The 1890 Institution Teaching and Research Capacity Building Grants Program was launched in FY 1990 to achieve three major goals: (1) to strengthen linkages among the 1890 institutions, other colleges and universities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and private industry; (2) to advance cultural diversity of the food and agricultural scientific and professional work force by attracting and educating more students from underrepresented groups; and (3) to enhance the quality of teaching and research programs at the 1890 institutions to more readily establish them as full partners in the U.S. food and agricultural sciences higher education system. It is designed to be a high impact program and is unique in that it is the only Federal initiative targeted specifically towards strengthening the quality of programs in the food and agricultural sciences at the historically black land-grant institutions.

The 1890 land-grant institutions and Tuskegee University are uniquely qualified to contribute to the cultural diversity of the food and agricultural scientific and professional work force. Founded to provide mainstream educational opportunities in many disciplines to the black community while promoting respect for cultural diversity, these colleges and universities today enroll and educate not only African-American students, but Asian, Hispanic, and other American and international students. Similarly, their faculty represent a diverse array of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Now in its thirteenth year, the Capacity Building Grants Program has achieved notable success and is attributed priority status by the USDA/1890 Task Force appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Since 1990, the Program has awarded almost $113 million ($112,511,969) to the 1890 Institutions and Tuskegee University in support of 555 projects -- $54,955,537 for 317 teaching projects and $57,556,432 for 238 research projects.

The Capacity Building Grants Program is administered by the newly established Multicultural Alliances unit in the Science and Education Resources Development division of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. This program is competitive in nature and provides support to the 1890 Institutions and Tuskegee University for teaching and research projects in targeted high-priority areas. It encourages matching support from non-Federal sources and also requires cooperation with one or more USDA agency(ies) in developing a proposal and carrying out a project, thereby strengthening departmental partnerships and linkages with these important minority institutions.

The projects funded during the first twelve years of the program are well underway at all of the recipient institutions. Research projects are focusing on such areas as biotechnology, human nutrition, aquaculture, plant science, and animal science. Teaching projects are addressing innovative student recruitment, educational delivery systems, and curricula enhancement strategies in such areas as agribusiness management and marketing, regulatory sciences, plant and soil sciences, and veterinary science.

In FY 2002, $9,479,000 were appropriated for this program. One hundred and forty seven (147) proposals were received in FY 2002 representing a total funding request of approximately $37 million. These included 99 research proposals and 48 teaching proposals. Grant applications were reviewed by a peer review panel comprised of 35 experts representing university educators and research scientists, Federal Government professionals and individuals from the private sector who possessed outstanding expertise in the food and agricultural sciences as well as comprehensive knowledge of the 1890 university system.

Of the $8,792,598 available for project grants, $4,450,663 were awarded to support 24 teaching projects and $4,341,935 were awarded to support 17 research projects. This year awards were made to 15 of the 18 1890 land-grant institutions and Tuskegee University. Targeted need areas for teaching projects included curricula design and materials development, faculty preparation and enhancement, instruction delivery systems, student experiential learning, scientific instrumentation for teaching, and student recruitment and retention within the fields of agriculture, natural resources, forestry, veterinary medicine, family and consumer sciences, and closely allied disciplines. Research areas included studies and experimentation in the food and agricultural sciences, establishment of centralized research support systems, and development of improved technology delivery systems for producers and consumers in the food and agricultural sciences network.

To ensure the highest quality of management in carrying out the Capacity Building Grants Program, a full-time National Program Leader within the Multicultural Alliance unit is assigned to manage the program. The incumbent serves as a member of the Executive Team of the USDA/1890 Task Force. Additionally, the National Program Leader is readily available to interact with representatives appointed by different USDA agencies to work with the 1890 Institutions and Tuskegee University in developing proposals and in carrying out funded projects. Grant applications in FY 2002 revealed that the 1890 institutions have made significant progress in strengthening proposal development and grantsmanship skills since the previous year. This is important as the Department of Agriculture endeavors to assist these institutions in becoming more competitive with all other colleges and universities for other sources of support. Five USDA agencies (see attached list) will serve as cooperators on the 41 funded projects.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2002-02887	Alabama A&M University --Department of Plant and Soil Sciences William E. Stone	Enhancement of Wildlife Sciences Education and Cultural Diversity through Curricula Development and Experimental Learning	FS Glen Gaines (205) 489-5111	$195,484
2002-02882	Tuskegee University --Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences Baowu Wang	Integrating Lecture and Experiential Learning to Empower Students with Advanced Analytical Skills in Food, Nutrition, and Agricultural Sciences	ARS Wilda Martinez (215) 233-6593	$199,719
2002-02883	University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff --Department of Human Sciences Sahar Zaghloul	Development and Testing of a Dietetic Experiential Learning and Peer-Tutoring Program	ARS Margaret Bogle (501) 954-8882	$186,157
2002-02871	University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff --Department of Agriculture Mohammad Jalaluddin	Scientific Instrumentation and Curriculum Development for Teaching Biotechnology	ARS Neil Rutger (870) 672-9300	$186,628
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2002-02855	University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff --School of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Human Sciences Linda Okiror	Strengthening Recruitment and Retention in Food and Agricultural Sciences	CSREES Virginia Gobeli (202) 720-2297	$199,639
2002-02930	Delaware State University --Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Richard Barczewski	Recruitment of Students in Agriculture and Natural Resources at Delaware State University	ARS David H. Kingsley (302) 857-6406	$199,832
2002-02854	Delaware State University --Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Michael Maciarello	Instructional Delivery Systems in Agriculture Education	ARS William Damert (215) 233-6581	$200,000
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2002-02889	Fort Valley State University --Department of Agricultural Research Sarwan Dhir	Strengthening the Retention and Recruitment of Students in Agricultural Biotechnology	ARS Deborah Samac (612) 625-1243	$194,900
2002-02853	Kentucky State University --Cooperative Extension Program Marion Simon	Enhancing Kentucky State University Land Grant Program’s Capacity for Introducing Students to Agricultural Careers	NRCS Sarah Marshall (301) 504-2224	$195,000
2002-02858	Southern University --Agricultural Research and Extension Center Willie Rawls	Food and Agricultural Sciences Research Apprenticeship Program for Community College Graduates	ARS Devron Thibodeaux (504) 286-4302	$199,865
2002-02860	University of Maryland-Eastern Shore --Department of Human Ecology Anugrah Shaw	Enhance Learning Through Developmental of Online Courses and Materials	CSREES Terry Meisenbach (202) 720-2677	$199,868
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2002-02862	Alcorn State University --Department of Agriculture Kenneth Stallings	Enhancing Student Recruitment, Academic Excellence, and Retention	NRCS Clifton Peters (601) 877-3849	$196,008
2002-02872	Alcorn State University --Department of Agriculture Umesh K. Reddy	Reaping the Benefits of Investments in Genomics for Generating High Tech Minority Workforce	ARS John Stommel (301) 504-5583	$199,981
2002-02888	Alcorn State University --Department of Agriculture Samuel A. Besong	Enhancing Teachers and Students’ Hands-On Experience in Agricultural Biotechnology Through Summer Laboratory Workshops	ARS Hamed K. Abbas (662) 686-5313	$105,661
2002-02864	Lincoln University –Cooperative Extension Dyremple Marsh	Agriculture and Life Sciences Education: Preparing Deserving Students	NRCS Terry Cosby (573) 876-0901	$200,000
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2002-02869	Lincoln University --Department of Agriculture Natural Science and Mathematics Lurline Marsh	Integrating Decision Cases In The Agriculture Curriculum	FS Felix Ponder (573) 681-5575 APHIS Russel Reidinger, Jr. (573) 681-5575	$192,913
2002-02859	North Carolina A&T State University --Department of Agribusiness, Applied Economics and Agriscience Education Anthony K. Yeboah	Enhancing Instructional Delivery Through the Use of Smart Classroom Technology	NRCS Frank Clearfield (336) 334-7058	$197,966
2002-02885	North Carolina A&T State University --Department of Human Environment & Family Sciences Geraldine H. Ray	Lateral Entry: Strategies to Increase the Pool of Teachers through Online Course Offerings	CSREES Anna Mae Kobbe (202) 720-2920	$199,999
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2002-02866	Tennessee State University --Department of Agricultural Sciences Surendra P. Singh	Development of Internet-Based Education for Bio-Based Product Information: Preparing Students for Careers in Agriculture	CSREES Carmela Bailey (202) 401-6443	$199,990
2002-02856	Prairie View A&M University --Department of Agriculture Wallace Migura	Agriculture Career Familiarization and Guidance for the Undergraduate	FS Al Hall (202) 205-0601 NRCS Sarah Marshall (301) 504-2224	$200,000
2002-02865	Prairie View A&M University –Department of Agriculture Bobby Mixon	Student Recruitment for the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences	NRCS Sarah Marshall (301 504-2224 FS Al Hall (202) 205-0601	$200,000
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2002-02857	Virginia State University --Department of Agriculture & Human Ecology Conrad M. Gilliam	Ensuring a Diverse Agricultural Workforce via Enhanced Recruitment and Retention	ARS Rosannah Taylor (301) 504-9403	$100,579
2002-02881	Virginia State University --Department of Agriculture Michael S. Joshua	Globalization of Virginia State University’s Agricultural Programs by Training Faculty in Instructional Technology	ARS James Everitt (956) 969-4848	$100,579

PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2002-02902	Alabama A&M University --Department of Plant and Soil Science Chandra K. Reddy	Evaluating and Modeling Soil Carbon Dynamics in Conservation Tillage Cotton Production Systems	ARS D. Wayne Reeves (334) 844-4666 NRCS Jerrell L. Lemunyon (817) 509-3216	$297,315
2002-02925	Alabama A&M University --Department of Plant and Soil Science Zachary Senwo	Poultry Litter Effects on Soil Microbial Community Structure and Enzyme Activities of the Phosphorus Cycle	ARS Karamat Sistani (662) 320-7411	$292,725
2002-02927	Tuskegee University --George W. Carver Agricultural Experiment Station Kokoasse Kpomblekou-A	Biochemical Processes in Soils Treated with Trace-Element-Enriched Broiler Litter	NRCS M. Dewayne Mays (402) 437-5138	$300,000
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2002-02999	Tuskegee University --George W. Carver Agricultural Experiment Station Louis E. Jackai	Studies on the Spread and Possible Existence of Intra-Specific Variation of the Sweet Potato Weevil in the Southern United States	ARS Michael Jackson (843) 556-0840	$296,720
2002-02966	Florida A&M University --Landscape Design and Management Program Division of Agriculture Sciences Alfredo B. Lorenzo	Sustaining Vegetation and Natural Environments in Urban Landscapes	FS David N. Wear (919) 549-4011 Paul H. Gobster (847) 866-9311	$238,751
2002-02969	Florida A& M University Department of Plant Biotechnology Mehboob B. Sheikh	Identification of DNA Sequences from Grape for Pierce’s Disease Tolerance	ARS Barbara Smith (601) 795-8751 Rosemarie Hammond (301) 504-5203	$299,995
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2002-02989	Fort Valley State University --College of Agriculture and Allied Programs Anand K. Yadav	Harnessing Agri-Biotechnology to Establish Scutellaria as a Medicinal Crop	ARS Stephen O. Duke (662) 915-1036	$300,000
2002-02978	Kentucky State University --Atwood Research Facility Kirk W. Pomper	Development of Seedless Papaw Fruit by Germplasm Enhancement	ARS Michael A. Grusak (713) 798-7044 Kim Hummer (541) 750-8712	$139,374
2002-02990	Alcorn State University --Department of Agriculture Michael Ezekwe	Transgenic Improvement of Peanut for Lipid Content and Nutritional Quality	ARS Si- Yin Chung (504) 286-4451	$298,350
2002-02995	North Carolina A&T State University --Human Environment and Family Sciences Mohamed Ahmedna	Development of Low- Cost Water Filtration Systems using Nutshell-based Activated Carbons	ARS Jeff Novak (843) 669-5203	$299,780
2002-02923	North Carolina A&T State University Analytical Services Laboratory --Vestal B. Shirley	Enhancing Agricultural Programs with HPLC/PDA/API/ESI/IMS	ARS Clifford Price and Walter Schmidt	$102,455
2002-02981	Tennessee State University --Margaret Mmbaga	Development of Powdery Mildew Resistance in Cornus florida and Analysis of the Pathogen Population	ARS Sandy Reed FS Ned Klopfenstein	$139,375
2002-02974	Tennessee State University --Ahmad Aziz	Genetic Linkage Analysis of Hypercum and Echinaceae by Pollen DNA Fingerprinting	ARS John Hammond and Margaret Pooler	$139,375
2002-02973	Tennessee State University --School Agriculture and Home Economics Suping Zhou	Identification of the Antifreeze Mechanism and Genes in Plants with Tolerance to Freezing Temperatures during the Growing Season	ARS John Hammond (301) 504-5313	$299,078
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
PROPOSAL NUMBER	UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT, AND LEAD PROJECT DIRECTOR	PROJECT TITLE	USDA AGENCY COOPERATOR - See Key for Acronym	FUNDS AWARDED
2002-02935	Prairie View A&M University --Cooperative Agricultural Research Center Jackson M. Dzakuma	Utilization, Characterization and Preservation of Goat Genetic Resources	ARS Harvey D. Blackburn (970) 495-3268	$300,000
2002-02906	Virginia State University --Agricultural Research Station Asmare Atalay	Phosphorus Dynamics in Nutrient-Rich Sediments	ARS Wilda H. Martinez (215) 233-6593	$300,000
2002-02959	Virginia State University --Agricultural Research Station Brian Sayre	Regulation of Embryonic Blastocoele Formation and Development in Small Ruminants	ARS Gregory S. Lewis (208) 374-5306	$298,842

NOTE: Institutional Maximum is $800,000 and no institution may receive more than four grants