Please view this link: http://www.usda.gov/2006/03/0103.xml JOHANNS EXPANDS USDA-HACU PARTNERSHIP TO ENHANCE HISPANIC EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT WASHINGTON, March 27, 2006-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) which will strengthen USDA efforts to promote educational and employment opportunities for Hispanic students. "President Bush has been a strong leader in improving educational opportunities for all Americans," said Johanns. "I'm pleased to enhance our partnership with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and the internship, scholarship, fellowship and grant programs USDA offers. Together, we can improve the educational achievement of Hispanic students and prepare them for successful and rewarding careers." Johanns and Dr. Antonio R. Flores, HACU President and CEO, signed a memorandum of understanding at HACU's 11th Annual National Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education. The agreement provides a cooperative framework to strengthen the USDA-Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) program that empowers Hispanic students to attain educational excellence. The agreement also contributes to the fulfillment of USDA's mission to promote agricultural related careers and professional attainment among minorities and with this agreement specifically among students and faculty of HACU member institutions, increasing employment opportunities at USDA for HACU students and supporting the development of HACU. According to the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, only 10 percent of Hispanics graduate from four-year colleges and universities. In 1996, USDA established a landmark partnership with HACU to provide internship opportunities with USDA. Each year, approximately 100 students work for USDA agencies across the country, while pursuing degrees in agricultural science related fields. Today, more than 20 percent of these USDA-HACU interns are working at USDA as permanent employees. To promote public service and to create access to higher education for Hispanic undergraduate and graduate students, USDA launched the Public Service Leaders Scholarship in 2002, which builds on President Bush's call on every American to give back to their communities. Selected students receive a full tuition scholarship for two years and prior to graduation intern with USDA for a minimum of 640 hours. Upon graduation, students commit to work for USDA for a minimum of two years. More than 30 Hispanic students are currently participating in this scholarship program and the first class of six students began working for USDA this summer. USDA's Hispanic-Serving Institutions Fellows Program brings highly accomplished faculty members at Hispanic-Serving Institutions to work at USDA for two-to-six weeks each summer. Fellows are selected based on the compatibility of their research interests with USDA mission areas and the value their experience would add to their institution's curriculum offerings to Hispanic students. Among topics that are researched are food security, forestry and watershed management, agricultural science and marketing and economic development initiatives. In 2005, twenty-one faculty and staff from Hispanic Serving Institutions worked with USDA to learn first-hand about USDA agencies and programs and services. Hispanic-Serving Institutions are accredited and degree-granting institutions of higher education with a full-time Hispanic student enrollment of 25 percent or more. Each year, USDA invests more than $30 million in educational programs targeting Hispanic students and institutions. For example, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service made $6 million dollars in grants and loans for Hispanic-Serving Institutions in fiscal year 2006 and has awarded over $29 million dollars in HSI grants over 60 institutions from 1997 to 2005, as part of Title VIII of the Farm Bill. These grants strengthen the ability of the institutions to carry out higher education programs that attract, retain and graduate outstanding students capable of enhancing Agriculture's professional and scientific workforce. For further information about the President's Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, visit: http://www.yic.gov, which is also available in Spanish at: http://www.yosipuedo.gov/ Additional information about USDA programs and services is available at http://www.usda.gov USDA News oc.news@xxxxxxxx 202 720-4623 ---------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to webservices@xxxxxxxx and reference your email address.
