The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced new initiatives aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for Tribal students and fostering the next generation of agricultural professionals. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack revealed a $5 million grant to support Tribal students at land-grant colleges and universities through the New Beginning for Tribal Students (NBTS) Program. This announcement was made during the 2024 White House Tribal Youth Forum, ahead of discussions on food sovereignty.
“These USDA investments reinforce our commitment to empowering Tribal Nations by cultivating tomorrow’s agriculture sector professionals and building a USDA workforce more representative of America,” said Secretary Vilsack. “It is important that USDA continues to uplift Tribal communities and provides pathways of representation by working with universities and colleges to improve the lives of Native American students and communities through higher education.”
Among the initiatives introduced is the USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program, which offers full tuition, fees, books, and paid workforce training for eligible students pursuing degrees in relevant fields at a Tribal college or university. The program allows participants to transition from associate programs to bachelor's degree programs while providing a pathway to permanent employment with USDA upon completion.
Additionally, the Terra Preta do Indio Tribal Fellowship Program aims to strengthen research capacity at Tribal colleges by engaging faculty with USDA resources. Participants will spend time in Washington D.C., collaborating with USDA leads before conducting research aligned with their interests.
The NBTS Program seeks to increase retention and graduation rates among Tribal students attending various land-grant universities across the nation. The recent funding will benefit institutions such as Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Colorado State University, Montana State University, among others.
This year marks three decades since Tribal colleges became part of the land-grant college network under federal legislation. There are currently 36 federally recognized Tribal colleges designated as land-grant institutions serving over 15,000 students annually.
Underlining its commitment under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA continues efforts towards equity by removing systemic barriers within its workforce while focusing on sustainable food production practices.
For more information about these programs or other USDA initiatives, visit www.usda.gov.
