82 FR 35927 - 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)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 147 (August 2, 2017)

Page Range		35927-35928
FR Document		2017-16262

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.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 147 (Wednesday, August 2, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 147 (Wednesday, August 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35927-35928]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[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.

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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: http://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 http://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

35928 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 147 / Wednesday, August 2, 2017 / Notices

Higher Education Challenge Grants (NIFA) strategy to successfully meet the Instructions: All submissions received
Program (HEC) needs of its stakeholders, NIFA will host must include the agency name and
The Higher Education Challenge a virtual listening session. The focus of reference to NIFA–2017–0004. All
Grants Program (HEC) is a NIFA- the listening session is to gather comments received will be posted to
administered competitive grants stakeholder input for the Higher http://www.regulations.gov, including
program focused on improving formal, Education Multicultural Scholars any personal information provided.
baccalaureate or master’s degree level Program (MSP) and the National Needs FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
food, agricultural, natural resources, and Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship Joyce Parker, Program Specialist, NIFA
human sciences (FANH) education and (NNF) Grants Program Request for at (202) 401–4512 or by email at
first professional degree-level education Applications (RFA) in Fiscal Year (FY) joyce.parker@nifa.usda.gov.
in veterinary medicine (DVM). HEC 2018. NIFA is particularly interested SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
projects provide funding to eligible achieving the most impact and Background and Purpose: Higher
applicants to help ensure a competent, identifying suggested priorities in these Education Multicultural Scholars
qualified and diverse workforce will workforce development programs. Program (MSP)—The purpose of the
exist to serve the FANH sciences DATES: The listening session will be MSP is to provide scholarships to
system. At the same time, HEC-funded held on Thursday, August 24, 2017 from support recruiting, engaging, retaining,
projects improve the economic health 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight mentoring, and training committed,
and viability of communities through Time (EDT). Anyone interested may eligible multicultural scholars, resulting
the development of degree programs submit written comments. All written in either baccalaureate degrees within
emphasizing new and emerging comments must be submitted to Dr. the food and agricultural sciences
employment opportunities. Finally, Joyce Parker at joyce.parker@ disciplines or a Doctor of Veterinary
HEC projects address the national nifa.usda.gov by 5 p.m. EDT on August Medicine (D.V.M.) degree. The
challenge to increase the number and 24, 2017. scholarships are intended to encourage
diversity of students entering the FANH ADDRESSES: The web-based listening outstanding students from groups that
sciences (i.e., having a FANH sciences session will be hosted using Adobe are historically underrepresented and
workforce representative of the Nation’s Connect and audio conference call. On underserved to pursue and complete
population). August 24th, please access the following baccalaureate degrees in the Food,
Web site, https://zoom.us/j/261558898. Agricultural, Natural Resources, and
Implementation Plans The audio conference call capabilities Human Sciences, or achieve a D.V.M.,
All comments and the official can be accessed at 1–888–844–9904, that would lead to a diverse and highly
transcript of the listening session, once participant code 7923533#. skilled work force.
available, may be reviewed on the NIFA Registration: Persons wishing to Through these scholarships, the goal
Web page, https://nifa.usda.gov/ present during the web-based listening of the MSP is to increase the
stakeholder-feedback-education. NIFA session on Thursday, August 24, 2017, participation of any group historically
plans to consider stakeholder input are requested to pre-register by underrepresented in USDA mission
received from this listening session as contacting Dr. Joyce Parker at areas and prepare them for the
well as other written comments in joyce.parker@nifa.usda.gov. Participants professional and scientific workforce in
developing the Fiscal Year 2018–19 may reserve one 5-minute comment these areas. Underrepresented/
solicitations for these programs. period. More time may be available, underserved groups are those whose
depending on the number of people representation among food and
Done at Washington, DC this 26th day of wishing to make a presentation.
July, 2017. agricultural professionals is
Reservations will be confirmed on a
Sonny Ramaswamy, disproportionately less than their
first-come, first-served basis. All other
Director, National Institute of Food and proportion in the general population as
participants may provide comments
Agriculture. indicated in standard statistical
during the listening session if time
[FR Doc. 2017–16262 Filed 8–1–17; 8:45 am] references, or as documented on a case-
permits, or by the listed means. You
by-case basis by national survey data
BILLING CODE 3410–22–P may submit comments, identified by
(e.g. the U.S. Department of Education’s
NIFA–2017–0004, by any of the
Digest of Education Statistics, U.S.
following methods:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// Department of Agriculture’s Food and
www.regulations.gov. Follow the Agricultural Education Information
National Institute of Food and Systems, etc.).
instructions for submitting comments.
Agriculture Email: National Needs Graduate and
For the MSP program email—MSP@ Postgraduate Fellowship Grants
Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Program (NNF)—The purpose of the
nifa.usda.gov.
Regarding the Higher Education For the NNF program email—NNF@ NNF Grants Program is to provide
Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) nifa.usda.gov. funding to support students’ training
and the National Needs Graduate and Include NIFA–2017–0004 in the and completion of master’s and/or
Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants subject line of the message. doctoral degree programs in identified
Program: Stakeholder and Public Mail: Paper, disk or CD–ROM national need areas within the Food,
Listening Session submissions should be submitted to Dr. Agricultural, Natural Resources, and
Joyce Parker, Division of Community Human Sciences. Awards made under
sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with NOTICES

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and
Agriculture, USDA. and Education; Institute of Youth, NNF are specifically intended to
ACTION: Notice of web-based listening Family and Community (IYFC), support traineeship programs that
session and request for stakeholder National Institute of Food and engage outstanding students to pursue
input. Agriculture, U.S. Department of and complete their degrees in areas
Agriculture, STOP 2201, 1400 where there is a national need for the
SUMMARY: As part of the National Independence Avenue SW., development of scientific and
Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Washington, DC 20250–2220. professional expertise in the food and

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Document Created: 2017-08-02 07:09:18
Document Modified: 2017-08-02 07:09:18

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of web-based listening session and request for stakeholder input.
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.
Contact		Dr. Joyce Parker, Program Specialist, NIFA at (202) 401-4512 or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 35927

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURENational Institute of Food and Agriculture

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 147 (August 2, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Institute of Food and Agriculture