Justia Department Of Agriculture Solicitation of Input From Stakeholder and Public Listening Session Regarding: Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA); The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA); The Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS); The Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (HEC), 35927-35928 [2017-16262]

Solicitation of Input From Stakeholder and Public Listening Session Regarding: Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA); The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA); The Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS); The Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (HEC), 35927-35928 [2017-16262]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 147 / Wednesday, August 2, 2017 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Institute of Food and Agriculture Solicitation of Input From Stakeholder and Public Listening Session Regarding: Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA); The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education and Agriculture in the K–12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA); The Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS); The Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (HEC) National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA. ACTION: Notice of web-based listening session and request for stakeholder input. AGENCY: As part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) strategy to successfully meet the needs of its stakeholders, NIFA will host a virtual listening session. The focus of the listening session is to gather stakeholder input regarding capacity building grants for Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA); The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education and Agriculture in the K–12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA); The Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS); The Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (HEC). NIFA is particularly interested in achieving the most impact and identifying suggested priorities in these programs. DATES: The listening session will be held on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). All written comments must be received by 5 p.m. EDT on August 15, 2017. ADDRESSES: The web-based listening session will be hosted using Adobe Connect and audio conference call. On August 15th, please access the following Web site, https://zoom.us/j/735656274. The audio conference call capabilities can be accessed at 1–888–844–9904, participant code 7923533#. Registration: You may submit comments, identified by NIFA–2017– 0003, by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Include NIFA–2017–0003 in the subject line of the message. sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:43 Aug 01, 2017 Jkt 241001 Mail: Paper, disk or CD–ROM submissions should be submitted to Dr. Joyce Parker, Division of Community and Education; Institute of Youth, Family and Community (IYFC), National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 2201, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250–2220. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and reference to NIFA–2017–0003. All comments received will be posted to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Joyce Parker, Program Specialist, NIFA at (202) 401–4512 or by email at joyce.parker@nifa.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Persons wishing to present during the web-based listening session on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, are requested to pre-register by contacting Dr. Joyce Parker at joyce.parker@nifa.usda.gov. Participants may reserve one 5-minute comment period. More time may be available, depending on the number of people wishing to make a presentation. Reservations will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis. All other participants may provide comments during the listening session if time permits, or by the listed means. Background and Purpose: Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) The purpose of this program is to assist the NLGCA Institutions in maintaining and expanding their capacity to conduct education, research, and outreach activities relating to agriculture, renewable resources, and other similar disciplines. NLGCA Institutions may use the funds to maintain and expand capacity: (A) To successfully compete for funds from Federal grants and other sources to carry out educational, research, and outreach activities that address priority concerns of national, regional, State, and local interest; (B) to disseminate information relating to priority concerns to—(i) interested members of the agriculture, renewable resources, and other relevant communities; (ii) the public; and (iii) any other interested entity; (C) to encourage members of the agriculture, renewable resources, and other relevant communities to participate in priority education, research, and outreach activities by providing matching funding to leverage grant funds; and, (D) through (i) the purchase or other acquisition of equipment and other infrastructure (not including alteration, PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 35927 repair, renovation, or construction of buildings); (ii) the professional growth and development of the faculty of the NLGCA Institution; and (iii) the development of graduate assistantships. Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K–12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA) The SPECA Challenge Grants Program is a NIFA-administered competitive grants program focused on improving formal, K–14 food, agricultural, natural resource, and human (FANH) sciences education. SPECA-funded projects ensure a competent and qualified workforce will exist to serve the FANH sciences system. At the same time, SPECA-funded projects improve the economic health and viability of communities through the development of degree programs emphasizing new and emerging employment opportunities. Finally, SPECA projects address the national challenge to increase the number and diversity of students entering the food, agricultural, natural resource, and human (FANH) sciences (i.e., having a FANH sciences workforce representative of the Nation’s population). Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS) The purpose of this program is to support research and extension projects that increase participation by women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in STEM. NIFA intends this program to address educational needs, as determined by each institution, within broadly defined areas of food and agricultural sciences and related disciplines. Applications recommended for funding must highlight and emphasize a competent and qualified workforce to guide the food and agricultural sciences system. WAMSfunded projects should improve the economic health and viability of rural communities by developing research and extension initiatives that focus on new and emerging employment opportunities in STEM occupations. Hence, the goal of WAMS projects is to meet the national challenge to increase the number and diversity of students entering food and agriculture-related STEM disciplines (i.e. having a food and agricultural sciences workforce representative of the nation’s population). Projects that contribute to the economic viability of rural communities are also encouraged. E:\FR\FM\02AUN1.SGM 02AUN1 35928 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 147 / Wednesday, August 2, 2017 / Notices Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (HEC) The Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (HEC) is a NIFAadministered competitive grants program focused on improving formal, baccalaureate or master’s degree level food, agricultural, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH) education and first professional degree-level education in veterinary medicine (DVM). HEC projects provide funding to eligible applicants to help ensure a competent, qualified and diverse workforce will exist to serve the FANH sciences system. At the same time, HEC-funded projects improve the economic health and viability of communities through the development of degree programs emphasizing new and emerging employment opportunities. Finally, HEC projects address the national challenge to increase the number and diversity of students entering the FANH sciences (i.e., having a FANH sciences workforce representative of the Nation’s population). Implementation Plans All comments and the official transcript of the listening session, once available, may be reviewed on the NIFA Web page, https://nifa.usda.gov/ stakeholder-feedback-education. NIFA plans to consider stakeholder input received from this listening session as well as other written comments in developing the Fiscal Year 2018–19 solicitations for these programs. Done at Washington, DC this 26th day of July, 2017. Sonny Ramaswamy, Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture. [FR Doc. 2017–16262 Filed 8–1–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–22–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Institute of Food and Agriculture sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with NOTICES Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding the Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) and the National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program: Stakeholder and Public Listening Session National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA. ACTION: Notice of web-based listening session and request for stakeholder input. AGENCY: As part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:43 Aug 01, 2017 Jkt 241001 (NIFA) strategy to successfully meet the needs of its stakeholders, NIFA will host a virtual listening session. The focus of the listening session is to gather stakeholder input for the Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) and the National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program Request for Applications (RFA) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. NIFA is particularly interested achieving the most impact and identifying suggested priorities in these workforce development programs. DATES: The listening session will be held on Thursday, August 24, 2017 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Anyone interested may submit written comments. All written comments must be submitted to Dr. Joyce Parker at joyce.parker@ nifa.usda.gov by 5 p.m. EDT on August 24, 2017. ADDRESSES: The web-based listening session will be hosted using Adobe Connect and audio conference call. On August 24th, please access the following Web site, https://zoom.us/j/261558898. The audio conference call capabilities can be accessed at 1–888–844–9904, participant code 7923533#. Registration: Persons wishing to present during the web-based listening session on Thursday, August 24, 2017, are requested to pre-register by contacting Dr. Joyce Parker at joyce.parker@nifa.usda.gov. Participants may reserve one 5-minute comment period. More time may be available, depending on the number of people wishing to make a presentation. Reservations will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis. All other participants may provide comments during the listening session if time permits, or by the listed means. You may submit comments, identified by NIFA–2017–0004, by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Email: For the MSP program email—MSP@ nifa.usda.gov. For the NNF program email—NNF@ nifa.usda.gov. Include NIFA–2017–0004 in the subject line of the message. Mail: Paper, disk or CD–ROM submissions should be submitted to Dr. Joyce Parker, Division of Community and Education; Institute of Youth, Family and Community (IYFC), National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 2201, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250–2220. PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and reference to NIFA–2017–0004. All comments received will be posted to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Joyce Parker, Program Specialist, NIFA at (202) 401–4512 or by email at joyce.parker@nifa.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background and Purpose: Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP)—The purpose of the MSP is to provide scholarships to support recruiting, engaging, retaining, mentoring, and training committed, eligible multicultural scholars, resulting in either baccalaureate degrees within the food and agricultural sciences disciplines or a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) degree. The scholarships are intended to encourage outstanding students from groups that are historically underrepresented and underserved to pursue and complete baccalaureate degrees in the Food, Agricultural, Natural Resources, and Human Sciences, or achieve a D.V.M., that would lead to a diverse and highly skilled work force. Through these scholarships, the goal of the MSP is to increase the participation of any group historically underrepresented in USDA mission areas and prepare them for the professional and scientific workforce in these areas. Underrepresented/ underserved groups are those whose representation among food and agricultural professionals is disproportionately less than their proportion in the general population as indicated in standard statistical references, or as documented on a caseby-case basis by national survey data (e.g. the U.S. Department of Education’s Digest of Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Agricultural Education Information Systems, etc.). National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship Grants Program (NNF)—The purpose of the NNF Grants Program is to provide funding to support students’ training and completion of master’s and/or doctoral degree programs in identified national need areas within the Food, Agricultural, Natural Resources, and Human Sciences. Awards made under NNF are specifically intended to support traineeship programs that engage outstanding students to pursue and complete their degrees in areas where there is a national need for the development of scientific and professional expertise in the food and E:\FR\FM\02AUN1.SGM 02AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 147 (Wednesday, August 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35927-35928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16262]

[[Page 35927]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Solicitation of Input From Stakeholder and Public Listening
Session Regarding: Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land-Grant Colleges
of Agriculture (NLGCA); The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary
Education and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants
Program (SPECA); The Women and Minorities in Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS); The Higher
Education Challenge Grants Program (HEC)

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of web-based listening session and request for
stakeholder input.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture's
(NIFA) strategy to successfully meet the needs of its stakeholders,
NIFA will host a virtual listening session. The focus of the listening
session is to gather stakeholder input regarding capacity building
grants for Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA); The
Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education and Agriculture
in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA); The Women and
Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields
Program (WAMS); The Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (HEC).
NIFA is particularly interested in achieving the most impact and
identifying suggested priorities in these programs.

DATES: The listening session will be held on Tuesday, August 15, 2017
from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). All written
comments must be received by 5 p.m. EDT on August 15, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The web-based listening session will be hosted using Adobe
Connect and audio conference call. On August 15th, please access the
following Web site, https://zoom.us/j/735656274. The audio conference
call capabilities can be accessed at 1-888-844-9904, participant code
7923533#.
Registration: You may submit comments, identified by NIFA-2017-
0003, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments. Include NIFA-2017-0003 in the
subject line of the message.
Mail: Paper, disk or CD-ROM submissions should be submitted to Dr.
Joyce Parker, Division of Community and Education; Institute of Youth,
Family and Community (IYFC), National Institute of Food and
Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 2201, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-2220.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and reference to NIFA-2017-0003. All comments received will be posted
to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Joyce Parker, Program Specialist,
NIFA at (202) 401-4512 or by email at joyce.parker@nifa.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Persons wishing to present during the web-
based listening session on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, are requested to
pre-register by contacting Dr. Joyce Parker at
joyce.parker@nifa.usda.gov. Participants may reserve one 5-minute
comment period. More time may be available, depending on the number of
people wishing to make a presentation. Reservations will be confirmed
on a first-come, first-served basis. All other participants may provide
comments during the listening session if time permits, or by the listed
means.

Background and Purpose: Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land-Grant
Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA)

The purpose of this program is to assist the NLGCA Institutions in
maintaining and expanding their capacity to conduct education,
research, and outreach activities relating to agriculture, renewable
resources, and other similar disciplines. NLGCA Institutions may use
the funds to maintain and expand capacity: (A) To successfully compete
for funds from Federal grants and other sources to carry out
educational, research, and outreach activities that address priority
concerns of national, regional, State, and local interest; (B) to
disseminate information relating to priority concerns to--(i)
interested members of the agriculture, renewable resources, and other
relevant communities; (ii) the public; and (iii) any other interested
entity; (C) to encourage members of the agriculture, renewable
resources, and other relevant communities to participate in priority
education, research, and outreach activities by providing matching
funding to leverage grant funds; and, (D) through (i) the purchase or
other acquisition of equipment and other infrastructure (not including
alteration, repair, renovation, or construction of buildings); (ii) the
professional growth and development of the faculty of the NLGCA
Institution; and (iii) the development of graduate assistantships.

Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture
in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA)

The SPECA Challenge Grants Program is a NIFA-administered
competitive grants program focused on improving formal, K-14 food,
agricultural, natural resource, and human (FANH) sciences education.
SPECA-funded projects ensure a competent and qualified workforce will
exist to serve the FANH sciences system. At the same time, SPECA-funded
projects improve the economic health and viability of communities
through the development of degree programs emphasizing new and emerging
employment opportunities. Finally, SPECA projects address the national
challenge to increase the number and diversity of students entering the
food, agricultural, natural resource, and human (FANH) sciences (i.e.,
having a FANH sciences workforce representative of the Nation's
population).

Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS)

The purpose of this program is to support research and extension
projects that increase participation by women and underrepresented
minorities from rural areas in STEM. NIFA intends this program to
address educational needs, as determined by each institution, within
broadly defined areas of food and agricultural sciences and related
disciplines. Applications recommended for funding must highlight and
emphasize a competent and qualified workforce to guide the food and
agricultural sciences system. WAMS-funded projects should improve the
economic health and viability of rural communities by developing
research and extension initiatives that focus on new and emerging
employment opportunities in STEM occupations. Hence, the goal of WAMS
projects is to meet the national challenge to increase the number and
diversity of students entering food and agriculture-related STEM
disciplines (i.e. having a food and agricultural sciences workforce
representative of the nation's population). Projects that contribute to
the economic viability of rural communities are also encouraged.

[[Page 35928]]

Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (HEC)

The Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (HEC) is a NIFA-
administered competitive grants program focused on improving formal,
baccalaureate or master's degree level food, agricultural, natural
resources, and human sciences (FANH) education and first professional
degree-level education in veterinary medicine (DVM). HEC projects
provide funding to eligible applicants to help ensure a competent,
qualified and diverse workforce will exist to serve the FANH sciences
system. At the same time, HEC-funded projects improve the economic
health and viability of communities through the development of degree
programs emphasizing new and emerging employment opportunities.
Finally, HEC projects address the national challenge to increase the
number and diversity of students entering the FANH sciences (i.e.,
having a FANH sciences workforce representative of the Nation's
population).

Implementation Plans

All comments and the official transcript of the listening session,
once available, may be reviewed on the NIFA Web page, https://nifa.usda.gov/stakeholder-feedback-education. NIFA plans to consider
stakeholder input received from this listening session as well as other
written comments in developing the Fiscal Year 2018-19 solicitations
for these programs.

Done at Washington, DC this 26th day of July, 2017.
Sonny Ramaswamy,
Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2017-16262 Filed 8-1-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P

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