USDA reopens 1890 Scholars Program for FAMU, other land-grant HBCUs after suspension
After just days of suspending the 1890 Scholars Program , the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reopened it for prospective agriculture students interested in attending Florida A&M University and the other historically Black land-grant universities across the nation.
"The USDA 1890s National Scholars Program application period has been reopened, and applications will be accepted through March 15th," the USDA said on its website Monday evening, following a previous announcement about it being suspended pending further review.
It's a win for FAMU and 18 other land-grant HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities): If the scholarships were not reinstated, they would no longer have future cohorts of students going through the decades-old program.
Previous coverage: FAMU among land-grant HBCUs affected by USDA's suspended 1890 Scholars Program
Despite the short suspension period, FAMU's College of Agriculture & Food Sciences Dean Garlen Dale Wesson said the university remained "committed to supporting scholars in the program."
"We will continue collaborating with our supporters and corporate partners to ensure students have access to opportunities in agriculture and food science," Wesson said in a statement sent to the Tallahassee Democrat.
The program's suspension came as part of President Donald Trump's directives during efforts to cut all federal assistance that may conflict with his recent executive orders , including ending diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. But with the application portal being reopened, students are handed back the opportunity to apply.
What is the 1890 Scholars Program?
The 1890 land-grant institutions are HBCUs that were established with federal land grants under the Second Morrill Act of 1890, which required states to establish those colleges and universities for Black students.
Through the scholarship program, established in 1992, students from underserved communities are given scholarship money to attend one of 19 land-grant HBCUs for a full four years for specific training related to agriculture as well as animal science, botany, forestry and more.
Besides FAMU, other HBCUs in the program include Alabama A&M University, Fort Valley State University, North Carolina A&T State University and Tuskegee University.
The USDA scholars program gave $19.2 million to scholarships for HBCU students in the 2024 fiscal year to provide them with full tuition, fees, books, room and board, and FAMU gets $39,000 per student each year for scholarships through the program, according to a spokesperson.
While 20 FAMU students are currently enrolled through the program, about 50 to 60 students usually apply to the university with the scholarship each year.
This article includes previously reported information. Tarah Jean is a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can reached at tjean@tallahassee.com and follow her on X: @tarahjean_ .
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: USDA reopens 1890 Scholars Program for HBCUs after suspending it
