Funding-USDA- Higher
Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP); September 22, 2016
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. NIFA is soliciting
applications 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-005962
Closing
Date:
Sep
22, 2016
Link
to Full Announcement
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=286394
Contact
Information
Dr.
Ray A. Ali
(202)720-2727