Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

NCAC-5 Human Sciences Administrators Annual Meeting January 20, 2006 Conference Call Present: M. DeLong (Chair UMinn), V. Clark (NDSU), R. Hughes, Jr. (IL), R. Douthitt (WI), V. Moxley (KSU), L. Nichols (SDSU), D. Savaino (Purdue), M. Sable (MU), N. Miller (UNL) Minutes by R. Hughes, Jr. Introductions and welcomes were extended to all. Minutes of NCAC-5 of February 16, 2005 were approved. Projects for Review Review of New Proposals NC219 (NC_temp219), V. Clark, NDSU, Lead Reviewer Promoting healthful eating to prevent excessive weight gain in young adults The project is focused on developing theory-based educational strategies to promote healthful eating strategies among young adults. This project builds on previous efforts with low-income young adults between ages 18-24. In previous studies, individuals were more likely to drop from the intervention study if they had very low incomes (<$800/month), were of ethnic minority status and/or were parents. The new intervention will utilize principles of community-based participatory research, a collaborative approach to research that equitably involves & community members, organizational representatives, and researchers in all aspects of the research process, to increase relevance and accessibility and reduce the attrition we found in our previous research. This project is a refinement of a very successful ongoing project group. Clark noted that the project meets the research review criteria and recommends approval The committed voted to approve this project. NC1001 (NC_temp1001), D. Savaiano, Purdue, Lead reviewer. Influence of food environments on food patterns and population health Obesity in the United States has reached epidemic proportions. Some changes in the food environment have increased access to healthier foods. However, many other changes are thought to have increased access and desirability of high calorie foods and adoption of norms regarding consumption of greater quantities of foods than are healthy for human bodies. What we do not know is which characteristics of the food environment are detrimental to health and which promote better health. Further, while food systems have undergone global changes, variations among local food environments in prices, access, and retail food options suggest that place matters, not only rural and urban but within neighborhoods and regions. In this project we propose to examine the relationships of food environments to diets, obesity and health. While it is recognized that individuals make food choices, this project assumes that the food environment and foodways are collectively constructed. Thus another aspect of our testing will be the effects of the social organization of food systems including local and regional distribution patterns, alternative food sources, and formal and informal food exchange patterns on diets and health. Our major goal is to determine the impact of food systems on population health including place based populations. Our use of the term "food environment" is a heuristic for our interests in access and use of foods, retail options, and consumer and audience perceptions. Savaino reported that although this is an important topic, the proposals agenda is too broad. It looks at a variety of influences on obesity from media to distance from stores, etc. The proposal is too broad and too unfocused. It was recommended that objective #3 (Develop theoretical and empirical models to study consumer perceptions of food within the food environment, and how these perceptions influence food consumption patterns and obesity rates controlling for individual dietary patterns) be eliminated and Objectives 1 and 2 (1. Develop models which incorporate access and use conditions within the food environment and how these influence food consumption patterns and obesity rates controlling for individual dietary patterns. 2. Study how retail options within the food environment influence food consumption patterns and obesity rates controlling for individual dietary patterns.) be developed further. Further it was stated that there was a need to delineate the methodology for the proposal. Savaino recommended that the researchers revise this proposal. The committee approved a major revision. NCCC65 (NCCC_temp65), L. Stenberg Nichols, SDSU, Lead reviewer. Social Change in the Marketplace: Producers, Retailers and Consumers This project is an outgrowth of previous efforts to focus on three key areas of social change in the marketplace. The first area is technology and its impact on consumer/retailer/producer actions in the marketplace. Topics of interest include but are not limited to the pervasive lack of technological and business knowledge and skills in rural areas and how consumers and marketers are coping with fast changing technologies. The second area is society's impact on consumer demand for goods and services to improve human well being. Collaborative work and information exchange will focus on US consumption changes resulting from emerging trends that create new consumer needs and preferences such as changing values, increasing obesity, aging, increasing number of minorities/ethnicities, immigration and populations shifts (i.e., exurban and in-urban migration; natural disasters). The third area is economic linkages among consumers, retailers, and producers to enhance community development. Member efforts in this area will focus on establishing (exploring) new linkages among family businesses, entrepreneurs, communities, and local and regional markets and designing strategies to develop human capital. This is excellent or good on all the criteria. The general thrust of their review. Plan to do grantsmanship workshops and work with 1890 institutions to strengthen their proposals. They also have a grants management goal. This is not a research proposal, but a research capacity-building project. Recommend approval of this project. Project approved. NE167 (NC_tempNE167), V. Moxley, KSU Lead Reviewer Family firms and policy. Family owned firms comprise the majority of firms in the United States. The economy depends on them. Family firms generate over 50 % of the gross business revenue in the U.S. In 1996 family firm owners created 69.9 million jobs, reflecting 54.8 % of all American jobs. Family firms dominate agriculture, wholesale, and retail sectors of the economy, indicating substantial impact. On the other hand, large numbers of firms close before their fifth year of operation. Given the heavy dependence of the economy on these small family owned firms, ascertaining what is associated with their survival and growth, and identifying the effects of policies on them is vitally important. The specific project objectives are as follows: 1). Analyze the effect of internal and external events and policy changes on family businesses and the consequent, indirect effects on communities. 2) Analyze the effects of family businesses and communities on the vitality of each. Moxley reported that this research group has worked together effectively for some time and has been very productive. There was some discussion as to why this project has been proposed to become a North Central project rather than a Northeast project and it was concluded that the lead faculty have relocated in Midwestern universities and that this was appropriate to support in the North Central region. Overall, conclusion was that the proposal looks strong, methodology looks good. Several members of the committee report that this is a strong team. Approval recommended and approved. Midterm Reviews: NC1011, M. Kostelnik and N. Miller, UNL, Lead Reviewer Rural Low-Income Families: Tracking their Well-being and Function in an Era of Welfare Reform This project has a consistent record of publications. Additional data collection has been undertaken because of loss of contact with this very mobile population. Project group has successfully obtained additional funding to support this research. Miller reported that this group has been doing some very successful web-based work to share data and data coding to manage both qualitative and quantitative data management. They have done videoconferencing to share their outcomes and progress. Recommended continued funding based on this mid-term review. NC1013 R. Douthitt, UW, Lead Reviewer The Economic and Psychological determinants of household savings behavior. Douthitt noted that this project has been led by a group of promising junior faculty and is beginning to show some success. They have sought additional funding and have a good chance of providing additional funding. Researchers from backgrounds in economics and the behavioral sciences are working together effectively. Financial literacy continues to be a significant national policy issue which makes this work timely and potentially relevant to policy discussions. Recommended and approved continued funding. Old Business -- Administrative Advisor. At present this group does not have an administrative advisor. It was suggested that it would be better if this person was not part of the group. There was some discussion of ideas and qualifications for this position. R. Douthitt indicated willingness to do some checking and recommend some potential candidates. -- Representation at the NCRA meetings It was agreed that the chair of this committee will attend these meetings. M. DeLong will attend in 2006 and R. Hughes will attend in 2007. -- Expertise of membersIt was decided not to develop a list regarding the research expertise of this group because this information is easily obtainable through other sources. New Business -- Rotation of states to serve as officersThe view was expressed that each state would be responsible for finding someone to serve on this committee when it comes there term for providing secretarial or chair responsibilities. -- Format for 2007 meeting-- A telephone meeting was agreed to in January 2007. Meeting was adjourned.