§3152. Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences education

(a) Higher education teaching programs

The Secretary shall promote and strengthen higher education in the food and agricultural sciences by formulating and administering programs to enhance college and university teaching programs in agriculture, natural resources, forestry, veterinary medicine, home economics, disciplines closely allied to the food and agricultural system, and rural economic, community, and business development.

(b) Grants

The Secretary may make competitive grants (or grants without regard to any requirement for competition) to land-grant colleges and universities (including the University of the District of Columbia), to colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments and a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences, and to other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences, for a period not to exceed 5 years-

(1) to strengthen institutional capacities, including curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, to respond to identified State, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community, and business development;

(2) to attract and support undergraduate and graduate students in order to educate the students in national need areas of the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community, and business development;

(3) to facilitate cooperative initiatives between two or more eligible institutions, or between eligible institutions and units of State government or organizations in the private sector, to maximize the development and use of resources such as faculty, facilities, and equipment to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs, or teaching programs emphasizing rural economic, community, and business development;

(4) to design and implement food and agricultural programs, or programs emphasizing rural economic, community, and business development, to build teaching, research, and extension capacity at colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments;

(5) to conduct undergraduate scholarship programs to meet national and international needs for training food and agricultural scientists and professionals, or professionals in rural economic, community, and business development; and

(6) to conduct graduate and postdoctoral fellowship programs to attract highly promising individuals to research or teaching careers in the food and agricultural sciences.

(c) Priorities

In awarding grants under subsection (b), the Secretary shall give priority to-

(1) applications for teaching enhancement projects that demonstrate enhanced coordination among all types of institutions eligible for funding under this section; and

(2) applications for teaching enhancement projects that focus on innovative, multidisciplinary education programs, material, and curricula.

(d) Eligibility for grants

(1) In general

To be eligible for a grant under subsection (b), a recipient institution must have a significant demonstrable commitment to higher education teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community, and business development, and to each specific subject area for which the grant is to be used.

(2) Minority groups

The Secretary may set aside a portion of the funds appropriated for the awarding of grants under subsection (b), and make such amounts available only for grants to eligible colleges and universities (including the University of the District of Columbia) that the Secretary determines have unique capabilities for achieving the objective of full representation of minority groups in the food and agricultural sciences workforce, or in the rural economic, community, and business development workforce, of the United States.

(3) Research foundations

An eligible college or university under subsection (b) includes a research foundation maintained by the college or university.

(e) Food and agricultural education information system

From amounts made available for grants under this section, the Secretary may maintain a national food and agricultural education information system that contains-

(1) information on enrollment, degrees awarded, faculty, and employment placement in the food and agricultural sciences; and

(2) such other similar information as the Secretary considers appropriate.

(f) Evaluation of teaching programs

The Secretary shall conduct programs to develop, analyze, and provide to colleges and universities data and information that are essential to the evaluation of the quality of teaching programs and to facilitate the design of more effective programs comprising the food and agricultural sciences higher education system of the United States.

(g) Continuing education

The Secretary shall conduct special programs with colleges and universities, and with organizations in the private sector, to support educational initiatives to enable food and agricultural scientists and professionals to maintain their knowledge of changing technology, the expanding knowledge base, societal issues, and other factors that impact the skills and competencies needed to maintain the expertise base available to the agricultural system of the United States. The special programs shall include grants and technical assistance.

(h) Transfers of funds and functions

Funds authorized in section 22 of the Act of June 29, 1935 (49 Stat. 439, chapter 338; 7 U.S.C. 329) are transferred to and shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture. There are transferred to the Secretary all the functions and duties of the Secretary of Education under such Act applicable to the activities and programs for which funds are made available under section 22 of such Act.

(i) National Food and Agricultural Sciences Teaching, Extension, and Research Awards

(1) Establishment

(A) In general

The Secretary shall establish a National Food and Agricultural Sciences Teaching, Extension, and Research Awards program to recognize and promote excellence in teaching, extension, and research in the food and agricultural sciences at a college or university.

(B) Minimum requirement

The Secretary shall make at least 1 cash award in each fiscal year to a nominee selected by the Secretary for excellence in each of the areas of teaching, extension, and research of food and agricultural science at a college or university.

(2) Funding

The Secretary may transfer funds from amounts appropriated for the conduct of any agricultural research, extension, or teaching program to an account established pursuant to this section for the purpose of making the awards. The Secretary may accept gifts in accordance with section 2269 of this title for the purpose of making the awards.

(j) Secondary education, 2-year postsecondary education, and agriculture in the K–12 classroom

(1) Definitions

In this subsection:

(A) Institution of higher education

The term "institution of higher education" has the meaning given the term in section 1001 of title 20.

(B) Secondary school

The term "secondary school" has the meaning given the term in section 7801 of title 20.

(2) Agriscience and agribusiness education

The Secretary shall-

(A) promote and strengthen secondary education and 2-year postsecondary education in agriscience and agribusiness in order to help ensure the existence in the United States of a qualified workforce to serve the food and agricultural sciences system; and

(B) promote complementary and synergistic linkages among secondary, 2-year postsecondary, and higher education programs in the food and agricultural sciences in order to promote excellence in education and encourage more young Americans to pursue and complete a baccalaureate or higher degree in the food and agricultural sciences.

(3) Grants

The Secretary may make competitive or noncompetitive grants, for grant periods not to exceed 5 years, to public secondary schools, institutions of higher education that award an associate's degree, other institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations, that the Secretary determines have made a commitment to teaching agriscience and agribusiness-

(A) to enhance curricula in agricultural education;

(B) to increase faculty teaching competencies;

(C) to interest young people in pursuing higher education in order to prepare for scientific and professional careers in the food and agricultural sciences;

(D) to promote the incorporation of agriscience and agribusiness subject matter into other instructional programs, particularly classes in science, business, and consumer education;

(E) to facilitate joint initiatives by the grant recipient with other secondary schools, institutions of higher education that award an associate's degree, and institutions of higher education that award a bachelor's degree to maximize the development and use of resources, such as faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve agriscience and agribusiness education;

(F) to support other initiatives designed to meet local, State, regional, or national needs related to promoting excellence in agriscience and agribusiness education; and

(G) to support current agriculture in the classroom programs for grades K–12.

(k) Administration

Chapter 10 of title 5 and title XVIII of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2281 et seq.) shall not apply to a panel or board created for the purpose of reviewing applications and proposals for grants or nominations for awards submitted under this section.

(l) Report

The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a biennial report detailing the distribution of funds used to implement the teaching programs under subsection (j).

(m) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out this section-

(1) $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1990 through 2013; and

(2) $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023.

( Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, §1417, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 996 ; Pub. L. 97–98, title XIV, §1418, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1305 ; Pub. L. 99–198, title XIV, §1412, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1548 ; Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, §1608, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3716 ; Pub. L. 102–237, title IV, §402(6), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1863 ; Pub. L. 104–127, title VIII, §805, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1160 ; Pub. L. 105–185, title II, §223, title III, §301(a)(1), June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 539 , 562; Pub. L. 105–244, title I, §102(a)(1)(B), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1617 ; Pub. L. 107–110, title X, §1076(c), Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 2091 ; Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, §7102, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 431 ; Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, §§7106–7109(c), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1217 , 1218; Pub. L. 110–246, §4(a), title VII, §§7106–7109(c), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664 , 1978, 1979; Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, §7105, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 869 ; Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, §9215(ll), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2175 ; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, §7107, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4783 ; Pub. L. 117–286, §4(a)(35), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4309 .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Act of June 29, 1935, referred to in subsec. (h), is act June 29, 1935, ch. 338, 49 Stat. 436 , popularly known as the Bankhead-Jones Act and also as the Agricultural Research Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1935 Amendment note under section 3101 of this title and Tables.

The Food and Agriculture Act of 1977, referred to in subsec. (k), is Pub. L. 95–113, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 913 . Title XVIII of the Act is classified generally to chapter 55A (§2281 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1977 Amendment note set out under section 1281 of this title and Tables.

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Amendments

2022-Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted "Chapter 10 of title 5" for "The Federal Advisory Committee Act".

2018-Subsec. (m)(2). Pub. L. 115–334 substituted "2023" for "2018".

2015-Subsec. (j)(1)(B). Pub. L. 114–95 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 7801 of title 20.

2014-Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 113–79 substituted "section-" for "section $60,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1990 through 2012." and added pars. (1) and (2).

2008-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–246, §7106(1), inserted "(including the University of the District of Columbia)" after "land-grant colleges and universities" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 110–246, §7107, substituted "teaching, research, and extension" for "teaching and research".

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 110–246, §7106(2), inserted "(including the University of the District of Columbia)" after "universities".

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 110–246, §7108(1), substituted "Teaching, Extension, and Research Awards" for "Teaching Awards" in heading.

Subsec. (i)(1). Pub. L. 110–246, §7108(2), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "The Secretary shall establish a National Food and Agricultural Sciences Teaching Awards program to recognize and promote excellence in teaching food and agricultural sciences at a college or university. The Secretary shall make at least one cash award in each fiscal year to a nominee selected by the Secretary for excellence in teaching a food and agricultural science at a college or university."

Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 110–246, §7109(a)(1), substituted "Secondary education, 2-year postsecondary education, and agriculture in the K–12 classroom" for "Secondary education and 2-year postsecondary education teaching programs" in heading.

Subsec. (j)(3). Pub. L. 110–246, §7109(a)(2)(A), substituted "secondary schools, institutions of higher education that award an associate's degree, other institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations" for "secondary schools, and institutions of higher education that award an associate's degree" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (j)(3)(G). Pub. L. 110–246, §7109(a)(2)(B)–(D), added subpar. (G).

Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 110–246, §7109(b)(2), added subsec. (l). Former subsec. (l) redesignated (m).

Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 110–246, §7109(b)(1), (c), redesignated subsec. (l) as (m) and substituted "2012" for "2007".

2002-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–171, §7102(1), struck out "and" after "home economics," and inserted ", and rural economic, community, and business development" before period at end.

Subsec. (b)(1), (2). Pub. L. 107–171, §7102(2)(A), (B), inserted ", or in rural economic, community, and business development" before semicolon.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 107–171, §7102(2)(C), inserted ", or teaching programs emphasizing rural economic, community, and business development" before semicolon.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 107–171, §7102(2)(D), inserted ", or programs emphasizing rural economic, community, and business development," after "agricultural programs".

Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 107–171, §7102(2)(E), inserted ", or professionals in rural economic, community, and business development" before semicolon.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 107–171, §7102(3)(A), inserted ", or in rural economic, community, and business development," after "food and agricultural sciences".

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 107–171, §7102(3)(B), inserted ", or in the rural economic, community, and business development workforce," after "food and agricultural sciences workforce".

Subsec. (j)(1)(B). Pub. L. 107–110 substituted "7801" for "8801(25)".

Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 107–171, §7102(4), substituted "2007" for "2002".

1998-Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 105–185, §223(1), (2), added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (f).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–185, §223(3), added subsec. (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (g).

Subsecs. (f) to (i). Pub. L. 105–185, §223(1), redesignated subsecs. (d) to (g) as (f) to (i), respectively. Former subsecs. (h) and (i) redesignated (j) and (k), respectively.

Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 105–185, §223(1), redesignated subsec. (h) as (j). Former subsec. (j) redesignated (l).

Subsec. (j)(1)(A). Pub. L. 105–244 substituted "section 1001 of title 20" for "section 1141(a) of title 20".

Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 105–185, §223(1), redesignated subsec. (i) as (k).

Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 105–185, §301(a)(1), substituted "2002" for "1997".

Pub. L. 105–185, §223(1), redesignated subsec. (j) as (l).

1996-Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 104–127, §805(a), added par. (4) and struck out former par. (4) which read as follows: "to design and implement innovative food and agricultural educational programs;".

Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 104–127, §805(b), added par. (3).

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 104–127, §805(d)(2), added subsec. (h). Former subsec. (h) redesignated (i).

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 104–127, §805(d)(1), redesignated subsec. (h) as (i). Former subsec. (i) redesignated (j).

Pub. L. 104–127, §805(c), substituted "1997" for "1995".

Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 104–127, §805(d)(1), redesignated subsec. (i) as (j).

1991-Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 102–237 struck out at end "Of amounts appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year, not less than $10,000,000 shall be used for the national needs graduate fellowship program referred to in subsection (b)(6) of this section."

1990-Pub. L. 101–624 amended section generally, substituting present provisions for provisions which established grant categories for promotion and development of higher education in food and agricultural sciences, provided for program of predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships in food and agricultural sciences, provided for transfer of funds, functions and duties to Secretary of Agriculture, authorized appropriations to carry out the section, and provided for nonapplicability of certain Federal laws to any panel or board created to review applications submitted under the section.

1985-Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 99–198, §1412(a)(1), substituted "Each" for "Such grants shall be made without regard to matching funds, but each".

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 99–198, §1412(a)(2), substituted "Each recipient institution shall have a significant ongoing commitment to the food and agricultural sciences generally and to the specific subject area for which such grant is to be used." for "Such grants shall be made without regard to matching funds provided by recipients."

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–198, §1412(b), amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (d) read as follows: "There are hereby authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this section $25,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978, $30,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1979, $35,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, $40,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1981, and $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years ending September 30, 1982, September 30, 1983, September 30, 1984, and September 30, 1985, and not in excess of such sums as may after the date of enactment of this title be authorized by law for any subsequent fiscal year."

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 99–198, §1412(c), added subsec. (e).

1981-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–98, §1418(a), substituted provisions authorizing the Secretary to promote and develop higher education in the food and agricultural science by formulating and administering higher education programs, to make grants to land-grant colleges and universities and other institutions capable of teaching food and agricultural education for specified purposes for a period not to exceed five years without regard to matching funds and to make competitive grants to colleges and universities to develop or administer programs to meet unique food and agricultural educational problems, and to administer and conduct specialized programs and graduate fellowship programs for a period not to exceed five years without regard to matching funds for provisions relating to competitive grants to all colleges and universities for the purpose of furthering education in the food and agricultural sciences in two specified categories.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–98 inserted provisions relating to the transfer to the Secretary of all the functions and duties of the Secretary of Education under the act of June 29, 1935, applicable to the activities and programs for which funds are made available under section 329 of this title.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–98, §1418(c), inserted provisions relating to the authorization of appropriations for fiscal years ending Sept. 30, 1983, Sept. 30, 1984, and Sept. 30, 1985.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of Title 20, Education.

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of this title.

Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, §7109(d), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1218 , and Pub. L. 110–246, §4(a), title VII, §7109(d), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664 , 1979, provided that: "The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] take effect on October 1, 2008."

[Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical provisions. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of this title.]

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–110 effective Jan. 8, 2002, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 107–110, set out as an Effective Date note under section 6301 of Title 20, Education.

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–244 effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 105–244, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105–244, set out as a note under section 1001 of Title 20, Education.

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–98 effective Dec. 22, 1981, see section 1801 of Pub. L. 97–98, set out as an Effective Date note under section 4301 of this title.

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1977, see section 1901 of Pub. L. 95–113, set out as an Effective Date of 1977 Amendment note under section 1307 of this title.