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Grants / Department of Agriculture / National Institute of Food and Agriculture

USDA-NIFA-HEMS-009602: Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program

Closed Closed May 15, 2023 Opportunity USDA-NIFA-HEMS-009602

This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of National Institute of Food and Agriculture notices from 2023.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture offered grants of up to $250,000 (at least $10,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 5 awards worth $1.3 million in total. Applications closed on May 15, 2023.

From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed March 15, 2023. Checked November 7, 2026.

Other notices with this title

National Institute of Food and Agriculture has posted this title under other numbers: earlier or later rounds, or the same competition for another area. Each has its own dates and may change its rules.

NoticePostedDeadlineStatus
USDA-NIFA-HEMS-010574February 1, 2024Closed April 1, 2024Closed
USDA-NIFA-HEMS-008861January 26, 2022Closed March 23, 2022Closed

Key dates

PostedMarch 15, 2023
DeadlineMay 15, 2023
Archived by Grants.govJune 14, 2023

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

Eligibility Requirements Applicants for the Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process. Only the following are eligible to apply: Land-Grant Institutions, Colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments, other colleges and universities, and Institutes or research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university. Institutions that have not previously applied are especially encouraged to do so. Applicants must be institutions that confer a bachelor’s or D.V.M. degree in at least one of the disciplines in the food and agricultural sciences. Awards are made to eligible colleges and universities. Individuals are not eligible to apply for these grants. Project Directors who have received MSP awards in the last five years may also apply. However, the respective proposal must differ substantively in scope and objectives from previously funded MSP projects in the last five years by the same Project Director. Due to statutory restrictions, extensions beyond the five-year period are not allowed. Any eligible institution may, however, apply for a new award with a different scope of work in any fiscal year(s) in which appropriated funds are available for this program. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award. Student Eligibility as Scholars Awards to Scholars are made by eligible institutions (grantees) receiving funds under this program. Scholars must: 1. Be citizens, national, or permanent residents of the United States as determined in accordance with Federal law; 2. Have been accepted for enrollment, or be enrolled, at an institution that was awarded a project grant under this program, or at a two-year institution which has entered into an articulation agreement, bridging agreement, or other type of collaborative arrangement with a baccalaureate-level institution that has been awarded a project grant under this program; 3. Be enrolled as a full-time student, as defined by the institution, in a program of study in the food and agricultural sciences leading to an undergraduate degree or D.V.M. during each semester or quarter that he/she receives MSP support. However, the requirements for formal registration during part of this tenure may be waived if permitted by the policy of the grantee, provided that the MSP Scholar is making satisfactory progress toward degree completion and remains engaged in appropriate full-time scholarship activities such as study abroad experiences or internships; 4. Maintain good academic standing and satisfactory degree progress as determined by their institution; 5. Not have been enrolled previously in an academic program in the food and agricultural sciences at the same degree level; and 6. Have a strong interest, as judged by the institution, in pursuing a career as a food or agricultural scientist or professional. Within the framework of these guidelines, all decisions with respect to the appointment of MSP Scholars will be made by grantees. Scholars must be identified, and scholarships must be awarded within twelve (12) months of the effective start date of a grant. Grantee must notify and obtain approval from the NIFA Program Office if scholarship funds cannot be allocated within this twelve-month period. Failure

Is this a realistic fit?

What the grant funds

The Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program provides support to students to help them complete their bachelor’s degree in the Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Human (FANH) Sciences or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in order to successfully join the food and agricultural workforce. The purpose of the Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program is to increase the diversity of the food and agricultural scientific and professional workforce, and advance the educational achievement of all Americans by providing competitive grants to colleges and universities. Colleges and Universities can use this funding to support undergraduate scholarships and related experiential learning opportunities leading to the completion of a Bachelor’s degree in the FANH Sciences or a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

Category: Agriculture.

Who has won Higher Education - Multicultural Scholars Grant Program grants before

From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Higher Education - Multicultural Scholars Grant Program (10.220) awarded $5.7 million across 29 grant awards, an average of $197,067 per award.

Largest recipients, fiscal 2021 to 2025
RecipientStateAwardsAmount
University of ArizonaArizona3$694,664
Oregon State UniversityOregon3$608,482
University of FloridaFlorida2$416,428
University of California, DavisCalifornia1$250,000
Rutgers, the State UniversityNew Jersey1$250,000

Top states: Arizona ($694,664), California ($654,647), Oregon ($608,482), Florida ($594,212), Idaho ($497,489).

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.

Questions people ask

Is USDA-NIFA-HEMS-009602 still open?

No. It closed on May 15, 2023.

Who can apply for Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program?

National Institute of Food and Agriculture accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

What is the deadline for Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program?

Closed May 15, 2023. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $250,000 each. About $1.3 million in total across about 5 awards.

Who has won Higher Education - Multicultural Scholars Grant Program grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were University of Arizona, Oregon State University, University of Florida. The program made 29 awards worth $5.7 million in that time.

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