Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** potential for building the food and…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** potential for building the food and agricultural workforcealcorn state university (alcorn) is the first historically black land-grant college/university in the nation and from its inception has embraced its unique responsibility to train minority students in agriculture and related sciences. Since alcorn's founding, the institution has helped advance the state and region's agricultural economy while improving the nutrition, health and standard of living of its citizens. In addition to educating generations of students in agriculture and related sciences, alcorn has also provided research and outreach services to the citizens of the state and region. Alcorn is ranked third highest for most affordable online bachelor's degree for a historical black college/university (hbcu); 13THHIGHEST for most affordable bachelor's for an hbcu (affordableschools.net, accessed 2019); and 23RD best hbcu by U.S. News and world report best colleges report (usnews.COM/best-colleges, accessed 2019).although hbcus make up only about three percent of the nation's institutions of higher learning, they graduate over 14% of african americans with bachelor's degrees. Alcorn state university is located in an underserved region, with the majority of the university's students being recruited from surrounding communities. Alcorn state university is therefore well positioned to assist underrepresented students earndegrees and make advancements within agriculture and related sciences. The overall goal of alcorn state university's 1890 scholarships program proposal is aligned with the federal 1890 scholarships program's authorizing legislative mandate to increase and to support recruiting, engaging, retaining, mentoring, and training of undergraduate students at the 1890 land-grant institutions. This will result in the awarding of increased numbers of baccalaureate degrees in the agricultural and related sciences.both the mission and the vision of the school of agriculture and applied sciences emphasize the importance of holistically developing students to their fullest potential. The mission states, through vibrant teaching, research and outreach activities, the school of agriculture and applied sciences empowers students and citizens educationally and socio-economically to enrich the quality of life for themselves and their communities. The vision states, the school of agriculture and applied sciences is a premier land-grant program that promotes excellence by providing teaching, research and outreach activities, delivered by cutting edge technology, to its students and the communities IT serves. IT is critically important that we are prepared to meet the future agricultural challenges facing our society. As world population increases to 10 billion in 2050, more innovative approaches to address issues associated with population growth will be needed. Challenges such as food shortages, land retention, climate change, are all factors in which current students will have to address and solve. They will have to employ innovative increases in technology, productivity and conservation to meet these future challenges. The school of agriculture and applied sciences' mission is an integral part of alcorn state university and fulfills its 1890 land-grant mission through cutting edge teaching, research, extension and public service programs. These programs improve the quality of life for the people of the region and the nation. Training students with the skills necessary to live and work effectively and successfully in the fields of food and agricultural sciences in our ever-changing society is key to both our student's and our nation's success.a high priority has been given to the development and implementation of the 1890 scholarship program. This proposal is fully supported by the president of the university, the interim executive vice president and provost, and the dean of the school of agriculture and advanced technologies (see institutional letters; part v, section 4.2). Both private industry and governmental agencies will be served by the development and implementation of the 1890 scholarship program. The development and implementation of the program is also in full agreement with the mission and vision of the university, to develop diverse students into globally competitive leaders and apply scientific research, through collaborative partnerships that benefit the surrounding communities, states, nation, and world. The 1890 scholarship program at alcorn would primarily serve underrepresented and economically depressed communities in southwest mississippi and in the lower mississippi river delta region. Both traditional and non-traditional full-time under graduate students from the region who are high achievers have been identified as our target audience. However, efforts will be made to attract students from throughout the U.S.need for the 1890 scholarship programthe need for food and agriculture and related science graduates from alcorn state university's undergraduate program is exemplified by the scarcity of diversity in the agricultural sciences. Likewise, according to the mississippi department of agriculture (mdac), agriculture is mississippi's number one industry, employing approximately 29% of the state's workforce either directly or indirectly. According to the purdue university study (2015), food, agricultural sciences, natural resources, human sciences employment opportunities will grow more than 5% between 2015-2020 for baccalaureate degree holders and 35,400 new food and agricultural science graduates will fill 61% of the 57,600 average annual job openings. This would mean that the remaining 39% jobs will be filled by graduates from non-agriculture and related sciences fields. Further, this study noted that plant science graduates at all degree levels will find excellent career opportunities. They will find many opportunities for plant geneticists, plant pathologists, and insect biologists to develop higher-yielding crops adapted to less-than-optimal growing conditions. Accordingly, investing in an 1890 scholarship program at alcorn state university will positively impact the number of graduates that will be employed in agriculture and related sciences areas. The state of mississippi generally follows the national trends in employment opportunities in agricultural and natural sciences. Based on information coming from the united states department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, january 30, 2018 the overall employment of agricultural and food scientists isprojected to grow seven percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment of agricultural and food scientists is projected to grow as research into agricultural production methods and techniques continues.upon reviewing the report from the national science foundation on women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in science and engineering: 2017, black men and women make up only five percent of the population working in science and engineering, whereas white men and women make up approximately 70 percent. The 1890 scholarship program will increase the number of minority graduates in the agricultural sciences, thereby increasing the opportunities for minorities to work in this sector.