The 1890 Institution Teaching and Research Capacity Building Grants Program was launched in FY 1990 to achieve three major goals: (1) to strengthen linkages among the 1890 institutions, other colleges and universities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and private industry; (2) to advance cultural diversity of the food and agricultural scientific and professional work force by attracting and educating more students from underrepresented groups; and (3) to enhance the quality of teaching and research programs at the 1890 institutions to more readily establish them as full partners in the U.S. food and agricultural sciences higher education system. It is designed to be a high impact program and is unique in that it is the only Federal initiative targeted specifically towards strengthening the quality of programs in the food and agricultural sciences at the historically black land-grant institutions.

The 1890 land-grant institutions and Tuskegee University are uniquely qualified to contribute to the cultural diversity of the food and agricultural scientific and professional work force. Founded to provide mainstream educational opportunities in many disciplines to the black community while promoting respect for cultural diversity, these colleges and universities today enroll and educate not only African-American students, but Asian, Hispanic, and other American and international students. Similarly, their faculty represent a diverse array of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Now in its eleventh year, the Capacity Building Grants Program has achieved notable success and is attributed priority status by the USDA/1890 Task Force appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Since 1990, the Program has awarded almost $104 million ($103,719,371) to the 1890 Institutions and Tuskegee University in support of 514 projects -- $50,504,874 for 293 teaching projects and $53,214,497 for 221 research projects.

The Capacity Building Grants Program is administered by the Higher Education Programs office in the Science and Education Resources Development division of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. This program is competitive in nature and provides support to the 1890 Institutions and Tuskegee University for teaching and research projects in targeted high-priority areas. It encourages matching support from non-Federal sources and also requires cooperation with one or more USDA agency(ies) in developing a proposal and carrying out a project, thereby strengthening departmental partnerships and linkages with these important minority institutions.

The projects funded during the first eleven years of the program are well underway at all of the recipient institutions. Research projects are focusing on such areas as biotechnology, human nutrition, aquaculture, plant science, and animal science. Teaching projects are addressing innovative student recruitment, educational delivery systems, and curricula enhancement strategies in such areas as agribusiness management and marketing, regulatory sciences, plant and soil sciences, and veterinary science.

In FY 2001, $9,479,100 were appropriated for this program. One hundred and sixty two (162) proposals were received in FY 2001 representing a total funding request of approximately $41 million. These included 107 research proposals and 55 teaching proposals. Grant applications were reviewed by a peer review panel comprised of 35 experts representing university educators and research scientists, Federal Government professionals and individuals from the private sector who possessed outstanding expertise in the food and agricultural sciences as well as comprehensive knowledge of the 1890 university system.

Of the $8,848,456 available for project grants, $4,486,468 were awarded to support 25 teaching projects and $4,361,988 were awarded to support 18 research projects. This year awards were made to 13 of the 17 1890 land-grant institutions and Tuskegee University. Targeted need areas for teaching projects included curricula design and materials development, faculty preparation and enhancement, instruction delivery systems, student experiential learning, scientific instrumentation for teaching, and student recruitment and retention within the fields of agriculture, natural resources, forestry, veterinary medicine, family and consumer sciences, and closely allied disciplines. Research areas included studies and experimentation in the food and agricultural sciences, establishment of centralized research support systems, and development of improved technology delivery systems for producers and consumers in the food and agricultural sciences network.

To ensure the highest quality of management in carrying out the Capacity Building Grants Program, a full-time National Program Leader within the Higher Education Programs office is assigned to manage the program. The incumbent works closely with the Executive Team of the USDA/1890 Task Force. Additionally, the National Program Leader is readily available to interact with representatives appointed by different USDA agencies to work with the 1890 Institutions and Tuskegee University in developing proposals and in carrying out funded projects. Grant applications in FY 2001 revealed that the 1890 institutions have made significant progress in strengthening proposal development and grantsmanship skills since the previous year. This is important as the Department of Agriculture endeavors to assist these institutions in becoming more competitive with all other colleges and universities for other sources of support. Seven USDA agencies (see attached list) will serve as cooperators on the 43 funded projects.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2001-03864	Alabama A&M University --Department of Agribusiness Willie Cheatham	Enhancement of Communication Curricula in the Food and Agricultural Sciences	ERS James E. Horsfield (202) 694-5055 CSREES/CTDE Terry Meisenbach (202) 720-2677	$179,968
2001-03823	Alabama A&M University --Department of Plant and Soil Science Allan Zipf	Building a Bioinformatics Base: Preparing Students for the New Millennium	ARS Margaret Bogle (501) 954-8882	$178,467
2001-03805	Delaware State University --Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Maggie R. Clausell	Project 2ExL: Improving Dietetics Education by Enhancing Experiential Learning	CSREES/F4HN Gladys Gary Vaughn (202) 720-2864	$200,000
2001-03812	Delaware State University --College of Agriculture and Related Sciences John L. Graham	Enhancing Students’ Educational Experiences: A Study Abroad Program	CSREES/ECS Denis Ebodaghe (202) 205-0467	$179,240
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2001-03803	Delaware State University --Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Jane A. Funderburk	Technological Enhancement of the Fashion Design Curriculum	ARS Jeanette Cardamon (215) 233-6680	$179,790
2001-03767	Delaware State University --Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Michael A. Reiter	Development of a Centralized Laboratory for the Curriculum in Natural Resources: A Capacity Building Grant	ARS David H. Kingsley (302) 857-6406	$178,730
2001-03777	Florida A&M University --Agricultural Sciences Division Katherine A. Milla	Development of a Web-Based Resource Center for Spatial Applications in Agricultural Sciences	ARS Charles L. Walthall (301) 504-6074	$179,048
2001-03901	Florida A&M University --Center for Biological Control Charles W. O’Brien	Strengthening Student Elements in the Center for Biological Control	ARS Ted Center (954) 475-0541	$171,212
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2001-03853	Florida A&M University --College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture Bobby R. Phills	Raising Agriculturally and Technologically Literate Rattlers: Student Experimential Learning Program	ARS/APHIS Carolyn Gethers (202) 720-2081	$179,982
2001-03817	Fort Valley State University --Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Dorothy B. Conteh	Project 2003: Strengthening Recruitment and Retention in Family and Consumer Sciences	CSREES/F4HN Alma Hobbs Gladys Gary Vaugh (202) 720-2864	$180,000
2001-03863	Fort Valley State University --Department of Plant Biotechnology Sarwan K. Dhir	Strengthening Agricultural Biotechnology Program FVSU	ARS Deborah S. Samac (612) 625-1243	$179,478
2001-03889	Kentucky State University --Child Development and Family Relations Herman E. Walston	Agricultural Sciences Program Enhancement at Kentucky State University via Minority Student Recruitment and Retention	FSIS Karen Wesson (202) 720-6240	$180,000
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2001-03852	University of Maryland - Eastern Shore --Plant and Soils Arthur L. Allen	Establishing a GIS/GPS (GEOSPI) Technology Training Center for Minorities and Other Student Audiences	NRCS Sarah Marshall (301) 504-2224	$179,960
2001-03843	University of Maryland - Eastern Shore --Department of Human Ecology Shirley Hymon-Parker	Development of an Interactive Distance Education Classroom	CSREES/F4HN Gladys Gary Vaughn (202) 720-2864	$191,163
2001-03893	Alcorn State University --Department of Agriculture Wesley L. Whittaker	Strengthening International Agriculture Curriculum and Expanding Student Experimential Learning Opportunities	FAS Mae C. Johnson (202) 720-7233	$172,755
2001-03866	Alcorn State University --Alcorn Cooperative Extension Program Bruce W. McGowan	Facilitating Interactive Student Learning in Agricultural Science Through Library-Assisted, Internet-Based Electronic Multimedia Instruction	ARS/NAL Peggy J. Blake (301) 504-6780	$177,840
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2001-03821	Alcorn State University --Department of Agriculture Liang C. Huam	Improving Instruction, Student Enrollment and Competency in Agricultural Economics	ERS John Dunmore (202) 694-5204 NASS Hubert Hamer (202) 720-8092	$180,000
2001-03794	North Carolina A&T State University --Department of Animal Sciences Mulumebet Worku	Agricultural Education to Address Emerging Needs of the Genomics of ERA	USDA Liaison Office James C. Brown (336) 334-7709 ARS/ANRI/GEML Anthony V. Capuco (301) 504-8672 Benjamin Matthews (301) 504-5730	$179,772
2001-03775	South Carolina State University --Instructional Research and Development Center Ashok K. Satpathy	Center for an Interactive-Dynamic Environment for Active Learning (CIDEAL)	FS Al Hall (202) 205-0601 FSIS Karen M. Wesson (202) 720-6240	$199,996
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2001-03845	South Carolina State University --Savannah River Environmental Sciences Field Station Ambrose O. Anoruo	Recruitment of Student to Agricultural Science Through Experimental Learning	FS John I. Blake (803) 725-8721	$200,000
2001-03796	Tennessee State University --Cooperative Agricultural Research Program Robert E. Harrison	Computer Skills Development in Agricultural Teaching and Research	ARS Steve Thomson (662) 686-5240 ERS John Dunmore (202) 694-5204	$176,049
2001-03815	Prairie View University --Department of Agriculture Eric Risch	Establishment of Bio-Environmental Geographical Information System at PVAMU	NRCS Dennis Williamson (254) 742-9830	$123,071
2001-03819	Prairie View University --Department of Agriculture Freddie L. Richards	Globalization of Agriculture at Prairie View A&M University	FAS Mae C. Johnson (202) 720-7233	$180,000
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2001-03809	Prairie View University --Cooperative Agricultural Research Center (Velva J. McWhinney)	Resources for Training in the Food and Agricultural Sciences	ARS Michael Hume (979) 260-9404	$180,000
2001-03781	Virginia State University --Department of Agriculture (Gollakota Jagannadham)	Geographical Information System: Curricular Development and Student Experimential Learning	ARS James Everitt (956) 969-4824	$179,947

PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2001-03795	Alabama A&M University --Department of Agribusiness (Duncan M. Chembezi)	Strengthening the Alabama Integrated Policy Model of Agriculture	ERS Gerald Schluter (202) 219-0758	$155,132
2001-03911	Alabama A&M University --Department of Food and Animal Sciences (Hortense W. Dodo)	Silencing Peanut Allergens: A Molecular Strategy	ARS/SRRC Sohelia J. Maleki (504) 286-4451	$269,080
2001-03760	Tuskegee University --George W. Carver Agricultural Experiment Station (Robert Zabawa)	Assessing the Government Partnership in Rural Community Development	ERS Anne B. W. Effland (202) 694-5319 NRCS Sarah Marshall Willie Pittman (301) 504-2224	$299,938
2001-03848	Tuskegee University --Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences (Baowu Wang)	Edible Films from Cross-Linked Protein Hydrolysate with Transglutaminase	ARS J. L. Willett (309) 681-6556	$260,076
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2001-03774	Florida A&M University --Center for Viticultural Sciences (Jiang Lu)	Establishment of a Grape (Vitis L.) Germplasm Center with Emphasis on Evaluation and Genetic Analysis of Pierce’s Disease	ARS Charles J. Simon (530) 752-6504 Peter Cousins (315) 787-2340	$268,950
2001-03802	Fort Valley State University --Agricultural Research Station (Young W. Park)	Enhancing Dairy Goat Industry by Innovative Approach to Product Development and Evaluation	ARS/ERRC Diane Van Hekken (215) 836-3777	$269,905
2001-03905	Kentucky State University --Community Research Service (John D. Sedlacek)	Resistance of Stored Grain Moth Pests to Transgenic Grain	ARS James E. Throne (785) 76-2796	$141,246
2001-03888	Kentucky State University --Human Nutrition Research Program (Myna Panemangalore)	Monitoring Biological Endpoints of Pesticide Exposure in Blood of Farm Workers	ARS Nancy Ragsdale (301) 504-4509	$285,750
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2001-03909	Kentucky State University --Department of Aquaculture and Natural Resources Steven D. Mims	Complete Breeding Program with milt Cryopreservation of All-Female Paddlefish	ARS William Hersburger (304) 724-4457	$182,687
2001-03837	University of Maryland Eastern Shore --Department of Agriculture Niki C. Whitley	Cloning of a Novel Satiety Factor in Swine and its Effects on Pituitary Hormones	ARS C. Richard Barb (706) 542-0956	$269,972
2001-03851	University of Maryland Eastern Shore --Department of Agriculture Jeannine M. Harter-Dennis	Reduction in Animal Waste Pollution Through the Use of Enzymes to Improve Phosphorus Digestion	ARS John Mc Murtry (301) 504-8857	$238,905
2001-03875	Alcorn State University --School of Agriculture O. P. Vadhwa	Integrated Production/Marketing Systems for New Vegetable Crops	ARS James Spiers (601) 795-8751 NRCS Clifton E. Peters (601) 877-3849	$265,848
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2001-03776	North Carolina A&T State University --Department of Agricultural Ed., Economics & Rural Sociology Terrence W. Thomas	Interdisciplinary Research for Addressing Small Farm Community Linkage Issues	NRCS Frank Clearfield (336) 334-7058	$158,392
2001-03792	North Carolina A&T State University --Department of Agricultural Economics William Amponsah	Advancing the International Trade Center to Service US Access to China Pork Market	ERS Praveen Dixit (202) 694-5210	$299,995
2001-03787	North Carolina A&T State University --Department of Human Environment & Family Sciences Chung W. Seo	A Strategic Alliance Between Farmers and University to Increase Farm Incomes	ARS Gerald M. Sapers (215) 233-6417	$241,841
2001-03773	South Carolina State University --Department of Agribusiness and Economics David Karemera	Regional Benefits and Costs of NAFTA	ERS Barry Krissoff (202) 694-5250	$214,864
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2001-03793	Tennessee State University --Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Sandria L. Goodwin	A Simplified Rapid Tool for Estimating Portion Size in dietary Studies	ARS Linda A. Ingwersen (301) 504-0183	$269,589
2001-03881	Virginia State University --Department of Entomology Mark E. Kraemer	Enhanced Biocontrol of Insect Pests in Limited-Resource Greenhouses	ARS Stephen O. Duke (662) 915-1036	$269,818

NOTE: Institutional Maximum is $860,000 and no institution may receive more than four grants