Recipient Organization
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
ALCORN STATE,MS 39096
Performing Department
Agriculture
Non Technical Summary
The goal of the Alcorn State University School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences 1890 Scholarship program is increase student enrollment by 15-20 percent while increasing diversity by one-to-two percent by the year 2025. The objectives of this proposal are 1) increase the number of students who attain B.S. degrees in agriculture and related sciences at Alcorn State University, and 2) increase the diversity pool of B.S. degree, entry level employees who graduate from Alcorn State University which are available to agriculture and related sciences employers.The School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences currently has a total enrollment of 738 students spread across three departments and a center (Agriculture Department, Human Sciences Department, Advanced Technologies Department and the Center for Biotechnology). The 1890 Scholarship Program at Alcorn State University would address both of the above objectives by providing scholarship awards of up-to $10,000 for eligible undergraduate students. We are continually renewing our effort to innovatively teach students and transform our academic institutional practices, programs, policies and our campus culture, all with an eye towards cultivating student success. The 1890 Scholarship will be awarded to enrolling Freshmen with a composite score of 20 or higher on the ACT or its equivalence on the SAT (reading and math only) and a 3.0 or better high school (or university) cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale upon graduation. Undergraduate transfer students and non-traditional students and veterans may also be considered for this scholarship. The scholarship is renewable each year expanding a period of eight (8) semesters providing the student maintains a 3.0 or above cumulative GPA.The applicant must have been accepted for admission at Alcorn State University and major in a program area that is set forth in Section 7117, Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018; Pub. L. 115-334. The applicant must intend to pursue a career in the food and agricultural sciences, including a career in agribusiness, energy and renewable fuels, or financial management and be enrolled as a full-time student, as defined by Alcorn State University, in a program of study in the food and agricultural sciences or a related field leading to an undergraduate degree during each semester that he/she receives 1890 Scholarship support.The project's evaluation plan will adhere to the minimum measures outlined in current 1890s Scholars guidelines, with additional data collected that is pertinent to specific university objectives and conditions. All data will be systematically collected and compiled and aggregated, with accompanying statistics, including frequency distributions, mean or median scores, and other related measures. Data will include both quantitative descriptors (such as total number of participants in structured activities and measurement of their subsequent progress), as well as more qualitative indices of project outcomes.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The Alcorn State University School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences has a goal to increase student enrollment by 15-20 percent while increasing diversity by one-to-two percent by the year 2025. The school's goal is consistent with the objectives of this proposal listed below:Increase the number of students who attain B.S. degrees in agriculture and related sciences at Alcorn State University.Increase the diversity pool of B.S. degree, entry level employees who graduate from Alcorn State University which are available to agriculture and related sciences employers.The School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences currently has a total enrollment of 738 students spread across three departments and a center (Agriculture Department, Human Sciences Department, Advanced Technologies Department and the Center for Biotechnology). First-time freshmen retention rate for the School is 72 percent with a range of 504 to 619 students graduating from 2015 to 2018 representing approximately 21 percent of the students graduating from the university.The 1890 Scholarship Program at Alcorn State University would address both of the above objectives by providing scholarship awards of up-to $10,000 for eligible undergraduate students. We are continually renewing our effort to innovatively teach students and transform our academic institutional practices, programs, policies and our campus culture, all with an eye towards cultivating student success.
Project Methods
The 1890 Scholarship will be awarded to enrolling Freshmen with a composite score of 20 or higher on the ACT or its equivalence on the SAT (reading and math only) and a 3.0 or better high school (or university) cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale upon graduation. Undergraduate transfer students and non-traditional students and veterans may also be considered for this scholarship. The scholarship is renewable each year expanding a period of eight (8) semesters providing the student maintains a 3.0 or above cumulative GPA. This scholarship covers up to $10,000 per year. Students must be a citizen or a national of the United States. All scholarship applicants are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which can be completed online at www.fafsa.gov to be considered for Federal Pell Grant, and other Federal and/or State Aid. If, after filing the FAFSA, the student is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, this aid will be used as part of the applicant's scholarship package (Example: Pell eligibility $3000 - applicant scholarship award would be $7,000). Scholarship packages will not exceed the student's financial need. Consequently, scholarships amounts will be set at $10,000 or less, and $5,000 or less per year depending on the student's qualifications and financial need. Scholarship recipients, will be required to submit a final transcript reflecting the qualification as stated above no later than 15 days after high school graduation. Failure to submit final transcript and/or meet qualification will render scholarship null and void.The applicant must have been accepted for admission at Alcorn State University and major in a program area that is set forth in Section 7117, Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018; Pub. L. 115-334. The applicant must intend to pursue a career in the food and agricultural sciences, including a career in agribusiness, energy and renewable fuels, or financial management and be enrolled as a full-time student, as defined by Alcorn State University, in a program of study in the food and agricultural sciences or a related field leading to an undergraduate degree during each semester that he/she receives 1890 Scholarship support. However, the requirements for formal registration during part of this tenure may be waived if permitted by the policy of the grantee, provided the Scholar is making satisfactory progress toward degree completion. These aforementioned scholarship criteria are aligned with the criteria set forward in Part III of the RFA.