Description
The Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) provides scholarships to support recruiting, engaging, retaining, mentoring, and training committed multicultural scholars, resulting in either baccalaureate degrees within the Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human (FANH) sciences or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) degrees. The purpose of the program is to increase the multicultural diversity of the food and agricultural scientific and professional workforce and advance the educational achievement of all Americans. Key aspects of the program include:
* Providing scholarships to outstanding students from groups that are historically underrepresented and underserved to pursue and complete baccalaureate degrees in FANH sciences or achieve a D.V.M.
* Developing leadership skills, knowledge, and qualities necessary to prepare students for agricultural and related careers in the private sector, government, and academia
* Incorporating social and behavioral science disciplines to provide education and experiential learning opportunities for students in applied research and community development programs
* Collaborating with international partners to advance U.S. agricultural goals and promote global competence of the nation's future agricultural workforce.
Some of the key eligibility requirements for applicants include:
* Being a Land-Grant Institution, College or university having significant minority enrollments, other colleges and universities, and Institutes or research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university
* Confering a bachelor's or D.V.M. degree in at least one of the disciplines in the FANH sciences
* Not being an individual, as awards are made to eligible colleges and universities.
The application and submission process involves submitting a proposal that includes a clear justification for the project, a technically sound and culturally/socially relevant approach to education and mentorship, a strong mentoring plan, and strategies for developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and other skills necessary for Scholars' entry into the workforce or graduate training.