To enhance competitiveness with other institutions in the region and attract high-achieving students aligned with the goals of THE1890 scholarships program, the scholarships committee determined…

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff received a $505,263.16 project grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Scholarships for Students at 1890 Institutions Program (CFDA 10.524), awarded on September 15, 2025, with a completion date of September 14, 2029. This four-year award supports the institution's delivery of undergraduate scholarships and comprehensive student support services to students pursuing baccalaureate degrees in food and agricultural sciences, agribusiness, energy and renewable fuels, and financial management. The funding enables the institution to enhance program competitiveness in the region through strategic adjustments, including increased scholarship award amounts, more targeted marketing and recruitment efforts, and a reduced number of recipients to attract higher-achieving students aligned with 1890 Land-Grant Institution objectives.

The grant funds direct scholarship disbursements to eligible undergraduate students at the Pine Bluff campus along with integrated student support services designed to enhance recruitment, retention, and successful degree completion. In response to competitive pressures in the region, the institution's Scholarships Committee determined that enhanced award amounts coupled with earlier and more targeted recruitment efforts would strengthen the program's ability to attract academically accomplished scholars committed to careers in agriculture and related fields. The institution maintains responsibility for establishing and administering a competitive scholarship awards process and maintaining separate grant records in accordance with applicable federal regulations and Office of Management and Budget cost principles.

To enhance competitiveness with other institutions in the region and attract high-achieving students aligned with the goals of THE1890 scholarships program, the scholarships committee determined that several strategic adjustments were necessary. Theseinclude increasing scholarship award amounts, reducing the total number of recipients, initiating recruitment efforts earlier, andimplementing a more targeted marketing approach for the program.