FY 2010

Multicultural Alliances

Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Multicultural Alliances

Science and Education Resources Development

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

U.S. Department of Agriculture

August 2010

FY 2010

HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS EDUCATION GRANTS PROGRAM

PROGRAM SUMMARY

The Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Education Grants Program, administered by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and authorized by section 815 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform (FAIR) Act of 1996 (7 USC 3241), is a competitive grants program designed to promote and strengthen the ability of HSI carry out education programs that attract, retain, and graduate outstanding students capable of enhancing the Nation’s food and agricultural scientific and professional work force. Projects may involve individual institutions or collaboration initiatives between two or more HSIs or with other colleges and universities, units of government, or the private sector.

Only Hispanic-Serving Institutions are eligible to apply for grants under this program. An eligible 2- or 4-year college or university must have at least 25 percent Hispanic fulltime student enrollment.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2010, a total of $ 8.8 million was available to support projects in the following areas of emphasis: (1) Faculty Preparation and Enhancement for Teaching; (2) Curricula Design, Materials Development, and Library Resources; (3) Instruction Delivery Systems; (4) Scientific Instrumentation for Teaching; (5) Student Experiential Learning; and (6) Student Recruitment and Retention (including financial assistance).

A total of 45 different institutions from 10 states and Puerto Rico submitted 67 proposals for consideration for funding for this year, the fourteenth year of the program. Institutions submitting proposals were from the following states: Arizona (1), California (25), Colorado (2), Florida (3), Illinois (2), New Mexico (7), New York (1), New Jersey (1), Texas (21), Washington (1), and Puerto Rico (3). These proposals requested a total of $18,918,390 in USDA funding. In April 2010, the grant applications were evaluated by aneighteen member peer review panel comprised of faculty members from land-grant and non land-grant universities, members from private industry, and representatives of the Federal government. Panelists represented various academic areas including business, agriculture, natural resources, forestry, veterinary medicine, family and consumer sciences, and closely allied disciplines. Based on the peer review deliberations, funds were available to support 31 grants to 25 lead institutions in six (6)states and Puerto Rico. Each project has planned some form of collaboration with a local USDA entity.

The following chart presents information on the grants awarded under the FY 2010 Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program.

2010 INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS SUPPORTED

Project Director / Institution / Location / Funds Awarded
Sharon Walker / University of California, Riverside / CA / Building Bridges across Riverside through Nano-Water Research / 290,000
Laura Calderon / California State University, Los Angeles / CA / Strengthening andExpanding aPublic Health/Community
Nutrition Focus in the CSU-LA Nutritional Science Curriculum / 290,000
Gour Choudhury / California State University, Fresno / CA / Intellectual Capacity Development in Food andAgricultural Sciences through Modernization of Research Capacity / 245,000
Steven Rocca / California State University, Fresno / CA / Opening Doors in Agricultural Education: Recruitment, Preparation, andCareers / 290,000
George Vourlits / California State University, San Marcos / CA / Development of aNew Generation of Environmental Scientists through an Undergraduate Program of Inquiry-Based Instruction, Independent Research, andProfessional Development / 247,000
Joyce Gilbert / California State University, Northridge / CA / Advancing Students' Competenciesin the Health Sciences through aBreastfeeding Education Program / 285,000
Joy Cowden / West Hills College, Coalinga / CA / Water Science andNatural Resource Management for California’sCentral Valley / 248,000
Martha Vargas / Rancho Santiago Comm. College District - Santa Ana College / CA / Santa Ana College’sPartnerships for Transfer Success in USDA-Related Majors / 290,000
Peggy Hauselt / California State University, Stanislaus / CA / Expanding Opportunities for Underrepresented Studentsfor Agriculture Careers through Recruitment, Experiential Learning, and AgriculturalLiteracy / 247,000
Joel Gray / Otero Junior College / CO / Soil and Crop Science Transfer Program / 290,000
Krish Jayachandran / The Florida International University / FL / Biofuel Science Education for Under-Represented Students at Florida International University / 290,000
Nancy Wrinkle / Northeastern Illinois University / IL / CREAR: Collaboration and Retention in Environmental and Agricultural Research / 290,000
Laura Sanders / Northeastern Illinois University / IL / The Tierra Project: Targeted Investigation of Earth Resources Related to Agriculture / 248,000
Barbara Chamberlin / New Mexico State University / NM / Supporting Instruction in Soil and Plant Sciences: Filling the Gaps in Key Stem Understanding for Undergraduate Students / 290,000
Darron Smith / Eastern New Mexico University / NM / Enhancing Career Awareness and Develop through Experiential Learning / 280,000
Edward Martinez / New Mexico Highlands University / NM / Supporting Agriculture in Science and Education / 290,000
Bruce Milne / University of New Mexico / NM / Collaborative for Sustainable Foodshed Development / 290,000
Mildred Chaparro / University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez / PR / Strengthening the Pipeline of Undergraduate Students into the Master's Program in Food Science and Technology at UPRM / 290,000
A. TinekeBerends / Houston Community College / TX / The Innovative Means of Promoting Agriscience. Career Tracks
(Impact) Provides Experiential Learning, Faculty Development and Lab Infrastructure to HCC / 244,000
Kim McCuistion / Texas A&M University, Kingsville / TX / Improving Student Success through Professional Development Opportunities / 290,000
Maya Durnovo / Houston Community College / TX / Café Con Leche / 445,000
Roger Hanagriff / Texas A&M University, Kingsville / TX / Developing an Experiential Learning/Mentoring and Research Program for Recruitment, Retention and Career Development into Agriculture / 290,000
Lisa Morano / University of Houston, Downtown / TX / Rocks to Wine: Connecting Urban Education and Research with the Texas Wine Industry / 247,000
Janis Bush / The University of Texas, San Antonio / TX / Educating through Field-Based Research and Career Development to Increase Retention of Students Pursuing College Degrees in Agriculture / 290,000
Jeff Pendergraft / Sul Ross State University / TX / Mentoring Underrepresented Students through Sustainable Agricultural and Biological Research / 290,000
Roxanne Vedia / Laredo Community College / TX / Sabor Culinary Arts Program: Better Nutrition Education and Jobs / 291,568
Stacey Lyle / Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi / TX / Undergraduate- Scholarly Education and Research Contact for Hispanics (U-Search) / 290,000
Jose Espiritu / The University of Texas, El Paso / TX / Building Expertise on Energy Sustainability (Bees) – An Integrative Model to Increase Research and Education in Renewable Energy Systems / 290,000
Zenong Yin / The University of Texas, San Antonio / TX / Dietitians Today and Tomorrow/Dietistas Hoy yManaña / 290,000
Riccardo Mozzachiodi / Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi / TX / Providing Research Opportunities for Minority Populations in Texas Programs / 247,000
William Quinn / St. Edward's University / TX / Education, Experience and Employment for Underrepresented Students in Natural Resources / 315,000

FY 2010 Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program

Total Funds Awarded to States and Lead Institutions

Proposal # / State / Institution / Awards
2010-02025 / CA / University of California, Riverside / 290,000
2010-02004 / CA / California State University, Los Angeles / 290,000
2010-02094 / CA / California State University, Fresno / 245,000
2010-02132 / CA / California State University, Fresno / 290,000
2010-02087 / CA / California State University, San Marcos / 247,000
2010-02083 / CA / California State University, Northridge / 285,000
2010-02090 / CA / West Hills College, Coalinga / 248,000
2010-02073 / CA / Rancho Santiago Comm. College District - Santa Ana College / 290,000
2010-02315 / CA / California State University, Stanislaus / 247,000
2010-02002 / CO / Otero Junior College / 290,000
2010-02067 / FL / The Florida International University / 290,000
2010-02093 / IL / Northeastern Illinois University / 290,000
2010-02071 / IL / Northeastern Illinois University / 248,000
2010-02074 / NM / New Mexico State University / 290,000
2010-02008 / NM / Eastern New Mexico University / 280,000
2010-02102 / NM / New Mexico Highlands University / 290,000
2010-02013 / NM / University of New Mexico / 290,000
2010-02088 / PR / University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez / 290,000
2010-02096 / TX / Houston Community College / 244,000
2010-02020 / TX / Texas A&M University, Kingsville / 290,000
2010-02097 / TX / Houston Community College / 445,000
2010-02069 / TX / Texas A&M University, Kingsville / 290,000
2010-02023 / TX / University of Houston, Downtown / 247,000
2010-02027 / TX / The University of Texas, San Antonio / 290,000
2010-02017 / TX / Sul Ross State University / 290,000
2010-02010 / TX / Laredo Community College / 291,568
2010-02021 / TX / Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi / 290,000
2010-02024 / TX / The University of Texas, El Paso / 290,000
2010-02349 / TX / The University of Texas, San Antonio / 290,000
2010-02080 / TX / Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi / 247,000
2010-02015 / TX / St. Edward's University / 315,000
Total=31 / States = 31 / Institutions = 25 / $8,809,568.00

For additional program information, please contact Dr. Irma A. Lawrence at 202-720-2082 or visit our higher education homepage at