Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA HEMS 006552
The Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Its central goal is to strengthen the pipeline of talent in food and agricultural sciences by increasing multicultural diversity in the scientific and professional workforce. At the same time, it is designed to support broader educational achievement by helping colleges and universities expand access to undergraduate training in fields tied to food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (often grouped as FANH disciplines).
The funding is awarded to institutions, not to individual students. Colleges and universities use the grant dollars to create or expand undergraduate scholarship support, with the intent that these scholarships help recruit, retain, and graduate students from multicultural and underrepresented backgrounds who are pursuing FANH-related degrees. The program also allows eligible applicants to propose training support connected to undergraduate education and, where applicable, D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) pathways, reflecting workforce needs in areas such as animal health, food systems, and public health-related agricultural work.
Eligibility is institution-focused and fairly broad within higher education, as long as the institution is positioned to educate students in the relevant disciplines. Applications may be submitted by Land-Grant Institutions, colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments that provide education in the food and agricultural sciences, other colleges and universities that meet the program requirements, and institutes or research foundations that are maintained by an eligible college or university. A key academic requirement is that the applicant institution must confer a bachelor's degree or a D.V.M. degree in at least one FANH discipline. The program is offered annually, and institutions that have not applied in the past are specifically encouraged to submit proposals, signaling that the agency wants to broaden participation among eligible schools.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant program (not a formula allocation), meaning proposals are competitively reviewed and funded based on merit and alignment with program objectives. In the source listing, the opportunity is identified as "Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP)" with the funding opportunity number USDA NIFA HEMS 006552 and CFDA number 10.220, and it is administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The specific record provided shows an original closing date of June 20, 2018 and a creation date of April 20, 2018, though the program itself is described as available every year, so institutions typically monitor annual solicitations for updated deadlines, award ceilings, and expected award counts.
Overall, MSP is best understood as an institutional scholarship-and-training capacity program: USDA NIFA funds colleges and universities so they can financially support undergraduate (and in some cases D.V.M.-track) students in agriculture and related sciences, with the explicit purpose of diversifying and strengthening the future FANH workforce.Apply for USDA NIFA HEMS 006552
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.220.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-04-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-06-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) - FAQs
What is the Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP)?
The Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) is a competitive, discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Its core purpose is to strengthen the talent pipeline in food and agricultural sciences by increasing multicultural diversity in the scientific and professional workforce.
What is the main goal of MSP?
MSP aims to diversify and strengthen the future workforce in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (often referred to as FANH disciplines). It does this by funding institutions so they can expand access to undergraduate training and better recruit, retain, and graduate students from multicultural and underrepresented backgrounds.
Who receives MSP funding: students or institutions?
MSP funding is awarded to institutions, not to individual students. Colleges and universities receive the grant and then use the funds to create or expand scholarship support and related undergraduate training efforts.
What can institutions use MSP grant funds for?
Based on the description provided, institutions use MSP funds to create or expand undergraduate scholarship support intended to recruit, retain, and graduate students from multicultural and underrepresented backgrounds who are pursuing FANH-related degrees. The program also allows eligible applicants to propose training support connected to undergraduate education and, where applicable, D.V.M. pathways.
Does MSP support only scholarship funding, or also training activities?
MSP is described as an institutional scholarship-and-training capacity program. In addition to scholarship support, it allows training support tied to undergraduate education and, where applicable, D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) pathways.
Which academic areas are included under FANH disciplines for MSP purposes?
The program is tied to fields connected to food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH disciplines). The provided summary groups these areas broadly rather than listing specific majors.
Is the program related to veterinary medicine (D.V.M.)?
Yes. The program allows eligible applicants to propose training support related to undergraduate education and, where applicable, D.V.M. pathways. This reflects workforce needs in areas such as animal health, food systems, and public health-related agricultural work.
Who is eligible to apply for MSP?
Eligibility is institution-focused. Applications may be submitted by Land-Grant Institutions, colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments that provide education in the food and agricultural sciences, other colleges and universities that meet program requirements, and institutes or research foundations that are maintained by an eligible college or university.
Are institutes or research foundations allowed to apply?
Yes. Institutes or research foundations may apply if they are maintained by an eligible college or university.
What degree requirements must an applicant institution meet?
A key academic requirement is that the applicant institution must confer a bachelor's degree or a D.V.M. degree in at least one FANH discipline.
Is MSP a formula grant or a competitive grant?
MSP is a discretionary grant program, meaning it is competitively reviewed and funded based on merit and alignment with program objectives rather than awarded through a formula allocation.
Who administers the MSP program?
The program is administered by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA).
What is the funding opportunity number for MSP?
The funding opportunity number listed is USDA NIFA HEMS 006552.
What is the CFDA number associated with MSP?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 10.220.
Is MSP offered every year?
Yes. The program is described as offered annually, so institutions generally track each year's solicitation for current details.
Are first-time applicants encouraged to apply?
Yes. Institutions that have not applied in the past are specifically encouraged to submit proposals, which indicates an intent to broaden participation among eligible schools.
What deadline information is provided in the listing?
The specific record referenced shows an original closing date of June 20, 2018 and a creation date of April 20, 2018. However, because the program is described as available every year, institutions should watch for updated annual deadlines and solicitation details.
What should institutions monitor from year to year?
The summary indicates that institutions typically monitor annual solicitations for updated deadlines, award ceilings, and expected award counts.
What outcomes is MSP designed to support?
MSP is designed to support broader educational achievement by helping institutions expand access to undergraduate training in FANH disciplines, while also strengthening the pipeline of diverse talent into the FANH scientific and professional workforce.
In simple terms, what kind of program is MSP?
MSP is best described as an institutional scholarship-and-training capacity program. USDA NIFA funds colleges and universities so they can financially support undergraduate students (and in some cases D.V.M.-track students) in agriculture and related sciences, with an explicit focus on diversifying and strengthening the future FANH workforce.
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| IR-4 Minor Crop Pest Management Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 006701 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SRGP 006701 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
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