Member Advisory - - November 19, 2007

USDA Announces FY 2008 Title VII Competition

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the opening of the competition for the FY 2008 round of the "Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Education Grants Program." The deadline for submission of completed applications is 5 p.m. February 8, 2008. Visit grants.gov.
 
An estimated $6 million is expected to be available for new awards, which normally average $250,000 for Individual Grants and up to $450,000 for Collaborative Grants.  Grants are from 24 to 36 months in duration. USDA expects to make about 20 new awards in FY 2008.
 
Purpose of Program: This competitive grants program is intended to promote and strengthen the ability of Hispanic-Serving Institutions to carry out higher education programs in the food and agricultural sciences. Programs aim to attract outstanding students and produce graduates capable of enhancing the nation's food and agricultural scientific and professional work force.

Eligibility: Only public or other non-profit Hispanic-Serving Institutions are eligible to apply for this program. To qualify as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, applicants must at the time of application have an enrollment of undergraduate full-time equivalent students that is at least 25 percent Hispanic students.
 
More details and the official announcement in the Federal Register can be found at: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/hispanicservinginstitutionseducationhep.cfm.

***

DHS announces workshops for Minority Serving Institutions

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of University Programs will host informational workshops for Minority Serving Institutions on November 29, 2007 at California State University, Fullerton and December 6, at Tennessee State University. Networking sessions will be held the evening before the event day. Registration deadline is Monday, November 26, 2007.

Purpose of the workshops: To provide information on ways in which your institution, students, and faculty may take advantage of the research, education and funding opportunities available through the DHS Science and Technology Directorate.
Workshop topics include:

Research Priorities
Education Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
DHS Centers of Excellence
Grant Writing and Management

Eligibility: Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Alaska Native Colleges and Universities (ANSIs), Native Hawaiian Colleges and Universities (NHSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).

Who should attend: Deans of Research, Academic Deans, and Faculty in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

More details on these workshops at www.orau.gov/dhsmsiworkshop/

***