"SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce will provide $15 million in new funds this year to partnerships among eligible HACU member campuses and other minority-serving institutions. HACU urges member Hispanic-Serving Institutions to apply for these important new infrastructure, research and student support funds.
NOAA’s new Education Partnership Program will establish four Cooperative Science Centers designed to host state-of-the-art research and to train students in atmospheric, oceanic and environmental sciences and remote sensing. The program also will provide student internships, new funding for graduate study and an environmental entrepreneurship program.
The deadline is March 15 to formally notify NOAA of an institution’s intent to apply for program funding. The application deadline is May 10. Awards will be announced in September. The highest priority will be given to those applications establishing a partnership between or among Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and other minority-serving institutions. Please contact HACU’s Washington, D.C., office at (202) 833-8361 for additional information.
The program will provide $10 million for the Cooperative Science Centers component for minority-serving institutions with established programs and graduate degrees in atmospheric, oceanic and environmental sciences and remote-sensing disciplines. Electronic linkage capabilities and a Distinguished Professorship will be created at each of the science centers.
The program has set aside $3.3 million to develop Environmental Entrepreneurship Programs geared toward restoring depleted habitats by supporting management-based research, technical training and economic development projects through the creation of small business opportunities for local communities. Another $500,000 will be provided to establish NOAA Graduate Scientist Programs, with $200,000 set aside for a 10-week Student Fellowship Program for college juniors studying atmospheric, oceanic and environmental sciences and remote sensing.
Again, please contact our Washington, D.C., office for additional information.
Gumecindo Salas
Vice President, Government Relations
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the Department of Commerce has made a commitment to expand and strengthen its partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).
NOAA's FY2001 budget includes $15 million of new funding to fulfill the mandates of Presidential Executive Orders 12876,12900, and 13021 for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic American Education Institutions and Tribal Colleges and Universities respectively.
The Agency will use this expanded collaboration between the MSI community and its laboratories and facilities as another important mechanism to accomplish its mission which is to describe and predict changes in the Earth's environment, and conserve and manage wisely the Nation's coastal and marine resources to ensure sustainable economic opportunities.
The initiative is aimed primarily at increasing the opportunities and available programs for students and individuals in related professions to pursue research and educational programs in atmospheric environmental and oceanic sciences and remote sensing, principally among MSIs.
The NOAA Minority Serving Institutions Initiative consists of four new programmatic components are to:
Cooperative Science Centers - $10 Million
The Cooperative Science Centers will be established at MSI institutions with established programs and graduate degrees in the AOES disciplines. These centers, in Atmospheric, Oceanic and Environmental sciences and remote sensing, will be designated through a competitive selection process. Institutions will have an opportunity to bid for a center based on criteria such as: number of students graduated with AOES degrees; research funds received; cooperative programs with NOAA; existing infrastructures; and institutional matching funds.
A Distinguished Professorship will be created at each of the Science Centers. These professors will be required to develop significant research projects for their respective centers, with other professors and post doctoral candidates.
The establishment of electronic linkage capabilities at the Science Centers will be supported to expand communication and to increase the availability of instructional material in AOES among MSI institutions through distance learning.
Environmental Entrepreneurship Program - $ 3.3 Million
The Environmental Entrepreneurship Program will provide funds to MSIs to support training research, outreach and job creation for effective management in natural resource depleted environments. The program will be geared toward restoring depleted habitats by supporting management-based research, technical training and economic development projects through the creation of small business opportunities for local communities. This program will seek to collaborate with other bureaus of the Department of Commerce such as the Economic Development Administration, the National Institute for Standards and Technology, the Minority Business Development Agency, and the Economics and Statistics Administration.
This program will rely heavily on graduates with academic training in natural resources management and the technical skills needed to implement resource restoration projects. Support will also be provided for small-scale infrastructure development necessary for resource management activities, job creation and small business development pertinent to the depleted ecosystems.
The Graduate Scientist Program (GSP) - $500K
The Graduate Scientist Program (GSP) is specifically designed to recruit and provide graduate level training to outstanding minority and women candidates for AOES employment within NOAA. This program will offer two opportunities to candidates.
One program option will train individuals in a pre-determined course of study to meet the specificity of NOAA's scientific occupations. It will include one-year of university training and one year as an intern at the agency. A second program option requires the candidate to work at NOAA for one year prior to acceptance and attendance in a graduate level program in one of the NOAA mission related occupations.
NOAA will hire qualified candidates for the program who have graduated with a Bachelors or Masters degree in science or social science including technological fields such as economics, planning, geography, law enforcement, computer science etc., but who do not possess the required training in a specific NOAA- related discipline. Upon completion of training, candidates will be required to commit to an employment tenure at the agency based on the duration of their training.
An important component of the program is to establish mentorships between students participating in the program and career NOAA employees. These linkages will also serve to strengthen opportunities for collaborative research in NOAA priority areas and with research programs at universities.
Student Fellowship Programs - $200K
The goal of this program is to increase the number of students who undertake course work and graduate with degrees in the targeted areas integral to the NOAA mission. This program will be targeted at students entering their junior years who have an interest in AOES, and who have completed their sophomore year at an MSI.
Approximately ten candidates will be selected annually for this ten-week program. As part of this program Candidates will rotate among the five Line Offices, where they will have an opportunity to learn about the programmatic and research objectives of the office and, potential career opportunities at the agency. Students who maintain an acceptable academic standing and make a commitment to pursue degrees in AOES will be offered annual scholarships.
Jacqueline Rousseau
Office of Finance & Administration
301-713-0325
"
NOAA’s new Education Partnership Program will establish four Cooperative Science Centers designed to host state-of-the-art research and to train students in atmospheric, oceanic and environmental sciences and remote sensing. The program also will provide student internships, new funding for graduate study and an environmental entrepreneurship program.
The deadline is March 15 to formally notify NOAA of an institution’s intent to apply for program funding. The application deadline is May 10. Awards will be announced in September. The highest priority will be given to those applications establishing a partnership between or among Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and other minority-serving institutions. Please contact HACU’s Washington, D.C., office at (202) 833-8361 for additional information.
The program will provide $10 million for the Cooperative Science Centers component for minority-serving institutions with established programs and graduate degrees in atmospheric, oceanic and environmental sciences and remote-sensing disciplines. Electronic linkage capabilities and a Distinguished Professorship will be created at each of the science centers.
The program has set aside $3.3 million to develop Environmental Entrepreneurship Programs geared toward restoring depleted habitats by supporting management-based research, technical training and economic development projects through the creation of small business opportunities for local communities. Another $500,000 will be provided to establish NOAA Graduate Scientist Programs, with $200,000 set aside for a 10-week Student Fellowship Program for college juniors studying atmospheric, oceanic and environmental sciences and remote sensing.
Again, please contact our Washington, D.C., office for additional information.
Gumecindo Salas
Vice President, Government Relations
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the Department of Commerce has made a commitment to expand and strengthen its partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).
NOAA's FY2001 budget includes $15 million of new funding to fulfill the mandates of Presidential Executive Orders 12876,12900, and 13021 for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic American Education Institutions and Tribal Colleges and Universities respectively.
The Agency will use this expanded collaboration between the MSI community and its laboratories and facilities as another important mechanism to accomplish its mission which is to describe and predict changes in the Earth's environment, and conserve and manage wisely the Nation's coastal and marine resources to ensure sustainable economic opportunities.
The initiative is aimed primarily at increasing the opportunities and available programs for students and individuals in related professions to pursue research and educational programs in atmospheric environmental and oceanic sciences and remote sensing, principally among MSIs.
The NOAA Minority Serving Institutions Initiative consists of four new programmatic components are to:
- Establish Cooperative Science Centers
- Develop an Environmental Entrepreneurship Program
- Establish a Junior Year Scholarship/Fellowship Program
- Establish an NOAA Graduate Scientist Program.
Cooperative Science Centers - $10 Million
The Cooperative Science Centers will be established at MSI institutions with established programs and graduate degrees in the AOES disciplines. These centers, in Atmospheric, Oceanic and Environmental sciences and remote sensing, will be designated through a competitive selection process. Institutions will have an opportunity to bid for a center based on criteria such as: number of students graduated with AOES degrees; research funds received; cooperative programs with NOAA; existing infrastructures; and institutional matching funds.
A Distinguished Professorship will be created at each of the Science Centers. These professors will be required to develop significant research projects for their respective centers, with other professors and post doctoral candidates.
The establishment of electronic linkage capabilities at the Science Centers will be supported to expand communication and to increase the availability of instructional material in AOES among MSI institutions through distance learning.
Environmental Entrepreneurship Program - $ 3.3 Million
The Environmental Entrepreneurship Program will provide funds to MSIs to support training research, outreach and job creation for effective management in natural resource depleted environments. The program will be geared toward restoring depleted habitats by supporting management-based research, technical training and economic development projects through the creation of small business opportunities for local communities. This program will seek to collaborate with other bureaus of the Department of Commerce such as the Economic Development Administration, the National Institute for Standards and Technology, the Minority Business Development Agency, and the Economics and Statistics Administration.
This program will rely heavily on graduates with academic training in natural resources management and the technical skills needed to implement resource restoration projects. Support will also be provided for small-scale infrastructure development necessary for resource management activities, job creation and small business development pertinent to the depleted ecosystems.
The Graduate Scientist Program (GSP) - $500K
The Graduate Scientist Program (GSP) is specifically designed to recruit and provide graduate level training to outstanding minority and women candidates for AOES employment within NOAA. This program will offer two opportunities to candidates.
One program option will train individuals in a pre-determined course of study to meet the specificity of NOAA's scientific occupations. It will include one-year of university training and one year as an intern at the agency. A second program option requires the candidate to work at NOAA for one year prior to acceptance and attendance in a graduate level program in one of the NOAA mission related occupations.
NOAA will hire qualified candidates for the program who have graduated with a Bachelors or Masters degree in science or social science including technological fields such as economics, planning, geography, law enforcement, computer science etc., but who do not possess the required training in a specific NOAA- related discipline. Upon completion of training, candidates will be required to commit to an employment tenure at the agency based on the duration of their training.
An important component of the program is to establish mentorships between students participating in the program and career NOAA employees. These linkages will also serve to strengthen opportunities for collaborative research in NOAA priority areas and with research programs at universities.
Student Fellowship Programs - $200K
The goal of this program is to increase the number of students who undertake course work and graduate with degrees in the targeted areas integral to the NOAA mission. This program will be targeted at students entering their junior years who have an interest in AOES, and who have completed their sophomore year at an MSI.
Approximately ten candidates will be selected annually for this ten-week program. As part of this program Candidates will rotate among the five Line Offices, where they will have an opportunity to learn about the programmatic and research objectives of the office and, potential career opportunities at the agency. Students who maintain an acceptable academic standing and make a commitment to pursue degrees in AOES will be offered annual scholarships.
Jacqueline Rousseau
Office of Finance & Administration
301-713-0325
"