Latest news with #GarlenDaleWesson
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- 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.
USA Today
25-02-2025
- 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_.
USA Today
25-02-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
FAMU among land-grant HBCUs affected by USDA's suspended 1890 Scholars Program
FAMU among land-grant HBCUs affected by USDA's suspended 1890 Scholars Program 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 suspended a scholarship program for students at historically Black land-grant universities, including FAMU. The suspension is part of a review of federal programs to ensure they align with President Trump's executive orders, including ending DEI programs. The program, established in 1992, provides scholarships to students from underserved communities to study agriculture and related fields. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has suspended a scholarship program designed to increase the number of agriculture students at the nation's historically Black land-grant universities – a decision that hits home for Florida A&M University. If the scholarships are not reinstated, FAMU and 18 other land-grant HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) will not have future cohorts of students through the decades-old program. According to the announcement made on the USDA's website last week for the 1890 National Scholars Program, the scholarships have "been suspended pending further review." 'As a result, Florida A&M University may not have an incoming class of USDA 1890 Scholars for the 2025 academic year,' Garlen Dale Wesson, dean of FAMU's College of Agriculture & Food Sciences, said in a statement sent to the Tallahassee Democrat Monday. 'However, this decision does not affect the 20 current scholars enrolled in the program, who will continue to receive their scholarship benefits and assistance as previously awarded. Additionally, other agriculture scholarships awarded to FAMU remain unaffected.' 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 land-grant HBCUs for a full four years for specific training related to agriculture as well as animal science, botany, forestry and more. But the program's suspension comes 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. With Trump's executive orders underway, the scholarship program was suspended while it is being reviewed to ensure that it aligns with the president's new rules since Jan. 20, which include 'Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.' Related news: FSU, FAMU give campus communities guidance after Trump's orders on DEI funds, immigration 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. FAMU gets $39,000 per student each year for scholarships through the program, according to a spokesperson. It's unclear whether the majority of the university's scholarship recipients are from Florida or from out of state. Also, while 50 to 60 students usually apply to FAMU through the 1890 Scholars Program each year, it is unclear how many prospective students have applied for the upcoming school year before the suspension. 'While this suspension presents a challenge for prospective students who would have benefited from the scholarship, we remain committed to supporting scholars in the program,' Wesson said. 'We will continue collaborating with our supporters and corporate partners to ensure students have access to opportunities in agriculture and food science.' The University of Florida is the only other land-grant university in the state, but it was established under the Morrill Act of 1862. Besides FAMU, here are all the other 1890 land-grant HBCUs that are part of the program: Alabama A&M University Alcorn State University Central State University Delaware State University Fort Valley State University Kentucky State University Langston University Lincoln University North Carolina A&T State University Prairie View A&M University South Carolina State University Southern University System Tennessee State University Tuskegee University University of Arkansas Pine Bluff University of Maryland Eastern Shore Virginia State University West Virginia State University Tarah Jean is a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can reached at tjean@ and follow her on X: @tarahjean_.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
FAMU among land-grant HBCUs affected by USDA's suspended 1890 Scholars Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has suspended a scholarship program designed to increase the number of agriculture students at the nation's historically Black land-grant universities – a decision that hits home for Florida A&M University. If the scholarships are not reinstated, FAMU and 18 other land-grant HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) will not have future cohorts of students through the decades-old program. According to the announcement made on the USDA's website last week for the 1890 National Scholars Program, the scholarships have "been suspended pending further review." 'As a result, Florida A&M University may not have an incoming class of USDA 1890 Scholars for the 2025 academic year,' Garlen Dale Wesson, dean of FAMU's College of Agriculture & Food Sciences, said in a statement sent to the Tallahassee Democrat Monday. 'However, this decision does not affect the 20 current scholars enrolled in the program, who will continue to receive their scholarship benefits and assistance as previously awarded. Additionally, other agriculture scholarships awarded to FAMU remain unaffected.' 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 land-grant HBCUs for a full four years for specific training related to agriculture as well as animal science, botany, forestry and more. But the program's suspension comes 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. With Trump's executive orders underway, the scholarship program was suspended while it is being reviewed to ensure that it aligns with the president's new rules since Jan. 20, which include 'Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.' Related news: FSU, FAMU give campus communities guidance after Trump's orders on DEI funds, immigration 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. FAMU gets $39,000 per student each year for scholarships through the program, according to a spokesperson. It's unclear whether the majority of the university's scholarship recipients are from Florida or from out of state. Also, while 50 to 60 students usually apply to FAMU through the 1890 Scholars Program each year, it is unclear how many prospective students have applied for the upcoming school year before the suspension. 'While this suspension presents a challenge for prospective students who would have benefited from the scholarship, we remain committed to supporting scholars in the program,' Wesson said. 'We will continue collaborating with our supporters and corporate partners to ensure students have access to opportunities in agriculture and food science.' The University of Florida is the only other land-grant university in the state, but it was established under the Morrill Act of 1862. Besides FAMU, here are all the other 1890 land-grant HBCUs that are part of the program: Alabama A&M University Alcorn State University Central State University Delaware State University Fort Valley State University Kentucky State University Langston University Lincoln University North Carolina A&T State University Prairie View A&M University South Carolina State University Southern University System Tennessee State University Tuskegee University University of Arkansas Pine Bluff University of Maryland Eastern Shore Virginia State University West Virginia State University Tarah Jean is a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can reached at tjean@ and follow her on X: @tarahjean_. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Feds suspend scholarship program, affecting FAMU in Tallahassee
