Learn about the three project types available for application
- Student Scholarship Projects (SSP) SSP funded projects support the eligible institutions to develop scholarship programs that will recruit, retain, expand career awareness across the diverse sectors of food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences, including allied disciplines, and increase graduation rates of students and the participation rates in internship programs and experiential learning opportunities by (a) providing student financial support (full tuition, fees, books and other necessary materials or supplies, room and board, and other participant support costs, such as transportation, off-campus housing allowances, child care, etc.) as well as mentoring, career counseling, coaching for internship identification, preparation, and application submission, and other retention support services each year for up to 4 years; or (b) providing special or focused scholarships to increase student recruitment, retention, and graduation in relevant academic majors or in certificate and credential programs. Scholarship programs should include plans to accommodate scholarship recipients who find it necessary to interrupt their program of study because of health, personal, or other reasonable non-academic and non-disciplinary cause(s).
- Experiential Learning Projects (ELP) ELP funded projects provide support for paid domestic or international experiential learning opportunities for students to promote a better awareness and understanding of the wide array of career opportunities across the agricultural enterprise including those at USDA, while developing their professional skills and training. ELP projects may include but are not limited to: (a) research, education, and extension projects focused on relevant topics at their own institutions OR institutions or organizations other than their own; (b) apprenticeships, internships, fellowships, or similar participatory learning experiences, practicums for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students, or externships away from their own institutions; learning experiences integrating USDA, such as coaching for the application process for USDA internship and career opportunities, projects, field trips or visits to USDA locations, or coordinating educational seminars with USDA personnel; or (c) other relevant experiential learning activities or approaches. “On-the-ground,” shadowing, or research projects are encouraged to develop interactions between research, academic, extension/outreach faculty and staff that enable students to understand basic and applied research translation and its impact in the lives of all Americans.
- Outreach and Engagement Projects (OEP) OEP funded projects provide support to institutions to: (a) Develop educational content, activities, media and digital campaigns, marketing materials, and opportunity matching services to enhance youth’s understanding of the myriad career opportunities which exist across FANH and USDA; (b) involve youth and other communities of learners in the design, execution, and evaluation of meaningful activities that connect to FANH and USDA; (c) engage students as ambassadors for food, agriculture, natural resources, human sciences, and allied disciplines with youth and other community of learners, as well as other relevant activities; (d) build awareness of the range of agriculture-related career opportunities in FANH and at USDA; as well as understanding of processes and pathways to Federal employment.
ELP and SSP must incorporate both career development and leadership development components required for student participants. Career development activities may include mentoring, shadowing, and career exploration and student services, including tutoring, career counseling, academic advising, opportunity matching services and technologies, and other student services that would positively impact retention and graduation rates. Leadership development activities may include developing practical applications to increase understanding of leadership roles, including critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills; ethics and professionalism; interpersonal skills; working in teams; connecting the academic classroom experience with daily leadership roles and organizational activities; providing opportunities for students to participate in mentoring and shadowing; and organizing leadership institutes, workshops, or trainings.
Read more on pages 12-13 of the RFA available at grants.gov.
All italicized text in this FAQ reflects information directly quoted from the RFA. This work is supported through an agreement between the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Extension Foundation serving as the Technical Assistance Advisor for From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals (NEXTGEN). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication/website are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.