grape production in the nation.
• Vineyard area has doubled over the last
10 years.
• Michigan's 117 commercial wineries
produce more than 1.4 million gallons
of wine annually, making Michigan 13th
in wine production.
• Wineries are popular tourist
destinations, attracting more than 2
million visitors annually.
• The wine industry contributes $300
million annually to Michigan's economy.
http://www.michiganwines.com/fast-facts#sthash.VmQwRmLt.dpuf

23. Michigan State University &
VESTA
• Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council (MGWIC) and
Industry Leaders identify the need for a credit-bearing
certificate(s) to help meet the workforce needs of the
growing wine and grape industry in Michigan (2009).
• MSU Department of Horticulture is supportive, but
does not have the capacity to develop and deliver a
program.
• Stakeholder group is formed – MGWIC, Industry and
MSU faculty/staff – to explore and advise. MSU
Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT) is charged
with design and delivery.

24. Michigan State University & VESTA
(cont.)
• MSU IAT had a viticulture and enology certificate
program previously delivered on campus
discontinued in 2006 due to low enrollment and
completion.
• Decision is made to become a VESTA partner and
link with local community colleges in the major
wine and grape areas of the state to deliver a
program utilizing VESTA online courses,
community college courses and MSU courses
delivered at the community college by adjunct
instructors, many with industry ties.

25. Michigan State University & VESTA
(cont.)
• Opportunities for students in Michigan:
– VESTA courses as desired
– VESTA courses leading to one or more VESTA certificates
awarded by MSU IAT
• Viticulture (30 credits)
• Enology (33 credits)
• Wine Business & Entrepreneurship (28-32 credits)
– 54 credit MSU IAT Viticulture certificate and community
college associate degree – students are dually enrolled (16
MSU credits, including a required min 480 hour 3-credit
internship; 16 online VESTA credits, 22 community college
credits plus additional CC courses for AAS)

26. Students in Michigan
• Since inception – 151 students
• Average age – 42.5 years
• Age Range 19-72
• Highest degree earned
– High School – 26
– Some College - 28
– Certificate or Associate Degree - 19
– Bachelors Degree - 40
– Master’s Degree – 26
– PhD – 3
– Professional - 8

27. Students in Michigan
Acad.
year
2004-
05
2005-
06
2006-
07
2007-
08
2008-
09
2009-
10
2010-
11
2011-
12
2012-
13
2013-
14
2014-
15
Stud # 2 2 2 2 9 17 38 39 43 48 33

28. Students in Michigan
• 2013-14 Academic Year
– 48 students total
– 29 new students
– 19 returning students
– Students taking 1 – 5 VESTA courses per semester
and 1-7 courses per AY

29. Practicum Sites
• Over 50 wineries and vineyards work with
students in Michigan to provide required
hands-on practicum experience

30. VESTA Organization:
Bringing it All Together
Michelle Norgren
VESTA / Missouri State University

31. Organizational Structure
External Evaluator
National Visiting
Committee

32. VESTA Blackboard - Admin

33. VESTA Website
• Website is a key resource for recruiting new
students and providing information to
current students.
• Course catalog and syllabi
• Partnering school information
• Practicum information
• Instructional videos
• Workshop information

34. Grant Goals and Objectives
• Activity Grid
• Standardized workshop procedure and
materials
• Standardized Workshop/Event Evaluation
• Quarterly Activity Report
– Annual Report
– NVC Report
• Quarterly Invoice
• Performance Tracking

35. Collaborative Development of
Standardized Materials and Evaluations

36. Activity Grid
• Developed from Grant
Goals and Objectives
• All activities and
expenditures tied to
activity codes
• Provides visual tool to
measure completion of
goals and objectives by
team and individual
partners

37. Quarterly Activity Report
• Builds Annual Reports
– National Visiting Committee
– National Science Foundation
– External evaluator

38. Performance Tracking
• Meeting timelines
• Follow Through
• Program Office
awareness of all VESTA
related activities
• Completion of
obligations determines
renewed subaward

39. Creating an Environment for
Collaboration – How do you
Score?
Tom Smith
Michigan State University

40. Creating an Environment for
Collaboration – How do you Score?
• Does your institution encourage collaboration with the private sector?
– Industry advisory groups
• curriculum review
• resources
– Internships, clerkships, practicums, job shadowing
– Guest speakers, job fairs, open houses
• Does your institution support collaboration across other higher education
institutions?
– Credit transfer
– Shared courses
– Shared faculty and other resources
– Financial aid consortiums

41. The Collaboration Action Plan
• Identify where your institution is primed for
collaboration.
• Identify the barriers to collaboration that exist
at your institution.
• Develop an Action Plan for collaboration.

42. Thank You
Scott Kohl
Tom Smith
Michelle Norgren