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USDA reopens 1890 National Scholars Program for HBCUs
USDA reopens 1890 National Scholars Program for HBCUs

Yahoo

time27-02-2025

  • General
  • Yahoo

USDA reopens 1890 National Scholars Program for HBCUs

Feb. 26 (UPI) -- After briefly suspending its 1890 National Scholars Program last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reopened it and is accepting applications for student participation through March 15. "The USDA 1890s National Scholars Program application period has been reopened, and applications will be accepted through March 15," the USDA's program webpage says. The USDA has scheduled a webinar at 6 p.m. EST Tuesday that will provide students and others with more information about the program, eligibility, fields of study and the selection process for participants. Interested parties can register online for the event, which will include a Q&A session following the initial presentation. The program supports students at 19 historically black land-grant colleges and universities plus Tuskegee University in Alabama and in 2024 supported 94 students at a cost of $19 million. Florida A&M University in Tallahassee is among the HBCUs that participate in the 1890 National Scholars Program. "We will continue collaborating with our supporters and corporate partners to ensure students have access to opportunities in agriculture and food science," Florida A&M College of Agriculture & Food Sciences Dean Garlen Dale Wesson told the Tallahassee Democrat. The program was suspended for several days following President Donald Trump's recent executive order banning federal funding for diversity, equity and including programs while USDA officials examined it more closely. Even while suspended, all 94 current scholarship recipients and 300 program participants in total continued to be fully funded until they complete their respective educational programs. The program was established in 1992 to support students from underserved communities and who sought college educations in agriculture, animal science, botany, forestry and other agriculture-related fields.

USDA reinstates 1890 National Scholars Program at NC A&T State University, other HBCUs
USDA reinstates 1890 National Scholars Program at NC A&T State University, other HBCUs

Yahoo

time25-02-2025

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

USDA reinstates 1890 National Scholars Program at NC A&T State University, other HBCUs

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — The United States Department of Agriculture has reinstated a scholarship program that serves students from rural or underserved communities. now reads: 'The USDA 1890s National Scholars Program application period has been reopened, and applications will be accepted through March 15th. Please check this page again for information about upcoming webinars.' The program was suspended last week for 'further review'. The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program was established in 1992 as part of the partnership between the USDA and the 1890 land-grant universities. The 1890 National Scholars Program 'is aimed at increasing the number of students from rural and underserved communities who study food, agriculture, natural resource and other related sciences. The scholarship provides recipients with full tuition, fees, books, room and board. Scholars attend one of the 1890 land-grant universities and pursue degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines,' the website says. In addition to North Carolina A&T State University, these are the 1890 universities: Alabama A&M University Alcorn State University, Mississippi Central State University, Ohio Delaware State University Florida A&M University Fort Valley State University, Georgia Kentucky State University Langston University, Oklahoma Lincoln University, Missouri Prairie View A&M University, Texas South Carolina State University Southern University, Louisiana Tennessee State University Tuskegee University, Alabama University of Arkansas Pine Bluff University of Maryland Eastern Shore Virginia State University West Virginia State University Last week, U.S. Rep. Alma S. Adams (D-NC), who represents the state's 12th Congressional District, released a statement criticizing the program's suspension: It is infuriating that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has suspended the 1890 Scholars Program 'pending further review. This is a clear attack on an invaluable program that makes higher education accessible for everybody, and provides opportunities for students to work at USDA, especially in the critical fields of food safety, agriculture, and natural resources that Americans rely on every single day. This program is a correction to a long history of racial discrimination within the land-grant system, not an example of it. I demand USDA immediately rescind this targeted and mean-spirited suspension and reinstate the 1890 Scholars Program, for which the deadline for students to apply was originally March 1, 2025. U.S. Rep. Alma S. Adams (D-District 12) Adams released another statement on Tuesday praising the reinstatement of the program. I'm pleased @SecRollins has lifted the suspension of the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program. This program has been in place since 1992, and I hope we can work together to address the real challenges and real opportunities for our 1890s and our HBCUs. U.S. Rep. Alma S. Adams (D-District 12) This school year at NC A&T, there are about one dozen students who rely on those funds for their education. 'I think this is not really a wasteful program. I think it helps a lot of people, including myself,' said Tara Lepore. She is a sustainable land food systems major at NC A&T State. Lapore is also one of 94 students nationwide on the scholarship this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

USDA reopens 1890 Scholars Program for FAMU, other land-grant HBCUs after suspension
USDA reopens 1890 Scholars Program for FAMU, other land-grant HBCUs after suspension

USA Today

time25-02-2025

  • Politics
  • USA Today

USDA reopens 1890 Scholars Program for FAMU, other land-grant HBCUs after suspension

USDA reopens 1890 Scholars Program for FAMU, other land-grant HBCUs after suspension Show Caption Hide Caption White House Black History Month comes during DEI roll backs President Trump hosted a Black History Month event at the White House as his administration rolls back diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The USDA has reopened the 1890 Scholars Program after suspending it for several days. The program was suspended as part of President Trump's efforts to cut federal funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The USDA has reopened the application period for the program through March 15th. After just days of suspending the 1890 Scholars Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reopened it for prospective agriculture students interested in attending Florida A&M University and the other historically Black land-grant universities across the nation. "The USDA 1890s National Scholars Program application period has been reopened, and applications will be accepted through March 15th," the USDA said on its website Monday evening, following a previous announcement about it being suspended pending further review. It's a win for FAMU and 18 other land-grant HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities): If the scholarships were not reinstated, they would no longer have future cohorts of students going through the decades-old program. Previous coverage: FAMU among land-grant HBCUs affected by USDA's suspended 1890 Scholars Program Despite the short suspension period, FAMU's College of Agriculture & Food Sciences Dean Garlen Dale Wesson said the university remained "committed to supporting scholars in the program.' "We will continue collaborating with our supporters and corporate partners to ensure students have access to opportunities in agriculture and food science," Wesson said in a statement sent to the Tallahassee Democrat. The program's suspension came as part of President Donald Trump's directives during efforts to cut all federal assistance that may conflict with his recent executive orders, including ending diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. But with the application portal being reopened, students are handed back the opportunity to apply. What is the 1890 Scholars Program? The 1890 land-grant institutions are HBCUs that were established with federal land grants under the Second Morrill Act of 1890, which required states to establish those colleges and universities for Black students. Through the scholarship program, established in 1992, students from underserved communities are given scholarship money to attend one of 19 land-grant HBCUs for a full four years for specific training related to agriculture as well as animal science, botany, forestry and more. Besides FAMU, other HBCUs in the program include Alabama A&M University, Fort Valley State University, North Carolina A&T State University and Tuskegee University. The USDA scholars program gave $19.2 million to scholarships for HBCU students in the 2024 fiscal year to provide them with full tuition, fees, books, room and board, and FAMU gets $39,000 per student each year for scholarships through the program, according to a spokesperson. While 20 FAMU students are currently enrolled through the program, about 50 to 60 students usually apply to the university with the scholarship each year. This article includes previously reported information. Tarah Jean is a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can reached at tjean@ and follow her on X: @tarahjean_.

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