Funding-USDA- Higher
Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP); August 31, 2015
Agency
Department
of Agriculture
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Description
The
purpose of the MSP is to provide scholarships to support recruiting, engaging, retaining,
mentoring, and training committed, eligible multicultural scholars, resulting
in either baccalaureate degrees within the food and agricultural sciences
disciplines or the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) degree. The
scholarships are intended to encourage outstanding students from groups that
are historically underrepresented and underserved to pursue and complete
baccalaureate degrees in the Food, Agricultural, Natural Resources, and Human
Sciences, or achieve a D.V.M., that would lead to a diverse and highly skilled
work force.
Through
these scholarships, the goal of the MSP is to increase the participation of any
group historically underrepresented in USDA mission areas and prepare them for
the professional and scientific workforce in these areas.
Underrepresented/underserved groups are those whose representation among food
and agricultural professionals is disproportionately less than their proportion
in the general population as indicated in standard statistical references, or
as documented on a case-by-case basis by national survey data (e.g. the U.S.
Department of Education's Digest of Education Statistics, U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Food and Agricultural Education Information Systems, etc.).
To
accomplish this goal, the MSP provides competitive grants to colleges and
universities that have (1) a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of
the food and agricultural sciences, and (2) proven capabilities for achieving
representation of diverse, multicultural groups in the Food, Agricultural,
Natural Resources, and Human Sciences. Applications are sought for student
education that will:
(i)
Prepare
graduates to meet the demand for highly qualified personnel entering the
workforce within the food and agricultural sciences domain;
(ii)
Pipeline
more undergraduates into graduate education in USDA mission sciences;
(iii)
Contribute
to the reduction of the disparity among underrepresented and underserved
populations entering graduate schools to reflect the demographics of this
country and enable the American system of higher education to remain globally
competitive;
(iv)
Promote
student success within food, agricultural and related science disciplines at
the undergraduate/D.V.M. level; and
(v)
Focus
on student learning, academic preparation, social support structure, and
professional mentoring to ensure entry into food and agricultural sciences
areas and completion of graduate education or high level of competitiveness for
the workforce.
Announcement
Number:
USDA-NIFA-HEMS-005355
Closing
Date:
Aug
31, 2015
Link
to Full Announcement
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=278174
Contact
Information
Ray
A. Ali
(202)
720-2727