This proposal focuses on educating and training agricultural students in the school of agriculture and natural resources (sanr) at kentucky state university (KSU)

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Kentucky State University $298,895 on March 1, 2026, under the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program (CFDA 10.216) to develop data science curriculum and training programs for agricultural undergraduates in the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The project delivers new foundational courses in computer science, geosciences, and information systems integrated across agricultural coursework, along with certification programs designed to build data competency among students. The initiative addresses the absence or underdevelopment of data science teaching and training across HBCUs and aligns with USDA workforce development priorities by preparing students for careers in data science and responding to the federal demand for data science-related talent in agriculture.

The recipient will establish a sustainable teaching and research partnership between the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources and partner STEM faculty to create a lasting recruitment and enrollment pipeline. The effort targets broadening participation among students from underserved communities.

Work is performed in Frankfort, Kentucky, with a period of performance from March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2029. The assistance type is a project grant.

Across many hbcus teaching and training students in data science are non-existent or under development. The long-term aim of this project is to build data-literate agricultural undergraduates through innovative curricula enhancement that will prepare students for careers in data science. We propose offering several fundamental courses from computer science geosciences and information systems with applications across agricultural courses. The objectives of the project are to:i) build the agricultural data science capacity by developing new courses and certification programs boundaries to attract and train students in data competency; II) develop a sustainable teaching and research partnership between sanr and partner academic stem faculty to establish long-lasting teaching pipeline for recruitment and student enrollment in sanr and III) use data science to attract retain and broaden the participation of students from the communities to respond to USDA's need in data science-related workforce development mission and priority area. This proposal aligns with USDA's workforce development initiatives by addressing the shortfall in the data science profession.