The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced Wednesday a $16 million investment in agricultural education and workforce development for undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds. This investment will ensure that all students, including underrepresented and underserved students, are prepared and have a fair opportunity to compete for professional jobs in science and agricultural fields.
"Our nation is increasingly facing the challenge of meeting the demand for qualified graduates in the agricultural, food and renewable resources sectors of the U.S. economy," said NIFA Director Dr. Carrie Castille. "USDA's investments in students today through programs like this will expand opportunities for tomorrow's workforce to develop the skills and training necessary to meet the needs of the agricultural sector, while ensuring that all voices across the fabric of our society are heard and included."
Receiving funding was "Illinois Beef Experiential Learning and Industry Exposure Fellowship (I-BELIEF)."
I-BELIEF will train economically disadvantaged and female undergraduate students through experiential learning in beef cattle research and Extension to address the Farm Bill priority area of animal health and production and animal products. This program also addresses the priority area of agriculture economics and rural communities by equipping students for career success in beef cattle and animal feed industries based in rural areas. Undergraduate students from the four Illinois universities with agricultures programs will function as a cohort during the twelvemonth-program. The I-BELIEF program will train students in the design and hands-on conducting of hypothesis-driven research through academic planning and training sessions and a ten-week summer research fellowship in the Beef Cattle Research Program of the University of Illinois, Illinois State University, and Western Illinois University. The Summer Launch Event immediately prior to the research experience includes training on the scientific method, experimental design, the responsible conduct of research and research ethics, cohort building, and leadership development. The Summer Capstone Event will provide fellows with direct access to leading beef industry professionals and focus on career-oriented communication skills. In the late fall, fellows will participate in a scientific writing workshop to hone their research results in an abstract. Fellows will develop verbal communication skills by presenting their research findings in undergraduate research competition at scientific meeting the following spring. The I-BELIEF program will inspire underrepresented students to attend graduate school and address the next generation of complex problems facing the beef industry and global food security of protein foods.
These investments are part of the Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) program, which promotes research and extension learning experiences for undergraduates such that upon graduation they can enter the agricultural workforce with exceptional knowledge and skills. This initiative helps colleges and universities provide opportunities for undergraduate students, including those from underrepresented and historically underserved groups, minority-serving institutions, community colleges, and universities. The program is funded by NIFA's Agriculture Food and Research Initiative Education and Workforce Development Program.
The 23 funded projects can be reviewed.
Categories: Illinois, Education