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 Making a Difference
Tribal Colleges and Universities Building Stronger Communities
Tribal Colleges and Universities are an important part of the Land-grant System. Currently, more than 30 Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) across 13 states are designated as 1994 Land-grant Institutions.
Supported by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), TCUs are providing much-needed higher education, research and Extension services to Tribal communities in the areas of natural resources, agriculture, health and wellness, and community development. Read more about the work being done at the nation’s TCUs.
Students training in the Cankdeska Cikana Community College commercial teaching space. Image courtesy of Cankdeska Cikana Community College.
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NIFA at the SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference
NIFA recently joined other USDA agencies at the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Diversity in STEM conference, highlighting USDA's commitment to fostering inclusion and supporting the next generation of diverse leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The conference brought together program staff and students from the NextGen program from many learning institutions creating opportunities to connect, learn and inspire. NIFA collaborated with the USDA's Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement to lead a session that provided an overview of USDA career paths, insights on navigating USAJOBS and guidance on the federal hiring process.
From left to right: Meiriem Roman (student), Josefina Diez (student), Maria Fernanda Aquino (student), Kellyann Jones-Jamtgaard (NIFA NPL), Erika Lynn Concepción (NextGen Program Manager), Diego Collazo (student), Skye Nevins (student), Diego Martinez (student) and Jeriliz Ortiz (student).
NIFA Announces 2024 National Teaching Awards for Food and Agricultural Sciences
NIFA and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) honored four public university faculty with national teaching awards recognizing excellence in agricultural sciences teaching and student engagement at the recent APLU Annual Meeting.
Michael Larry Mashtare Jr. of Pennsylvania State University and Tyson Joel Sorensen of Utah State University were named national recipients of the USDA Excellence in College and University Teaching Awards for Food and Agricultural Sciences. Jennifer Lynn Gillett-Kaufman of Texas A&M University and Rebecca Dean Swenson of the University of Minnesota were named recipients in the national Teaching and Student Engagement category. These awards celebrate university faculty for their use of innovative teaching methods and service to students.
Six regional and two early career awardees were also named recipients of the 2024 Excellence in College and University Teaching Awards for Food and Agricultural Sciences. Read more about all of the award recipients.
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Save the Date for 2025 NERAOC
The 2025 NERAOC will be March 31-April 3, 2025, in Reno, NV. NIFA staff will partner with Land-grant Colleges and Universities to share and exchange current best practices, discuss policy, obtain definitive interpretation of regulations, and discuss future issues. Registration will open in January 2025.
NERAOC Save the Date Graphic
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Innovative Light Technology Is Safe, Effective for Mitigating Fungal Contamination of Cereal Grains
Fungal contamination of cereal grains poses a substantial threat to food security and public health while causing hundreds of millions of dollars in economic losses annually. In a new study, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers evaluated far-ultraviolet C (far-UVC) light as a safe way to alleviate fungal contamination of corn and wheat and found this technology to be effective. They tested the efficacy of far-UVC light against two fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium graminearum, and the results are promising. Read more about this NIFA-supported work.
The fungus Aspergillus flavus causes ear rot in corn, severely affecting grain quality. Courtesy of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
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 USDA Is Accepting Applications for 2025 USDA E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program
USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement is accepting applications for the 2025 USDA E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program. These fellowships introduce faculty and staff from Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Hispanic-Serving School Districts to the vast array of USDA resources available to them. The fellowships take place during the summer of 2025, and applications are due by March 6, 2025. Read more about the fellowship program and how to apply.
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 Technical Assistance Webinar on NIFA Reporting Activities
The recording for the latest installment of NIFA’s Grant Applicant/Awardee Technical Assistance (GAATA) series is available on the NIFA website. The November session covered NIFA reporting activities, where experts explained the differences between competitive and capacity reporting and provided guidance on how to resolve common user issues in REEport and the NIFA Reporting System.
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The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is committed to ensuring that its programs and services are accessible to all individuals, including individuals with disabilities and individuals with limited English proficiency. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any NIFA event, please contact the appropriate Program staff no later than 10 days prior to the event. To find Program staff by event, please visit the NIFA Calendar of Events. NIFA Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to limited English proficient individuals upon request. If you need interpretation or translation services please visit NIFA language services or contact Lois Tuttle, Equal Opportunity Specialist, at Lois.Tuttle@usda.gov or (443) 386-9488 no later than 10 days prior to the event.
NIFA’s mission is to invest in and advance agricultural research, education, and Extension that solves societal challenges. NIFA’s investments in transformative science directly support the long-term prosperity and global preeminence of U.S. agriculture. Keep informed about NIFA, USDA, our Land-grant and non-Land-grant university partners, and stakeholders with the NIFA Update. Read past issues online, sign up for email updates or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @USDA_NIFA, #NIFAImpacts or LinkedIn @usda-nifa.
If you wish to submit a news item or information, send an email to NIFAUpdate.
USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider, and employer.
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