The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) was awarded a $400,000 Project Grant under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Education Grants Program (CFDA 10.223). The grant aims to develop an inclusive model for investing in Hispanic students at UTRGV, a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Agricultural College and University, to foster belonging and prepare them for careers in organic agriculture. Key activities include: (1) targeted scholarships to increase student recruitment, retention, and graduation in agricultural majors, (2) new undergraduate coursework in organic agriculture and community-engaged learning leveraging on-campus organic facilities and industry partnerships, and (3) summer internships with organic industry cooperators to improve Hispanic students' understanding of career opportunities and develop their professional competencies. The project will be conducted over a 4-year period from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2028.
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