FAEIS-EP116889 Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program -
Program Summary
FY 1994 and FY 1995
HIGHER EDUCATION MULTICULTURAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM PROGRAM SUMMARY
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Launched in July 1994 by USDA's Office of Higher Education Programs
(HEP) with appropriations from Fiscal Year (FY) 1994 and FY 1995 combined into
one competition, the Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program is a
competitive grants program enabling colleges and universities to award
scholarships to outstanding minority students and encourage them to pursue and
complete their education at the postsecondary level. It is intended that
projects supported by the program will increase the racial and ethnic diversity
of the food and agricultural scientific and professional workforce, advance
the educational achievement of minority Americans, and help the United States
achieve the objective of workforce diversity within the Federal government,
particularly the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For the FY 1994-95 program, proposals could be submitted by any U.S.
college or university offering baccalaureate degree programs in at least one
discipline of the food and agricultural sciences, or offering a Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) degree. Scholarship grants were not made
directly to students; rather, scholarship recipients are to be selected by
the colleges and universities receiving grant awards. Where an articulation
or bridging agreement exists with an eligible four-year institution, students
attending two-year institutions may be able to participate in the program.
Scholarship recipients must be U.S. citizens or nationals, newly recruited to
a course of study leading to a baccalaureate degree in the food and
agricultural sciences or a D.V.M. degree, and from a racial or ethnic group
traditionally underrepresented in the food and agricultural sciences,
specifically Blacks, Hispanics, Asians or Pacific Islanders, and American
Indians or Alaskan Natives.
For FY 1994-95, $2 million was available for the program, including
$1 million of funds carried over from FY 1994 and $1 million from FY 1995. Of
that amount, $1,924,160 was available for project grant awards after
subtracting 3 percent ($60,000) for Federal administration and $15,840 for
peer panel costs. These funds were used to support multicultural scholarships
grants in the following areas of emphasis: General Food and Agricultural
Sciences, Conservation and Renewable Natural Resources (includes Forestry),
Home Economics, and Veterinary Medicine/Science.
A total of 81 proposals, requesting $7,179,675 in support for 389
scholarships, were received for funding consideration. In November 1994, the
grant applications were evaluated by a 20-member peer review panel. Based on
the deliberations of the panel, a total of 37 awards supporting 102
undergraduate scholarships were made to 32 different institutions in 26 states
across the Nation. The following charts present information on the grants
awarded under the FY 1994-95 Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program.
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Table 1. FUNDING REQUESTS BY EMPHASIS AREA
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No. of Proposals Funds
Targeted Emphasis Area Received Requested
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General Food and Agricultural Sciences 47 $4,145,425
Conservation and Renewable Natural Resources
(includes Forestry) 6 $ 480,000
Home Economics 17 $1,584,250
Veterinary Medicine/Science 11 $ 970,000
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TOTAL 81 $7,179,675
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FUNDING DECISIONS BY EMPHASIS AREA
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No. Proposals Funds No. Scholars
Targeted Emphasis Area Funded Awarded Supported
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General Food and Agricultural Sciences 23 (48.9%) $1,134,160 59
Conservation and Renewable Natural
Resources (includes Forestry) 4 (66.6%) $ 160,000 8
Home Economics 6 (35.3%) $ 390,000 23
Veterinary Medicine/Science 4 (36.4%) $ 240,000 12
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TOTAL 37 (45.7%) $1,924,160 102
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HEP CFD Code: 10.220
Source: Higher Education Programs / Cooperative State Research, Education and
Extension Service / Science and Education Resources Development /
U.S. Department of Agriculture